Glacier National Park
PO Box 128
West Glacier MT 59936, (406) 888-7800
Special Topics: Endangered Species � Glaciers � Mountains �
Recreation Activities: Biking � Boating � Camping �
Educational Programs � Fishing � Hiking � Horseback Riding
Camping Areas
Glacier has 13 campgrounds with approximately 1000 sites. Fish Creek and St.
Mary Campgrounds may be reserved in advance. All others are first come/first
served.
Apgar campground is the largest campground in Glacier National Park. It is near
Apgar Village, where you will find the Apgar visitor center, gift shops, a camp
store, and a casual restaurant. Horseback ride reservations, boat rentals, a
shuttle service, and Red Bus tour reservations are also located in Apgar
Village.
The campground itself is situated in trees and provides tent and RV campers with
shade and some privacy. Potable water is accessible in the campground, and
restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water. Evening
sunsets on Lake McDonald are only a short stroll from the campground, and you
won't want to miss evening programs at the Apgar Amphitheater with a ranger.
Please see our ranger guided activity schedule for more information.
Avalanche campground in located in one of the most popular sections of Glacier
National Park west of the Continental Divide.
The campground is situated within old growth cedar and hemlock trees, keeping
the area cool during the summer months. The campground accomodates tent and RV
campers, however only 50 sites will accomodate vehicle lengths up to 26 feet.
Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities are
equipped with flush toilets and sinks with running water.
Bring your hiking boots and binoculars if you are staying at Avalanche
Campground. Two popular day hikes, Trail of the Cedars, and Avalanche Lake,
afford visitors spectacular scenery and glimpses of birds and wildlife that
inhabit the area. Plant enthuisiasts will appreciate the diverse species of
flora.
Be sure to check out many of the evening programs with a ranger at the Avalanche
Amphitheater, just a short stroll from the campground.
Sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Bowman Lake campground is located in the North Fork area of Glacier National
Park approximately 32.5 miles from the west entrance, and 30 miles from the
Canadian border. The drive to Bowman Lake is a very slow, dusty, and bumpy ride
on dirt roads, and passes through the tiny community of Polebridge and sections
of the park that notably burned in 1988.
Mountains tower over pristine Bowman Lake. The campground is located close to
the shore and camp sites are within trees for shade and some privacy. Tent
campers looking for peace and quiet will enjoy Bowman Lake for it's serenity and
remote location. Be sure to pack bug repellent or headnets though, as mosquitoes
often take residence at Bowman Lake. Potable water is available through water
spigots in the campground, and there are pit toilets nearby. A picnic area
provides day use visitors with the opportunity to enjoy a peaceful lunch, and
there are day hiking opportunities near Bowman Lake for hikers eager to
experience Glacier's wilderness. Fisherman, canoers, and kayakers will enjoy the
recreational opportunities Bowman Lake offers. Motorized vessels are allowed on
Bowman Lake, but are limited to 10 horsepower or less.
Limited amenities can be found in Polebridge.
RVs and truck and trailer combinations are not recommended at Bowman Lake due to
the nature of the long, narrow, and windy dirt road to the campground. Turning
vehicles around (3-point turns) is difficult.
Sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Cut Bank campground is located on the east side of Glacier National Park and
provides a sense of peace and quiet that may not be found in larger campgrounds
within the park. The campground is accessed by a 5 mile dirt road off of highway
89.
The Campground is located among trees, providing shade and privacy for tent
campers. RVs are not recommended due to the nature of the road and campground
layout. A water pump is available for potable water, and pit toilets are located
nearby. Trailheads are also near the campground for day hiking use or extended
trips into the backcountry. Shuttle service can be found off of highway 89 at
the beginning of the dirt road that leads to the campground.
Dayhiking opportunities are available at Cut Bank and offer spectular views into
Glacier's interior.
Cut Bank offers campers the opportunity to enjoy a primitive camping experience
with serenity and solitude.
Sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis
Fish Creek campground is located just off the Camas Road approximately 2.5 miles
from Apgar Village on the west side of Glacier National Park. It is the second
largest campground in the park.
Sites within the campground are surrounded by trees and provide shade and some
privacy to both tent and RV campers. Some sites, though not directly on the
shore of Lake McDonald, offer filtered views of the lake. Potable water is
accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and
sinks with running water. A park ranger hosts nightly evening programs at the
Fish Creek Amphitheater, speaking on a variety of subjects about Glacier. Please
see our ranger guided activity schedule for more information.
