G/F and I stayed in campsite 93 July 10th through 18th. We booked the reservations on January 28th of this year right at 8am for those of you wondering how we got a spot. If you have no reservations, you will not be allowed in the campsite. It does not matter if you find an empty spot, your friend gave up the reservations, someone no showed, etc. The Rangers were very strict about this. No reservations, no campsite, period! Remember that if you're thinking about grabbing a site last minute, it's not going to happen.
There is zero first come first serve at the moment. I only stress this due to the large amount of people that we observed being furious that they had to wait 40 minutes plus due to road construction, only to be told they can't enter the campground, and then have to wait another 40 minutes to leave. Don't be that person! Also, please don't yell at the Rangers or the Construction Crew about it. They have a job to do and they don't make the decisions on this stuff. Especially the Construction Flagger on the road. If anything, give that poor guy/girl a cold drink and snacks! How would you like to stand there for 12 plus hours a day with people screaming at you?
Construction on Many Glacier Road. Yes it's under repair! You should expect to wait up to 40 minutes at a time while on your way in our out. If you want to avoid it, plan on traveling Saturdays and Sundays when they are not working. On weekdays, they start really early or they are running 24/7. For example, we headed out at 5:30am and got held up for 30 minutes before we could exit the park. Plan for delays on weekdays.
Showers and laundry! This was a big one for us! I specifically booked this campground because the Swiftcurrent Inn has pay showers and laundry and it's walking distance from the Many Glacier Campground. However, when we went to the Swiftcurrrent Inn, they informed us those services were not available due to Covid and a staff shortage. The staff recommended that we go to the KOA in ST. Mary. So, we did as they suggested, and upon arrival at the KOA in ST. Mary, we were told no pay showers available! They suggested we try the Swiftcurrent Inn at Many Glacier (Eye Roll). They did however let us do laundry at the KOA.
So, if you're going to Many Glacier this year, paid showers are out of the question anywhere that we know of! If you want to do laundry, the KOA in ST. Mary will let you do it. If you're thinking about buying a portable shower, just remember that if you're in Many Glacier, the water must be collected and dumped in the grey water facility in the campground restrooms. I suggest rinsing yourself off in the creek in Many Glacier (Behind camp 94) then wiping yourself down good with some bath wipes that you can pick up in shops in ST. Mary. Do not scrub yourself down with soap in the creek, the Rangers and fellow campers will not appreciate it! Also, if you're using bath wipes, please deposit them in the trash and do not flush them down the toilet drains.
Wildlife in this campground is INSANE! Be prepared! Have your camera and bear spray at the ready! We had deer, a moose and her calf, a bull moose, and two grizzlies run through! This was the first park I have ever been to where huge amounts of wildlife just randomly run through constantly.
Rangers at this campground are really on point! They walked the campground at least once an hour and were definitely on their A game! it may seem like they are being too strict, but we really appreciated them. We felt totally safe sleeping in a tent in grizzly territory because of how on point the Rangers were. They were the perfect blend of nice, but firm. Know that if you have food out anywhere in your campground, you must be within six feet of it, or they will ask you to lock it up.
Scenery is just amazing! Between the amount of wildlife and spectacular views, words just don't do it any justice! Just go there!
As for the bugs........ Bring plenty of your favorite bug repellent! Between the flies, mosquitoes and yellow jackets you will get eaten alive! It would really be in your best interest to have some kind of bug net canopy to put over your picnic table. If you're hammock camping, you will need bug netting or you might not survive the night lol! We found that DEET products worked much better than Picaridin in particular. With Picaridn they would smack us then fly off. With DEET they just hovered. Just our personal experience.
For those of you planning big hikes, please bring a water filter with you! The water looks amazingly clean, but it is not! We hiked up to Iceberg Lake and I had to use my Grayl water filter to top off at least a dozen people. Not complaining, I was loving helping my fellow hikers out! We got to meet some really amazing, awesome people! Just worried me, not everyone as friendly as we are! So, take a water filter with you!
The Many Glacier Hotel is a must see! We had dinner there on our last night. We had the salmon and duck dinners and it did not disappoint! We didn't stay in the hotel so I cannot rate it, but as far as dining it was wonderful! Dining Room was open, so we just had to order our food, seat ourselves and enjoy the ambience. We loved it :). Also, the cheesecake dessert with huckleberry sauce was amazing!
Ticketed entry for Going to the Sun was another issue, but if you're staying at Many Glacier there is a work around! The Ranger booth is not manned prior to 6 am. So we set our alarms for 4:30 am, and headed out by 5. We crossed the Ranger Station at 5:51am! So, there was no ticketed entry required.
We arrived at Logan's Pass by 6:30 - 7 and OMG that parking lot was FULL! So, word to the wise, get there earlier! We got lucky and after driving circles around the lot 3 times someone was just pulling out. I will say it again......... WE GOT LUCKY! If Logan's Pass is on your agenda get there as early as possible!
I hope this information helps those of you heading out this year! We wish you the best of luck, lots of love, and more importantly have a wonderful and safe time!
