LAKE MCDONALD GUEST DIRECTORY

You are Invited to Participate

In an effort to conserve the resources and preserve the beauty of Glacier National Park, we invite you to participate in our sustainability efforts.

Opt In Program

To decrease our carbon footprint and better utilize our resources, we have an opt-in program for housekeeping. At check-in guests can request daily housekeeping service. Otherwise, housekeeping will not service the room. The front desk will notify Housekeeping which rooms have requested stayover service.

If you have need for specific items rather than a full stayover service, please contact the Front Desk for assistance. Those items will be available for pick up at the desk or delivered to the room.

What can I Recycle?

Please utilize the recycling container in your room for the following items:

• Aluminum Plastics (#1 Only)
• Paper Cardboard Glass

These items will be collected by our housekeeping staff and sorted by our recycling coordinators. In addition, we are also able to recycle used batteries and used or unused bear spray containers. Please see the Front Desk for recycling details.

Add Up 4 Glacier

Glacier National Park Lodges is proud to offer our guests an opportunity to support Glacier National Park through Add Up 4 Glacier, a guest donation program that contributes to the Glacier National Park Conservancy, the park’s official non-profit fundraising partner. We deposit 100% of the donations received from our guests to the program.

How it works: The program allows you as a Glacier guest, to donate one dollar per night per room on your lodging bill. You can also choose to donate more than one dollar per night. Ask at the Front Desk to find out more about Add Up 4 Glacier. With your help, the Conservancy will continue its work in preservation, research and education for our irreplaceable National Treasure.

If this type of contribution suits you, then no further action is required on your part. We will automatically add your individual donation of one dollar per night per room to your lodging bill. Your support of this program is greatly appreciated, however if you chose not to donate at this time, just let the Front Desk know and they will be happy to remove the donation from your lodging bill.

For information about Conservancy projects, please visit the Glacier National Park Conservancy’s website at www.glacier.org.

Thank you for helping us protect our Park!

To help you get the most out of your trip to Glacier and your stay at Lake McDonald Lodge, Cabins, and Suites, the following services are available:

CHECK-IN/OUT TIMES:
Check-in time is after 4:00 p.m. Check-out time is 11:00 a.m. If you require a late check-out time, please contact the Front Desk. Depending on availability, we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

CHECK-OUT DATE:
Should you wish to stay beyond your scheduled check-out date, please contact a Guest Service Associate at the Front Desk by 11:00 am on or before your original check-out date. Depending on availability, we will attempt to accommodate you here or at another location in Glacier National Park.

SMOKING:
Smoking and vaping is prohibited in all guest areas unless otherwise designated. There is a fee for noncompliance with this policy. Please help us to preserve these buildings by adhering to our smoking policy and only smoke in designated areas or no closer than 25 feet from any entry or window.

PETS:
Pets that do not serve as a medical necessity are not allowed in any of the rooms. There is a fee for noncompliance with this policy. Service animals are permitted in the hotels and inns.

COURTESY KITS:
Kits containing basic amenities will be available to guests who may have experienced lost luggage or other travel mishaps. Contact a Guest Service Associate at the Front Desk if one is needed.

DO NOT DISTURB:
A sign is provided to hang outside your door for privacy. Housekeeping will not check or clean your room if this sign is displayed. If a Do Not Disturb sign is displayed after 4:00 pm, housekeeping service will not be available until the following day. However, if you are in need of extra linens or amenities, please contact the Front Desk.

ICE:
Ice is available at the Lounge located in the lobby of the main lodge or at the Campstore. The Front Desk can also provide smaller bags of ice. Please bring the ice bucket and liner provided in your room.

FAX MACHINE/COPY MACHINE:
Please ask a Guest Service Associate at the Front Desk for help in sending or receiving a fax. A copy machine is also available. There is a minimal fee for copies and receiving and sending faxes.

ATM MACHINES:
There is an ATM machine located in the lobby of Lake McDonald Lodge.

MAIL:
Mail is sent from and received at the lodge daily, except Sundays. Outgoing mail may be deposited in the mail box by the main lobby entrance. Stamps can be purchased at the gift shop. Incoming mail may be picked up at the Front Desk.