Fish Creek serves as a central location to many day hikes in the area, including
the Rocky Point trail, where you have the opportunity to hike through a burn
area from the Robert Fire of 2003. Take advantage of morning and evening drives
along the Camas Road where there is a good chance of seeing wildlife.
Kintla Lake campground is Glacier National Park's most remote frontcountry and
car camping campground. It is located in the upper most northwest section of the
park known as the North Fork, approximately 40 miles from the west entrance and
the Canadian border. Though the drive is very slow and bumpy on dirt roads, the
scenery along the way is spectacular. Part of the drive takes you through the
tiny community of Polebridge, and sections of the park that notably burned in
1988 and 2003.
Due to it's remote location, the campground is very quiet and is very rarely
filled, offering tent campers a sense of solitude. The campground sits on Kintla
Lake and is surrounded by trees, providing shade, cover, and filtered views of
the lake and the mountains that circle it. A hand pump is available for potable
water, and pit toilets are located in the campground as well. For those who
canoe and kayak, Kintla Lake is a paddlers paradise; no motorcraft is allowed.
Fisherman will also enjoy Kintla Lake for the trout found in it. And if you like
to hike, don't forget to pack your boots, as day hikes and extended trips into
the backcountry can be found near the campground. It isn't uncommon to hear the
memorable howls of wolves at night.
Limited amenities can be found in Polebridge.
RVs and truck and trailer combinations are not recommended at Kintla Lake due to
the nature of the long, narrow, and windy dirt road to the campground.
Sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Logging Creek campground is located on the west side of the park and is accessed
by the Inside North Fork Road, a rough, dusty, dirt road with many blind curves
and few pullouts. The maximum speed is 20 mph, so the drive can be long if
traveling from the Fish Creek area. Less, if traveling from Polebridge.
Tent campers will enjoy a truly wilderness experience at the campground. This
small campground is located within trees and views are limited, though a 6.2
mile (one way) day hike to Logging Lake will provide great views. The campground
is equipped with pit toilets.
Limited amenities can be found in Polebridge.
RVs and truck and trailer combinations are not recommended at Logging Creek due
to the nature of the long, narrow, and windy dirt road to the campground.
Sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The campground at Many Glacier is one of the most popular campgrounds in Glacier
National Park. Camp sites are on a first- come, first- serve basis, and due to
the popularity of this campground, it is suggested you arrive early.
The campground is situated within trees for tent and RV campers, though there
are only 13 sites that can accommodate vehicle lengths up to 35 feet in length.
Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities are
equipped with flush toilets and sinks with running water. Be sure to join a
ranger for nightly evening programs. Please see our ranger guided activity
schedule for more information.
The nearby Swiftcurrent Motor Inn houses a combination gift shop and camp store,
and a casual restaurant. Shuttle service is also available here. A separate
building near the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, houses token operated showers (3
shower stalls for men, 4 shower stalls for women, and 1 ADA accessible unisex
shower stall). The historic Many Glacier Hotel, situated on Swiftcurrent Lake,
is located down the road from the campground. Here you will find dinning
opportunities, interpretive programs, boat tours, horse rides, shuttle service,
and Red Bus tours.
Bring your binoculars, as there are opportunities to view wildlife like bighorn
sheep and bears. Many Glacier also provides access to some of the best day hikes
in the park, including a hike to one of the park's largest glaciers, so don't
forget your hiking boots.
Quartz Creek campground is the smallest campground in Glacier National Park and
is considered to be primitive. It is located on the west side of the park and is
accessed by the Inside North Fork Road, a rough, dusty, dirt road with many
blind curves and few pullouts. The maximum speed is 20 mph, so the drive can be
long if traveling from the Fish Creek area. Less, if traveling from Polebridge.
Tent campers will enjoy a truly wilderness experience at the campground. This
small campground is located within trees and views are limited, though a 6.2
mile (one way) day hike to Lower Quartz Lake will provide great views. The
campground is equipped with pit toilets.
Limited amenities can be found in Polebridge.
RVs and truck and trailer combinations are not recommended at Quartz Creek due
to the nature of the long, narrow, and windy dirt road to the campground.
Sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Rising Sun campground is located where, "the mountains meet the prairies", just
west of St. Mary and halfway along St. Mary Lake.
Campers at Rising Sun will enjoy beautiful sunrises in the morning with Red
Eagle Mountain as a backdrop, and the campground serves as a convenient base
camp to many day hikes located east of Logan Pass. Some sites are open, allowing
for cool breezes throughout the day, while others are located among trees,
accommodating those seeking some shade and privacy. Potable water is accessible
in the campground, and restroom facilities are equipped with flush toilets and
sinks with running water. Be sure to join a ranger for nightly evening programs.
