West Glacier vs. Many Glacier: Which Side is Better? (Lodging + Things To Do)

Planning a trip to Glacier National Park is a huge process, and one important step is deciding which side of the park you’d like to spend your time in. Of course, you are not bound to one side and it would be ideal to visit both the west side and the east side, but sometimes time or budget won’t allow for such a luxury!

When deciding which part of Glacier to visit, West Glacier or Many Glacier, there is absolutely no wrong choice as both are incredible. While they are in the same park, the two areas have as many differences as they have similarities. Understanding what each area has to offer will help you decide which side of Glacier will be best for you. 

I grew up living in Many Glacier with my parents who have been park rangers in Glacier for 30 years. Many Glacier is my favorite area of Glacier National Park because of the rugged scenery, the wildlife, and the hiking trails. Today, I live in Whitefish, Montana which is about 45 minutes from West Glacier. I have spent a lot of time in West Glacier over the past few years and have grown to appreciate that area more and more for its lush forests, the crystal waters of Lake McDonald, and access to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. 

VISITING GLACIER AND NEED A GAME PLAN? CHECK OUT OUR ITINERARY.

Understanding West Glacier and Many Glacier

The west side of Glacier National Park is referred to as West Glacier. The east side of Glacier has three main areas: Many Glacier, St. Mary, and Two Medicine. The Many Glacier area is the most popular and the most beautiful (in my opinion), so Many Glacier will be the focus of this article as far as the east side is concerned. 

If you are visiting Glacier and are not interested in doing lots of hiking and would prefer to drive to see the sights, I would stay in West Glacier. If you are hoping to do a lot of hiking and don’t mind remoteness and lack of cell phone service, I would stay in Many Glacier. 

Keep reading to find out more about what makes each side unique. 

Spend time in West Glacier if…	Spend time in Many Glacier if…
You want access to larger towns for dining, shopping, etc.	You prefer a more remote experience without many restaurants or shops
You want to do shorter nature walks	You want to go on longer hikes
You want to go whitewater rafting	You want to go horseback riding
You need cell phone service and wifi	You want to unplug
You don’t mind crowds	You prefer solitude

Which Has Better Lodging, West Glacier or Many Glacier?

Because Glacier is such a large park, it is helpful to stay inside the park or very close to a park entrance. If I were you, I would stay on the west side of the park for a couple of days and on the east side for a couple of days. This will allow you to experience both sides of the park and decrease the amount of driving you have to do each day. However, many visitors to the park choose only one side to stay on during their trip and still have a wonderful time. Lodging is more plentiful in and around West Glacier, so if I had to pick a winner for lodging, it’d be West Glacier. 

Matt and Cheryl wrote an extensive article on where to stay in Glacier, and the most thorough information about lodging can be found there. Check it out!

Lodging in (and near) West Glacier

Because West Glacier is the most popular part of the park and is located near the larger towns of Kalispell and Columbia Falls, it has more lodging options than other areas do. In the table below are some of the options, their pricing, their location, and a brief description. 

	Pricing	Location	Description
Apgar Village, Lodge and Cabins	~$132 and up	In the park	Budget. Motel rooms and cabins featuringfull kitchens. Can sleep up to 6 guests.
Belton Chalet	~$160 and up	6-minute drive to West Glacier	Luxury. Near Amtrak train station. Famous Belton Chalet Tap House and Restaurant.  No lake views. Many rooms have private balconies.
Cedar Creek Lodge (book here)	~$220 and up	Columbia Falls, 30-minute drive to West Glacier	Luxury. Open year-round. New and includes a fitness center, pool, A/C, TV, and complimentary breakfast. Suites and standard rooms.
Lake McDonald Lodge	~$152 and up	In the park	Luxury. Cabins and standard rooms. Beautiful lake views and fine dining at Russell’s Fireside Dining Room. Red bus pick up and Glacier Boat Tours behind the lodge.
Village Inn at Apgar	~$257 and up	In the park	Budget. Standard rooms, family rooms, and rooms with kitchens. Right on Lake McDonald. Recently renovated in 2015.
West Glacier Cabin Village	~$239 and up	In the park	Budget. Modern cabins sleep up to 4. Full kitchens. Amenities include A/C, TV, mini golf, and kids playground.

Lodging in (and near) Many Glacier

Many Glacier is a remote part of Glacier and doesn’t have the wide variety of lodging options that you’ll find in West Glacier. Across the park border is the small town of Babb, which has a population of around 250. The next largest town is Browning, with a population of 1,000. It’s really in the middle of nowhere! See the table below for a few lodging options in and near Many Glacier. 

