Return to Home Page

Back Country Chalets in Glacier

A great way to experience Glacier's backcountry is to hike to one of chalets in the park. This allows the visitor to truly experience the phenomenal beauty and serenity of an overnight trip in Glacier without having to carry a lot of camping gear. It also provides the weary traveler with a hearty meal and a chance to meet other hikers.

The chalets were built when the park first opened and they are a throwback to an earlier time. Built by James Hill for the Great Northern Railway, they were developed in the hopes of luring tourists from back East to the park. It is highly unlikely that resort hotels of their beauty and magnitude would be built so far back in the wilderness today. Named "Granite Park Chalet" and "Sperry Chalet," both hotels are only accessible by hiking or by horse ride. To get to Granite Park requires a seven mile trek along the Highline Trail. To hike to Sperry, one must ascend over 3,500 feet on a six mile hike.

The Chalets are built high on top of mountains. The views from the summits are sublime. By today's standards, these hotels are very primitive. They lack electricity and the hiker must bring along their own flashlight. But...what they lack in modern conveniences they more than make up for by providing friendly service, wonderful accomodations and breathtaking scenery.


I've supplied links to both chalets in the link section of this website. Links Page

Here is a picture of Granite Park Chalet:


Here is a picture of Sperry Chalet: