Guide to Glacier

Aug 20, 2021 | Travel, West Coast

After visiting The Grand Canyon last year, we realized how badly we wanted to hit every national park, so we knew it was time to start moving along and Glacier National Park was top of that list. Let’s dive in!

Where To Stay

This was easily one of the most wonderful places we have stayed. We love using Glamping Hub for our unique stays on vacation and when the recommendation for Moss Mountain Inn appeared, we were intrigued but skeptical. We are the kind of people who like our private space so staying in more of a B&B didn’t seem our style but we thought why not.

Glamping Hub

Let me start off by saying, within 15 minutes of showing up, we canceled our next reservation and extended our stay with Glamping Hub/Moss Mountain Inn for the rest of our trip.

The rooms are cozy, so clean, and give you that exact cabin feel you’d imagine when visiting Glacier National Park.  I would say the most unique touch, and our favorite part was the balcony. We stayed in the Highline Suite and it had a beautiful view of the backyard and in the distance you can see the mountains!

Hi, I’m Chlobelle!

I’m a Chicago Based Travel and Lifestyle content creator with a passion for fashion and speaking on mental health awareness. My passion for travel started at a young age it has been experiencing new cultures that has ignited my love for so much such as as fashion, food, and human connections I love speaking to others about my struggles with mental health in hope to end the stigma and connect with others. I want people to know that they are not alone and it is important to know that what you see on social media is not always as it looks. Curious to know more about me? Let’s Connect! Follow along on Instagram and keep up with my day-to-day on Instagram stories!

Xo Chlobelle

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The one thing that we didn’t realize we would love as much as we did is the community breakfast. Each morning there would be breakfast waiting for us and all the guests came together to eat and talk of their trips adventures. We each shared tips on different trails and got advice from one another. It was a really cool way to start the day!

They really did such a great job making sure everything a guest could need, was there for convenience. From a fridge for our own food, to multiple coffee stations, and best of all, wine for guest to enjoy when they took a dip in the hot springs  (hot tub) out back.  

Our Favorite Excurions

Swan Mountain Outfitters

Keaton and I rode horses when we were little so when we saw that Swan Mountain Outfitters had rides around Glacier, we about lost it in excitement. 

We did the Upper McDonald Creek ride and everything was amazing. Big highlight of the trip. Our horses were so sweet, easily distracted by food, but very sweet. The trail was so beautiful and our guide was lovely, always pointing out interesting facts and she even spotted a bear for us! We were completely safe and far enough away but I had no idea how adorable black bears are, huge teddy bears!

Swan Mountain Outfitters has two locations and a ton of trails so it is a must on your next trip! You won’t regret it. 

 

Glacier Raft Company

Fly fishing in Montana is definitely a must. This was our first time and it was awesome. Definitely takes some time to get the hang of your cast but once you get going it’s a pretty cool sport. I got a few nice bites but Keaton was the only one luckily enough to catch a beauty. It was half cross brow and half rainbow trout. The color was gorgeous! It was cool just floating down the river as well. 

Our Favorite Hikes

Grinnel Glacier

Locals told us the glacier had metled and it wasn’t worth the hike but let me just tell you, it was easily my favorite hike of all time. You couldn’t make the last mile or so but where we got was well worth it.

You can get a boat pass to start closer but we started from the Many Glacier Hotel and started through swiftcurrent trail, pass Lake Josephine and then started the Grinnel Glacier Trail. Everywhere was stunning.

Lake McDonald

Our favorite spot in Glacier National Park. I am sure there are some great trails around the area and we saw a lot of bikers heading the opposite way as us but we were always there for the water. It was so incredible clear you could see the rainbow rocks on the ground. It’s also tradition to take a dip, I was a baby but Keaton flipped off the doc not once, not twice but three times.

BIG TIP: If you are unable to get a going-to-the sun pass, I highly recommend starting your day kayaking at Lake Mcdonald and hiking after. Having a recreational ticket gives you access to the road all day.

Iceberg Lake

Iceberg lake is one of the most unique hikes i’ve ever done and I will tell you right away, WEAR LAYERS! One moment it’s raining, then is pouring, then we are sweating and next thing you know you’re freezing, hiking through snow covered trails. It’s a long hike but it’s not too challenging. The views are all so unique, it’s truly so beautiful. Something else that makes this hike so unique is where you end. Instead of up to the top of a mountain, you end in at the lake with the mountains surrounding you. It’s called Iceberg Lake for the frozen icebergs that float all year long. Some are big enough to stand on. It is has the most beautiful view of the water mirroring the mountains towering over.

Now lets explore our favorites for food and drink

Heaven’s Peak

Our first day we weren’t familiar with the area so when we saw a beautiful log cabin looking building up on the hill we were drawn to it. Funny thing was we ended up going 3 times AND the owners are from Chicago which we loved. The food was fantastic, bbq style and the drinks were so flavorful. If you go, you HAVE to try the huckleberry brownies…. I am still dreaming of them.

Eddie’s Cafe

 All you need to know is, Huckelberry aïoli. I don’t even think we have photos of the food because we truly devoured everything too fast but we did come back 3-4 times, so highly recommend! 

Montana was everything I hoped it would be! I hope this guide helps you make your trip just as special as ours was! Feel free to comment any questions you have for your trip or DM me on Instagram! Cheers!