MEDICAL SERVICES & SHARPS DISPOSAL:
Emergency medical assistance is available 24 hours a day from National Park Service personnel. Please contact the Front Desk by dialing 0. For non-emergencies, there is a health care clinic in West Glacier.

Sharps disposal containers are available at the Front Desk. To prevent injury and exposure to hotel personnel handling trash, please do not dispose medical needles or sharps in in-room trash containers.

RECYCLE PROGRAMS:
A recycle container is provided in your room and throughout the property. We recycle aluminum, plastics #1, paper, glass, and cardboard. Bear spray canisters may not be transported on airlines. They can be turned into the Front Desk to be responsibly recycled. Please ensure the safety clip is intact.

BULK AMENITY DISPENSERS:
To conserve natural resources and where historically feasible, we offer a selection of products in an eco-friendly and secure dispenser. By using these dispensers, we are able to reduce landfill waste by up to 97% over conventional amenity packaging. Individually packaged amenities are available at the Front Desk upon request.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES:
Interdenominational services, sponsored by A Christian Ministry in the National Parks, are held weekly. Details are available at the Information Desk.

SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES:
Available at the Front Desk. The lodge is not responsible for lost or stolen items left in your room.

BOX LUNCHES TO GO:
Stay well-fed during your hiking or sight-seeing day. A menu is provided at the Restaurant to order TO GO LUNCH BOXES. Just order your box lunch prior to 7:00 p.m. You may pick up your box lunch at the restaurant the following morning before 10:00 a.m.

WAKE-UP CALLS:
Wake-up calls can be requested through the front desk by dialing 0 from the in-room phone. Alarm clocks are provided in every guest room. Please note that there are no phones in the Snyder Hall guest rooms.

CAMPSTORE:
The store is located a short walk from the main lodge. We offer a wide variety of grocery items, camping supplies, apparel, gifts, and souvenirs. This is our first store in Glacier National Park that has a strong focus on sustainability. Please stop by and check out the sustainable section of the store and don’t forget to use the kiosk to find out how our retail purchasing is moving our department to be more sustainable. Don’t forget to use our water refill station to fill up your water bottles before you head out on your hike.

• Open from 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

GIFT SHOP:
The gift shop is located in the main lodge building across from the front desk. The shop carries a variety of apparel, gifts, and souvenirs. Some of the highlights are a large variety of locally made huckleberry products , Native American items and Pendleton items. Come on by and grab a special Glacier National Park souvenir to help remember your trip.

• Open from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

RUSSELL’S FIRESIDE DINING ROOM:
Located on Lobby level. Enjoy a cozy, hunting lodge atmosphere underscored by a crackling fireplace with views of the pristine lake shore and seasonal flora. We showcase Montana made, sustainable, and organic foods from sun up to sun down. Dress is casual and reservations are not accepted.

• Breakfast: 6:30 a.m.—10:00 a.m.
• Lunch: 11:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m.
• Dinner: 5:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.

LUCKE’S LOUNGE:
Be sure to stop in Lucke’s Lounge for Montana craft beers, wine, and liquor service as well as late night appetizers and other classic meals from our all day menu. Television viewing is available. Located on the Lobby level adjacent to Russell’s Fireside Dining Room.

• Food Service: 11:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
• Drinks: 11:30 a.m.—11:00 p.m.

JAMMER JOE’S GRILL AND PIZZERIA:
Head across the lawn from the main lodge to this Red Bus inspired pizza joint. The menu is filled with great pizza, salads, and tasty sandwich options. Get in on a quick all-you-can-eat lunch buffet or create your own pizza. Pizza is available for take-out.

• Open from 11:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m.

Reservations at Other Glacier National Park Lodges Hotels & Inns:
Glacier National Park Lodges operates four other hotels and inns in Glacier National Park. If you are interested in staying at one of them and would like to check on availability, you can phone the property directly, using the phone numbers below. Any Guest Service Associate will also be happy to help with additional reservations made for the following 72 hours.

If you are interested in future reservations, please call our Central Reservations Office at: 855-SEEGLACIER. They will be happy to help you with reservations for next week or next year.

