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General Camping Information
Camping in Glacier National Park is Rocky Mountain camping at its finest! Some things to consider if you have never camped in the Rockies, it gets down close to freezing almost every night. This is due to the geographical location and elevation. If you come prepared for cold weather camping, you shouldn't be surprised. Be prepared for quick weather changes, a day may start out warm and sunny and turn cold and stormy with very little notice. Either wear or take layered clothing with you and bring rain gear.
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When you leave your camp site, leave it buttoned up and prepared for wind and rain. That way if it storms while you are out hiking, your gear should stay dry. It is very disheartening to come back to a tent full of wet camping and sleeping gear. Be safe, have fun and happy trails!
Apgar and St Mary campgrounds are available year round for primative camping.
There are ten major campgrounds in Glacier. There are also backcountry sites for backpackers. Reservations are available at Fish Creek and St. Mary Campgrounds through the National Park Reservation Service: 1-800-365-2267. Reservations may also be made through a secure Internet site at http://reservations.nps.gov/. Hours for making reservations, both phone and Internet, are 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Reservations may be made up to 5 months in advance. Campers without reservations may inquire about site availability at kiosks located near the campground entrance.
To register for your campsite at a first-come, first-served campground, stop at the registration and information bulletin board located at the entrance to campgrounds or campground loops. Select a site, fill out a fee envelope completely, and deposit it in the fee tube within 30 minutes. Pay for only one night at a time. Park rangers can not give refunds. Place envelope fee receipt in clip on your numbered site post. Check out time is 12:00 noon.
Camp only in designated sites in campgrounds. There are no overflow facilities. Campgrounds normally fill before noon in July and August, so plan to arrive early.
Public showers are available at Many Glacier (within walking distance at Swiftcurrent Camp Store)and Rising Sun.
| Name | Open | Close | Sites | Dump Station | Laundry | Showers | Store | RV Info |
| Apgar | Beg May | Mid Oct | 196 | Yes | No | No | No | 40'/25 Sites |
| Avalanche | Mid Jun | Beg Sep | 87 | Yes | No | No | 6 mi | 26'/50 Sites |
| Bowman Lake | Mid May | Beg Sep | 48 | No | No | No | No | N/A |
| Cut Bank | End May | Beg Sep | 19 | No | No | No | No | N/A |
| Fish Creek | Mid Jun | Beg Sep | 180 | Yes | No | No | No | 26'/30 Sites |
| Kintla Lake | Mid May | Beg Sep | 13 | No | No | No | No | N/A |
| Logging Creek | Beg Jul | Beg Sep | 08 | No | No | No | No | N/A |
| Many Glacier | End May | End Sep | 110 | Yes | Yes | Yes# | Yes | 35'/13 Sites |
| Quartz Creek | Beg Jul | Beg Sep | 07 | No | No | No | No | N/A |
| Rising Sun | End May | Mid Sep | 83 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30'/3 Sites |
| Sprague Creek | Mid May | End Sep | 25 | Yes | No | No | Yes | No Towed |
| St. Mary | End May | Beg Sep | 148 | Yes | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* | 35'/25 Sites |
| Two Medicine | End May | Beg Sep | 99 | Yes | No | No | Yes | 32'/13 Sites |
* Available at the Village of St Mary's, one mile east of the campgrounds. There are no service stations in the park. However there are service stations in the nearby villages and towns.
Additional Campground Information
Apgar Campground - Apgar Campground is located at the foot of Lake McDonald. Full visitor facilities are located within easy walking distance. The campground has flush toilets and a disposal station. Boat access to Lake McDonald is nearby. Primitive camping is available through the fall, winter, and spring.
Avalanche Campground - Avalanche is located four miles north of Lake McDonald in a mature cedar/hemlock forest. Gas, groceries, and restaurants are approximately six miles south at Lake McDonald Lodge. The Avalanche Lake trailhead located nearby provides access to one of the most popular hikes on the west side of the park. The campground has flush toilets and a disposal station.
