SWIFTCURRENT MOTOR INN 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 Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, the following services are available:

FRONT DESK HOURS:
The front desk will be closed between 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. For assistance or in case of emergency, there is a phone box just outside the lobby front doors. Simply pick up the handset and you will be connected with on site security personnel.

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.

QUIET HOURS:
10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

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.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT:
On your day of departure, should you not wish to stop by the front desk, please leave your keys in the express check-out box located near the main entrance. A final receipt will be emailed to the address on file.

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:
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, housekeeping service will not be available. However, if you are in need of extra linens or amenities, please visit the Front Desk.

ICE:
An ice machine is available for guest use and is located in the laundry room near the public showers.

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 main lobby.

MAIL:
Mail is sent from and received at the Inn 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. To prevent injury and exposure to hotel personnel handling trash, please do not dispose medical needles or sharps in in-room trash containers.

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 inn 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.

COOKING & OPEN FLAMES:
Please do not cook in or outside of your room. This includes but is not limited to the following: Crock pots, rice cookers, air fryers, hot plates, cooking stoves, grills, etc. Cooking is only allowed in designated picnic areas. Food and odors attract bears. All edibles (including pet food), food containers, stoves, grills, trash, coolers/ice chests, cosmetics and toiletries, and cookware must be stored in a hard sided vehicle, food locker, or building when not in use or unattended. Violation of these rules may result in an National Park Service citation and or confiscation of these items. Open flames such as candles, wax melts, incense, etc. are prohibited in all guest areas.

CAMPSTORE:
The store is located in the main building at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins. In the store there is a wide variety of grocery items, camping and hiking supplies, apparel, gifts, and souvenirs. We sell a large variety of locally made huckleberry items along with many other Made in Montana gifts. We also sell locally made beer and wine along with other choices from around the region. Enjoy a cup of soft serve ice cream while you stroll around the store shopping for souvenirs that will remind you of your trip to Glacier National Park.

Open daily 7:00 a.m.— 9:00 p.m.

SHOWER TOKENS:
Timed showers are available for purchase at the Swiftcurent Campstore.

TELEPHONES:
Public pay phones are located outside the Campstore. Calling cards are available for purchase in various locations around the park.

GIFT SHOP:
Located at Many Glacier Hotel, 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.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INFORMATION:
406-888-7800

NELL’S
Nell’s, located in the Main Registration Building and named for famed explorer George Bird Grinnell, offers a variety of dining choices in a fast casual environment. ‘Nell’s is certain to have something for everyone. Come over and join us for a bite and a beer. The diner does not take reservations and seats on a first-come, first-served basis. Children’s menus, box lunches, food to go, beer, and wine service are also available. Hike, Eat, Sleep, Repeat Breakfast:

• Breakfast: 6:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m.
• All day menu: 11:00 a.m.—9:30 p.m.

Located at Many Glacier Hotel

HEIDI’S:
Heidi’s is located on the lake level. It offers a wide variety of food and beverage items to go. The store serves Montana Coffee Traders hot coffee and espresso drinks. We also sell locally made beer and wine along with other choices from around the region. Grab a hot food item for breakfast, lunch or dinner at any time the store is open. Whether you want to build a lunch for your days’ adventure or just grab a simple snack we have plenty to offer. Please stop by and check us out.

• Open daily 6:30 a.m.— 9:00 p.m.

THE PTARMIGAN DINING ROOM
Relax in one of the most scenic restaurants in the park. The Ptarmigan Dining Room. Located in Glacier National Park’s largest lodge touted as the ’Showplace of the Rockies’ and modeled after its original design, The Ptarmigan Dining Room provides stunning views of Grinnell Point over Swiftcurrent Lake. A full continental breakfast buffet is offered alongside an à la carte menu. Enjoy sandwiches, burgers, salads for light or hearty lunch options. Unwind at dinner with a wide array of regional, sustainable, organic fare, game entrees, and more. To enjoy spectacular views from seats closest to the lakeside windows, please join us early as the restaurant does not take reservations and seats as a first-come, first served basis.