Many Glacier Hotel: 406-732-4411

• (Located 11 miles from Babb on the Northeastern side of Glacier National Park)

Rising Sun Motor Inn and Cabins: 406-732-5523

• (Located 6 miles from the St. Mary’s Visitor Center on the Going-to-the-Sun Road)

Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins: 406-732-5531

• (Located 12 miles from Babb on the Northeastern side of Glacier National Park-1 mile from Many Glacier Hotel)

Village Inn: 406-888-5632

• (Located 3 miles from the West Entrance of Glacier National Park in the village of Apgar)

Telephone Dialing Instructions
All calls within the hotel are free. There is a 50¢ service charge for all calls including 800 and operator assisted calls. All long distance calls will be charged at AT&T operator assisted rates, plus tax and service charge. Please note that there are no phones in the Snyder Hall guest rooms. A public phone for Snyder Hall guests is located in the downstairs seating area of the building.

PLEASE NOTE: In case of a call which is not connected, but allowed to ring for more than six rings, our telephone equipment will automatically place a charge on your
account as if the call had in fact been completed. To avoid such charges, we suggest you note the number of rings when placing calls. In all cases, after touching 9 please wait for the dial tone.

• Montana’s Area Code is 406
• The phone number at Lake McDonald Lodge is: 406-888-5431

To Call Another Room:

• Touch the Room Number

Local Calls*:

• Touch 9 + Number

Long Distance (Charge to your Room)**:

• Touch 9 + 1 + Area Code + Number

Toll Free Numbers*:

• Touch 9 + 1 + 800 + Number

Sightseeing Tours:
No visit to Glacier National Park would be complete without a Red Bus tour over the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It is a breathtakingly beautiful trip through the Rocky Mountains that takes you across the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. The tours are fully narrated. Arrangements can be made at the Information Desk. Advance reservations are strongly suggested but not always needed and tours are available in many price ranges and times.

Fishing:
No license is necessary to fish in any of Glacier National Park’s 1,606 miles of streams and 253 snow-fed lakes. Fishermen can find as many as 26 kinds of fish, including six species of trout. There is a variety of fishing gear available for sale in the Campstore. Pick up a copy of the National Park Service Fishing regulations at the Visitor Center or access regulations online at www.npg.gov/glac.

Hiking:
Over 700 miles of maintained trails wind through Glacier National Park and the adjoining Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. Trips can be taken through quiet forests, up mountain passes or up to glaciers. Trail maps and other details are available at our Information Desk. Don’t forget to order your box lunch from the restaurant the night before so that it will be ready for your early departure.

Horseback Riding:
Swan Mountain Outfitters is located across the road from the Lodge. Guided Rides are conducted throughout the day, seven days a week. Details are available at the Information Desk or at the stable. Corral phone number: 406-888-5121.

Lake McDonald Boat Cruises:
Multiple departures daily. Brochures are available at the lobby Information Desk and at the boat dock. Tickets, rental canoes and boats for fishing are also available at the boat dock.

Glacier Institute:
Located 1 mile from the West Glacier entrance, the Glacier Institute offers fun outdoor education courses for people of all ages. Learn about the wonders of Glacier National Park from our experts with subjects ranging from glaciers to grizzlies and flowers to fire ecology. Please stop by the front desk for more information and a list of course offerings.

In 1914, Glacier National Park became the first National Park to offer motorized transportation to visitors when the newly formed Glacier Park Transport Company began giving tours through the Park with its fleet of White Motor Company buses and touring cars.

The first few seasons of motorized tours in Glacier proved difficult, as the roads were little more than muddy trails. However, as bus tours became more popular, the Great Northern Railroad, who operated the concessions in the Park, and the Park Service invested in the development of the roads. As the roads improved, the Transport Company updated and added to its fleet, and by 1930, the company operated 66 vehicles in the Park.

In 1932, the Going-to-the Sun Road opened, joining the east and west side of the Park and allowing visitors access to some of Glacier’s most impressive scenery. Shortly after the opening of the Road, the touring fleet was upgraded again with a new model of White Motor Company touring bus, designed specifically to meet the needs of touring through a National Park. These 1930’s era buses are the same red buses used to tour Glacier National Park today and have become an iconic and beloved symbol of the Park.