	Pricing	Location	Description
Many Glacier Hotel	~$278 and up	In the park	Luxury. Standard and deluxe rooms accommodate up to 4 people. Shared balconies. Fine Dining at the Ptarmigan Dining Room. The lobby has impressive views of Swiftcurrent Lake and Grinnell Peak. Best lodge in the park and the most difficult to get reservations.
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins	~$149 and up	In the park	Budget. Rustic cabins and motel rooms that sleep up to 4. Right next to the Many Glacier Hotel. Quick access to the ranger programs and hiking trailheads. Nel’s Grill is on-site.
Thronson’s Motel	~$100 and up	Outside the park, 15 minutes from Many Glacier entrance	Budget. Family-owned motel that has operated in Babb for decades. They only take reservations by phone, usually beginning in mid-May. Rooms have refrigerators, AC, and TV’s.
Hook’s Hideaway Motel	~$200	Outside the park, 30 minutes from Many Glacier entrance	Small, family-owned, 15-room motel. Rooms sleep four. Basic accommodations but clean and in a beautiful location tucked away from the main road.  Also offers camping on-site.

Which Has Better Hikes, West Glacier or Many Glacier?

With 734 miles of hiking trails, Glacier National Park is a hiker’s paradise. West Glacier and Many Glacier both have great hiking options, but the hikes in Many Glacier are more scenic and plentiful. 

Hiking in West Glacier

I have done a lot of hiking in West Glacier and, while I always enjoy it, I don’t find it as rewarding as hiking in Many Glacier. However, West Glacier has some fantastic nature walks and short hikes that are family-friendly and accessible for folks who aren’t avid hikers. West Glacier sits at an elevation of just over 3,000 ft. and treeline in Glacier is usually around 6,000-7,000 ft. This means that if you want broad-sweeping vistas, you will have to be willing to do some serious elevation gain. If you aren’t climbing up to Apgar Lookout, you can enjoy the lush forest and rushing rivers on Trail of the Cedars, Avalanche Lake, or Sacred Dancing Cascade.

There are so many hiking options, but here are a few favorites:

	Mileage (round-trip)	Elevation Gain	Description	Trailhead
Trail of the Cedars	1 mile	60 feet	ADA-accessible boardwalk through a lush, towering cedar and hemlock forest. Great for kids and folks with limited mobility!	Avalanche parking area
Avalanche Lake	4.5 miles	730 feet	Follows Avalanche Creek up the valley to Avalanche Lake. Some steep sections but mostly a gradual climb. The view at the lake is stunning.	Avalanche parking area
Sacred Dancing Cascade and McDonald Falls	1.2 miles	181 feet	Takes you across a bridge and along McDonald Creek. Gorgeous views of the river.	Sacred Dancing Cascade parking area on Going-to-the-Sun Road
Apgar Lookout	7.1 miles	1845 feet	Strenuous climb to a fire lookout on top of Apgar Mountain. The views make the climb worth it, but it is certainly difficult.	Turn left onto Quarter Circle Bridge Road, ½ mile past the West Entrance Station. Follow this road for approx. 2 miles to reach the trailhead.

Hiking in Many Glacier

Hiking in Many Glacier is a real delight. There are short hikes that are great for kids and the less experienced hiker, and longer hikes that are suitable for folks who want to spend the whole day on the trail. I have spent my entire life hiking in Many Glacier and the trails and views never get old. 

The hike to Red Rock Falls is amazing for families, as is the Swiftcurrent Lake Loop Trail which is a wheelchair-accessible nature trail. Iceberg Lake and Grinnell Glacier offer a challenge, rewarded with stunning views. 

There are so many hiking options, but here are a few favorites: 

	Mileage (round-trip)	Elevation Gain	Description	Trailhead
Red Rock Falls	3.6 miles	200 feet	Family-friendly trail with good views. You might get to see moose in the lakes!	Swiftcurrent Motor Inn Parking Lot
Swiftcurrent Lake Loop Trail	2.6 miles	25 feet	ADA-accessible trail around Swiftcurrent Lake. Beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.	Many Glacier Hotel or Grinnell Glacier Trailhead
Iceberg Lake	9.8 miles	1200 feet	Gorgeous hike through forest and into wildflower meadows. Some steep parts but pretty moderate mostly.	Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
Grinnell Glacier	10.6 miles(7 miles with boat ride)	1600 feet	My favorite hike in the park! Strenuous but well worth it for the views.	Many Glacier Hotel or Grinnell Glacier Trailhead

Where am I More Likely to See Wildlife, West Glacier or Many Glacier?