Children’s menu and box lunches are available.

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

THE SWISS LOUNGE
The Swiss Lounge, located next to the main dining room at the north end of the Hotel, offers Montana craft beers, regional wines, and full bar as well as appetizers and other classic meals from our all day menu. While you are here don’t miss your chance at a Huckleberry Smash our most popular craft cocktail.

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

LAUNDRY FACILITIES:
Guest laundry facilities are available at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, located one mile past the hotel. The washers and dryers accept quarters only. For your convenience, a coin machine is located by the washers and dryers. Laundry detergent and dryer sheets can be purchased in the Campstore at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. The laundry facilities are located behind the guest cabins and public showers.

CAMPSTORE:
The store is located in the main building at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins. In the store there is a wide variety of grocery items, camping and hiking supplies, apparel, gifts, and souvenirs. We sell a large variety of locally made huckleberry items along with other Made in Montana gifts. We also sell locally made beer and wine along with other choices from around the region. Don’t forget to grab a cup of soft serve ice cream while you stroll around the store grabbing souvenirs that will remind you of your trip to Glacier National Park.

• Open daily: 7:00 a.m. — 10:00 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 Travel Collection®, 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” that 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 Travel Collection® and Glacier National Park Lodges

• 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 bottles 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 bottles
• 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 in Our Effort

• 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

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 name “Swiftcurrent” is thought to have come from the Blackfeet term, “ikami-awaki- mishka” which means “fast running water”. In 1911, the Great Northern Railway established a teepee camp at this site. Early guests arriving on horseback slept on army cots in full-sized replicas of the 23-pole Blackfeet Indian teepees.

In 1933, twenty-seven cabins were built by the Superior Building Company and the area became known as the “Many Glacier Auto Tourist Camp”. In 1934, the CCC (President F.D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps) constructed the campground that is just south of the Inn and the cabins in circles “D” and “I”. The present camp store was built in 1935 to provide service for campers.

On August 31, 1936, the extensive Heavens Peak forest fire swept through the Swiftcurrent valley destroying thirty-one of the cabins and many acres of forest. The cabins were rebuilt in 1937 and the National Park Service planted thousands of trees to replace the burned forest.

A central comfort station, including showers, was added in 1940. The Park Superintendent at the time, E.T. Scoyen, pressed the Great Northern Railway for a coffee shop. In 1941, it, and what is now the lobby area, were added to the existing campstore building.

Major construction took place again in 1955 when an employee dormitory building and three motel units were added. The dormitory was shortly converted to a motel unit, known as Pine Top Motel.

During the Fall of 2013, construction began on seven cabins to complete the “I” circle. The new cabins were finished in July of 2014 bringing the complex to 95 guest rooms. In the Winter of 2014 and Spring of 2015, all of the guest rooms were refurbished.

In 1961, Don Hummel, operating as Glacier Park, Inc., bought all of the hotels, cabin camps, and buses in Glacier and Waterton from the Great Northern Railway. He, in turn, sold the facilities to the Dial Corporation (now VIAD Corp.) in 1981, which operated them as a subsidiary known as Glacier Park, Inc. which served as the concessioner thru 2013.

In January 2014, Xanterra Travel Collection® (then known as Xanterra Parks and Resorts) was awarded the primary concession contract for Glacier National Park. Glacier National Park Lodges, a division of Xanterra, operates several of the concession services including lodging, restaurants, retail outlets, and tours in Glacier National Park.

In 1996, the Swiftcurrent Auto Camp Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its significance to local history. Swiftcurrent is the stepping-off place for the trails that lead over Swiftcurrent Pass. Trails also lead to Iceberg Lake and Ptarmigan Lake through the unique 183 foot Ptarmigan Tunnel, which was constructed for use by horseback riders as well as hikers. Swiftcurrent is truly a hiker’s paradise!