During your stay in Glacier National Park, take part in the century-long tradition of experiencing an open-top bus tour. Leave the driving to us so you can enjoy the majestic scenery within the park while our safe and experienced tour drivers inform and entertain you along the way. For more information, or to make reservations, please visit the Information Desk in the lobby of the Lodge or click on the button below.

LEARN ABOUT RED BUS TOURS

Xanterra, the parent company of Glacier National Park Lodges, is committed to reducing our impacts on the environment. To that end, Xanterra has instituted an environmental program called “Our Softer Footprint.” “Our Softer Footprint” speaks to our sustainable business practices, and to being good stewards of the places we serve. In partnership with our employees and guests we seek to improve the way we do business in Glacier National Park, reduce the amount of trash generated and increase our ability to recycle and reuse whenever possible. As a result of these shared efforts, we will become better stewards of this precious land that is Glacier National Park.

Actions Taken by Xanterra–Glacier National Park Lodge:

• Added energy saving CFL & LED light bulbs.
• Installed water refill stations in the lobby and at the Campstore to provide guests
  the opportunity to use refillable water bo?les and reduce consumption of single use
  plastic bottles.
• Recycling/Waste containers are Made in Montana.
• Offering furniture made from locally sourced Montana beetle killed wood in some
  guest rooms.
• Guest room pillows are Golden Memory down alternative fiberfill pillows
  produced from 100% recycled PET bo?les.
• Guest room “key cards” are made of 100% biodegradable plastic.
• Montana sourced coffees and teas are available in guest rooms along with
  biodegradable or reusable cups.
• Bulk amenity dispensers are offered in most of our guest rooms. These dispensers
  reduce landfill waste by up to 97% over conventional packaging.
• Our Campstore’s showcase local and indigenous items.
• Electric vehicle charging station is available at the old Post Office.

How You Can Help:

• Use proper recycling receptacles located throughout the property to recycle
  aluminum, paper, plastic (#1 only), cardboard, glass, batteries, and bear spray.
• Reuse bath towels to reduce the volume of water and energy used to clean them.
• Enjoy a beautiful ride in a historic Red Bus or take one of the free National Park
  Service shuttles instead of driving your own vehicle.
• Limit your use of plastics by using environmentally friendly and reusable
  containers.
• Refill reusable containers at one of our free hydration bottle-filling stations.

What Happens to Our Recycled Materials?
Our cardboard is sent to a mill in Oregon to be reused in making new cardboard. Glass is sent to a sandblasting firm in Utah. Shredded office paper is sent to a mill in Oregon to be used to make paper towels and toilet paper. Aluminum is sent to Kentucky to be re-used to make rolled sheet aluminum. Plastics are sent to California.

A Warming Climate
“Deadly Heat,” “Devastating Hurricanes,” “Rising Sea Level,” “Vanishing Glaciers”—headlines like these bombard many of us on a daily basis. Climate change is no longer just a phenomenon discussed among scientists. It is a pressing issue, one that permeates many aspects of our lives. Over the last 100 years, the earth’s average temperature rose by 1.5° F. By the end of this century, it is predicted to rise by an additional 2–7° F. This rapid temperature increase parallels an increasing level of carbon dioxide found in our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, along with other gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, is called a “greenhouse gas” because it traps heat in the atmosphere. While these gases are essential to all life on Earth, high concentrations lead to a warmer planet. Scientists link this build-up of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere, due largely to human activities, to the rapid rise in temperature. Although the earth has experienced cooler and warmer periods throughout its past, current warming is occurring at an unprecedented rate. A 2° F additional change in Earth’s temperature might not seem drastic, but even this increase could bring major changes to our water cycle and to many people, plants, and animals adapted to the current climate.

