THE BASICS: Glacier National Park became the 10th national park on May 11, 1910. It preserves more than 1 million acres of land carved by glaciers and includes 25 remnant glaciers in Montana's Rocky Mountains. Going to the Sun Road, the only road across the park, offers scenic views as it climbs over the Continental Divide. Snow makes it unpassable for much of the year.
WHERE TO STAY: Belton Chalet, the first of the hotels built in the area by the Great Northern Railway, opened in 1910 and still serves travelers (www.beltonchalet.com; 1-406-888-5000). Glacier Park Lodge and Many Glaciers Hotel, both built by the railway, and Lake McDonald Lodge, which the railway purchased in the 1930s, are in the park. Book through Glacier Park Inc. (www.glacierparkinc.com; 1-406-892-2525). Nationalparkreservations.com -- which often pops up during Web searches for lodging in the park, though it is not a park concessionaire -- charges a 10 percent nonrefundable fee for processing a reservation.
TRAVELER'S INFO: For more information on the park and other lodging options, go to www.nps.gov/glac or phone 1-406-888-7800.
RIDING THE RAILS: Amtrak's Empire Builder, which runs between Chicago and Portland and Seattle, travels along the southern border of Glacier National Park and makes stops for parkgoers at East Glacier Park, Essex and West Glacier. The westbound train departs St. Paul at 11:15 p.m. and arrives at the above stops at 6:45 p.m., 7:41 p.m. and 8:23 p.m., respectively. On the return, you board in the morning and arrive in St. Paul the following morning. Amtrak offers three kinds of sleeper cars and coach seats, which are comparable to first-class airplane seats. Book early for best fares (www.amtrak.com; 1-800-872-7245).
KERRI WESTENBERG