Glacier is an extremely biodiverse park. It is home to 71 species of mammals, 279 bird species, 4 reptile species, and 6 amphibian species. Most people come to Glacier hoping to see bears, moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. While I can make no guarantees that you will see wildlife on your trip, I can tell you that you have a higher likelihood of seeing wildlife in Many Glacier than in West Glacier. 

You might see bears while you are driving along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, but the dense forest makes it difficult to spot wildlife. Higher elevations on the Going-to-the-Sun Road near Logan Pass are great places to see mountain goats and bighorn sheep. 

Visitors to Glacier often see bears in Many Glacier as they are driving the road between the entrance station and the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. The wildflower meadows on this stretch of road are a popular place for bears to eat insects, roots, and berries. Fishercap Lake in Many Glacier is a frequent moose-viewing location. 

Which is More Crowded, West Glacier or Many Glacier?

Glacier sees around 3 million visitors per year, with almost all of this visitation happening between June and September. West Glacier is more crowded than Many Glacier, but both regions of the park can be extremely congested. Because West Glacier is closer to the larger towns of Kalispell and Columbia Falls, it serves as the primary entrance to Glacier National Park. West Glacier is the busiest part of Glacier, but there are still opportunities for solitude if you get out on a hiking trail, or enter the park later in the evening.

Many Glacier doesn’t get nearly the level of visitation that West Glacier does, but it can still feel crowded because it is a smaller valley with only one road. Parking can be difficult, and entrance to the valley is often restricted due to a lack of parking. Like West Glacier, the evening is a great time to visit if you want to miss the crowds. 

Which is Better for Families, West Glacier or Many Glacier?

All of Glacier is family-friendly, but West Glacier is better for families because of the variety of activities available there. Anywhere in Glacier is a great place to be! If you have already planned your trip and are coming to Many Glacier with your family, fear not! I worked in Many Glacier for over 10 years and saw so many families having an absolutely amazing time.

Activities for Families in West Glacier

Whitewater Rafting

Just outside Glacier’s west entrance, you will find multiple raft companies offering both scenic and whitewater rafting trips:

• Montana Raft Company offers whitewater trips, some of which even include lunch or dinner! You can also reserve a private overnight rafting trip. This is the company I have rafted with, and I have always had a great time!
• Glacier Raft Company offers scenic floats, whitewater trips, and even longer 3-4 day trips on the North Fork of the Flathead River. 
• Great Northern Raft Company offers whitewater floats with and without meal service. With so many trip options, you can’t go wrong!
• Wild River Adventures offers a variety of family-friendly whitewater and scenic float options. They also provide guided fly fishing trips for any avid anglers hoping to catch a Montana trout.

DON’T MISS: 12 Things You Shouldn’t Miss When You Visit Glacier National Park

Things to do in West Glacier (Glacier National Park)

Boat Tours 

Scenic boat tours and boat rentals offered by Glacier Park Boat Company are a great way to spend your time.

You can find boat rentals at Apgar Village and Lake McDonald Lodge. The scenic boat tour aboard a historic wooden tour boat leaves from Lake McDonald Lodge. Read more about boat tours in our article Glacier Park Boat Tours: An Expert’s Advice and Helpful Tips.

Mini Golf

If your legs are tired from hiking and you need another activity, Going-to-the-Sun Mini Golf in West Glacier Village is fun for the whole family! There is Glacier trivia and history throughout the mini-golf course, and you can even win free ice cream if you show some serious skill.

Going-to-the-Sun Road Sightseeing

Driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road is an unforgettable experience. The scenery is unbeatable and there are plenty of pullouts with interpretive signs and short walks along the way!

CHECK OUT: What to Do in Glacier When the Going-to-the-Sun Road is Closed

Activities for Families in Many Glacier

Horseback Riding

In the early days of Glacier National Park, all park visitors utilized horse travel to experience the park. Luckily, the opportunity to experience Glacier the way early 20th century travelers did still exists! Swan Mountain Outfitters offers guided horseback rides in Many Glacier. Check out the Swan Mountain Outfitters site for more information about reservations and ride options. 

Boat Tours

Glacier Park Boat Company offers scenic boat tours and watercraft rentals on Swiftcurrent Lake. The boat tours are a great way to enjoy the scenery with minimal hiking, and the boat captains even provide informative commentary about the park on the tour. If moving across the water under your own power is more your speed, you can rent a kayak, canoe, or rowboat instead. Check out the Glacier Park Boat Company website for more information about tour and rental reservations.

Things to do in Many Glacier (Glacier National Park)

Is There Anything Else I Should Know?

Planning a vacation shouldn’t be stressful. We created a step-by-step itinerary so you can visit the best places at the right times.

Not only that, but we’ll tell you about the park while you drive with our audio guide! Stop planning and start having the vacation of your dreams now!