Melting Ice
Although Earth’s overall temperature is steadily rising, climate change affects areas around the globe in different ways. Mountain ecosystems in the western United States and, in particular, the Northern Rockies, are highly sensitive to climate change. Northwest Montana experiences the same general global warming pattern, but at a faster rate (1.8 times the global average). At elevations above 6,000 feet, temperatures are warming even faster—three times the global average. What does this mean for the park’s snow and ice? At the end of a cooler period in Earth’s history, known as the Little Ice Age (circa 1850), an estimated 150 glaciers existed within the present boundaries of the park. Today, due to a rapidly warming climate, only 25 glaciers remain—and the largest have lost roughly 75% of their size since 1850. If the current rate of melting continues, climate models predict the park’s glaciers will disappear by 2030, if not earlier. Ice patches and perennial snowfields are also melting. Along with glaciers, these sources contribute essential cold water to streams during late summer and early fall, when little seasonal snowfall remains. The loss of glacial and other ice could create many changes for species that depend on a continuous, cold water supply. Glaciers are visible from Going-to-the-Sun road, on the drive into the Many Glacier Valley, and by hiking on some of the parks many hiking trails (refer to Park website for specific trails or consult with a Park Ranger at one of Glacier National Parks Visitor Centers.

What Can We Do?
Xanterra Travel Collection® is committed to reducing our contribution to global warming. Current efforts include reductions in energy and water consumption through carpooling, modifications in operational vehicle use, energy efficient lighting and other electrical appliances, and support from guests with limiting use of room heaters, using water conservation measures, not idling vehicles, and participation in other housekeeping related conservation strategies. In addition, guests can support the carpooling effort by booking a Red Bus Tour or by using one of the parks Shuttle Buses to explore the park.

The history of Lake McDonald is unique among the hotels and motor inns of Glacier National Park because its origin predated establishment of the Park. The lodge site was established in 1895 when George Snyder homesteaded the land and built the small Snyder Hotel.

Ownership later passed to John Lewis of Columbia Falls, Montana, who maintained a fishing and tourist camp on the site for many years. Mr. Lewis built the log cabins in approximately 1910 and added the present Lodge structure in 1914, operating as the “Lewis’ Glacier Hotel”. The building cost approximately $68,000 to construct with a good share being spent on transporting the Spruce and Fir logs and materials by lake to the Lodge site.

Mr. Lewis was a furrier and furnished several of the hunting trophies which are still on display in the Lodge lobby. These mounted wild animals were originally part of his private collection and served to enhance the “hunting lodge” atmosphere which Mr. Lewis sought to maintain.

The massive fireplace in the lobby adds to the comfortable “homey” atmosphere for which the Lodge has been famous throughout the years. The fireplace and hearth originally served as a combination kitchen and furnace for Mr. Lewis and his guests.

At a later date, more cabins, a coffee shop, and the Campstore were added to the complex. These additional accommodations brought the total number of rooms to 82. During the winter of 1958, a completely modern kitchen was installed and the Lodge was entirely refurbished.

The Lodge was purchased by the Glacier Park Hotel Company in 1930, at which time the main Lodge structure and several surrounding cabins were operated by the Great Northern Railway using the name “Lake McDonald Hotel”. In 1932, the railway sold the hotel and the land to the National Park Service. In 1957, the name was officially changed to “Lake McDonald Lodge”. Concession services in Glacier National Park were operated by Glacier Park, Inc. (Viad Corporation) until 2013. In January 2014, Xanterra Travel Collection® (then known as “Xanterra Parks and Resorts”) began operating in Glacier National Park  as Glacier National Park Lodges and assumed responsibility for the primary concession services.

Lake McDonald Lodge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 in recognition of its unique architecture and its significance to local history. In 1987, the Lodge was recognized as a National Landmark, and in 1988 a partial rehabilitation of the main lodge building was completed by the National Park Service. In 2013, the historic Cobb House and Snyder Hall were renovated as guest lodging. Most recently, the historic cabins and Lodge have undergone one of the most extensive refurbishments since 1988. In the Spring of 2016, all electrical and heating was updated as well as new furniture, fixtures, flooring, and soft goods replaced. Throughout all of the changes and improvements, Lake McDonald Lodge has retained its original hunting lodge atmosphere.

2014 marked the Centennial year of the establishment of Lake McDonald Lodge, a popular Glacier National Park destination for millions of guests past and future.