The time of year you have chosen for hiking is great but all the park concessions, free shuttles and hotels etc will be closed by then. It is not easy to find the public transportation you would need to do what you want, even if you were to come in the main tourist season. It just does not exist so far. You cannot drive a rental car (even a 4WD without a special $$ waiver from the rental car company) on either the Bowman and especially the horrible Kintla Lake road. You would also be off grid, far away from towing help and out of cell range. In late September there is also a chance of early snow on higher trails.
I would for sure rent a car or I believe you will become frustrated up here. Try booking through the following, it usually ends up that the rates are lower than booking direct:
Rental Car Low Price Finder at Costco Travel
https://www.costcotravel.com › Rental-Cars
...............
Do you have hotel reservations in one or more of the bedroom communities for then? The park concessions etc will be closed but September is still a very popular time for avid hikers, locals and retirees.
You probably don't want to commute from Kalispell to GNP every day...depending on where your hotel is located it can take an hour in each direction just to arrive at Glacier's western gate. There are smaller bedroom communities with cabins and motels much closer to the park on both sides which will still be open for business.
................
Two weeks is more time up here than you may need given the limitations. You would probably like being nearer the east side than the west since most of the more famous hiking originates from the east side of the park. At that time of year, many visitors combine Glacier/Waterton with Banff/Jasper as a nice circle tour from either Glacier or Calgary airports. We could discuss that if you like.
You cannot rent a car in one country and drop it off in the other...but you can drive it freely between countries as long as you return it to country of origin.
..................
You may have more questions...please ask. Check out the following link as well, it will help you choose trails to take.
Your Guide to Glacier National Park
https://www.hike734.com
Welcome to Hike 734 where you'll find trail and trip info for every mile of trail in Glacier National Park in description and beautiful ad-free, narrated video form!
.................
Let me know and I can attach a list of possible places to stay nearer to Glacier on both sides of the park.
Edited: 6 years ago