Please see our ranger guided activity schedule for more information.
Adjacent to the campground is a camp store, a casual restaurant, and token
operated showers (1 shower stall for men, and 1 shower stall for women). Boat
tours on St. Mary Lake are located near Rising Sun, and shuttle service is
available at this location.
Sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Sprague Creek is a small campground located on the northeast shore of Lake
McDonald, about 9 miles from the west entrance of the park. Camp sites are on a
first-come, first-serve basis, and due to the size of this campground, it is
suggested you arrive early.
The campground is located within trees, providing shade during warm summers.
Some sites near the shore, have unobstructed views of Lake McDonald. Due to its
location along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the campground is not as quiet as
other locations in the park, and vehicles can be heard driving by. Tent campers
however, will enjoy this campground as no towed units are allowed in Sprague
Creek due to the nature of the road within the campground. Potable water is
accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and
sinks with running water. A picnic area is also located within the campground.
Amenities such as a camp store, resturant, gift shop, tour buses, boat tours,
and horse rides can be found at the historic Lake McDonald Lodge, about a mile
away from the campground. Evening programs with a ranger are also located at
Lake McDonald Lodge.
St. Mary campground is the largest campground on the east side of Glacier
National Park, and is conveniently located approximately one half mile from the
St. Mary visitor center. Activities such as interpretive programs, book sales,
shuttle service, and Red Bus tours are located at the visitor center.
Though shade may be sparse, aspen trees grace St. Mary campground with soothing
sounds from spring and summer breezes, and colorful splashes of yellow late in
the season. Views of Singleshot, East Flattop, and Red Eagle Mountains
compliment the landscape. Potable water is accessible in the campground, and
restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water.
A couple of miles down the road and outside the park, you will find amenities
such as restaurants, gift shops, camp stores, gas, and a grocery store.
Before the Going-to-the-Sun Road opened for vehicle traffic, Two Medicine was an
extremely popular destination for visitors. Still holding it's majestic beauty,
Two Medicine is now a quiet and peaceful location in Glacier National Park,
located approximately 13 miles from East Glacier. Sites are on a first-come,
first-serve basis.
Sites within the campground at Two Medicine are generally shaded by trees, and
offer some privacy from other campers. 13 sites up to 32 feet offer RV campers
the opportunity to spend time in Two Medicine. Potable water is accessible in
the campground, and restroom facilities are equipped with flush toilets and
sinks with running water. Be sure to join a ranger for nightly evening programs
at the amphitheater within the campground. Please see our ranger guided activity
schedule for more information.
Located on the shore of Two Medicine Lake stands what used to be the Two
Medicine Chalet built by the Great Northern Railway. It now serves as a camp
store and gift shop, and is a registered historic landmark. Shuttle service,
boat tours, and Red Bus tours can be found at Two Medicine. There are numerous
day hiking opportunities available, including a handicap accessible trail to
Running Eagle Falls. Wildlife enthusiasts will want to have their binoculars
handy in Two Medicine.
Sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Lodging Options
Apgar Village Lodge
Open May to October
Phone 406-888-5484
Granite Park Chalet
Open July to Sept
Phone 888-345-2649
Details
Backcountry Hiker Shelter
Lake McDonald Lodge
Open May to October
Phone 406-892-2525
Many Glacier Hotel
Open June to September
Phone 406-892-2525
Rising Sun Motor Inn
Open June to September
Phone 406-892-2525
Sperry Chalet
Open July to September
Phone 888-345-2649
Details
Backcountry Chalet, reachable by hiking only
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
Open June to September
Phone 406-892-2525
Village Inn
Open May to October
Phone 406-892-2525
Additional Information
Getting There
Plane
Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, Montana is 25 miles west of
park headquarters in West Glacier, Montana.
There are also airports in Great Falls, Montana (200 miles east of West
Glacier)and Missoula, Montana (156 miles south of West Glacier).
Car rentals are available at airports. Shuttles are available at the Kalispell
airport.
Car
NOTE: Vehicles longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet (including mirrors) are
prohibited on the steepest sections of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Public Transportation
Public transportation options are limited. Shuttles from airports and train
stations provide some service to visitors to the park.
Getting Around
Guided Tours are available from two companies. Sun Tours offers interpretive
tours in Glacier from June 10 to September 15. Tours highlight Blackfeet culture
and history relating to Glacier National Park's natural features. For
reservations information call 1-800-786-9220
Glacier Park Inc., offers tours between lodges. For reservations call
406-892-2525
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