Bowman Lake Campground - Bowman Lake Campground is located at the foot of Bowman Lake in the northwest corner of the park and is reached via primitive dirt roads. Large RV's and trailers are not recommended. There are no flush toilets or disposal station. Boat access to Bowman Lake is nearby. Primitive camping is available before and after dates listed, as long as road conditions permit
Fish Creek Campground - Fish Creek Campground is located at near the foot of Lake McDonald. Full visitor facilities are located two miles away at Apgar. The campground has flush toilets and a disposal station. Boat access to Lake McDonald is at Apgar.
Kintla Lake Campground - Kintla Lake Campground is located at the foot of Kintla Lake in the northwest corner of the park and is reached via primitive dirt roads. Large RV's and trailers are not recommended. There are no flush toilets or disposal station. Boat access to Kintla Lake is nearby. Primitive camping is available before and after dates listed, as long as road conditions permit.
Many Glacier Campground - Many Glacier Campground is located near Swiftcurrent Lake in the Many Glacier Valley. Full visitor facilities are located within easy walking distance at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and one mile east at the Many Glacier Hotel. The campground has flush toilets and a disposal station. Boat access to Swiftcurrent Lake is nearby.
Rising Sun Campground - Rising Sun Campground is located on St. Mary Lake six miles west of the town of St. Mary. Full visitor facilities are located within easy walking distance at the Rising Sun Motor Inn. The campground has flush toilets and a disposal station. Boat access to St. Mary Lake is nearby.
Sprague Creek Campground - Sprague Creek Campground is located on Lake McDonald eight miles north of Apgar. Full visitor facilities are located one mile north at Lake McDonald Lodge. No towed units are allowed. The campground has flush toilets.
Saint Mary Campground - St. Mary Campground is located at near the foot of St. Mary Lake. Full visitor facilities are located a short distance away (1 mile east of the campgrounds) in the town of St. Mary, just outside the park. The campground has flush toilets and a disposal station. Primitive camping is available through the fall, winter, and spring.
Two Medicine Campground - Two Medicine Campground is located at near the foot of Two Medicine Lake. Groceries and gifts are available a short distance away at the campstore. Boat trips are offered several times a day from the boat dock. The campground has flush toilets and a disposal station. Boat access to Two Medicine Lake is nearby. Primitive camping is available before and after the dates listed as long as road conditions permit.
Backcountry Camping
In order to camp in the backcountry, a free permit is required. The permit is a means to manage the backcountry sites to avoid confusing and overcrowding. You can pick up a permit at Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Centers or Many Glacier Ranger Station. Normally between 01 May and 19 Nov, permits can be obtained no more than 24 hours in advance.
Reservations for backcountry camping can be made in advance starting 01 May through 31 Oct. These reservations can be made in person at Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Centers or via mail by writing to:
Backcountry Permits
Glacier National Park
PO Box 395
West Glacier, MT 59936-0395
| Number | Campground | Code | Sites | Stock | Comments |
| 1 | Adair | ADA | 4 | 6 | |
| 2 | Akokala Lake | AKO | 3 | 0 | No Fires |
| 3 | Boulder Pass | BOU | 3 | 0 | No Fires |
| 4 | Bowman Lake HD | BOW | 6 | 10 | |
| 5 | Brown Pass | BRO | 3 | 0 | No Fires |
| 6 | Grace Lake | GRA | 3 | 0 | |
| 7 | Kintla Lake HD | KIN | 6 | 10 | |
| 8 | Logging Lake FT | LOF | 3 | 0 | |
| 9 | Lower Quartz Lake | LQU | 4 | 6 | |
| 10 | Quartz Lake | QUA | 3 | 0 | No Fires |
| 11 | Round Prairie | ROU | 3 | 0 | No Fires |
| 12 | Upper Kintla Lake | UPK | 4 | 10 | |
| 13 | Arrow Lake | ARR | 2 | 6 | No Fires |
| 14 | Camas Lake | CAM | 2 | 0 | No Fires |
| 15 | Lake Ellen Wilson | ELL | 4 | 6 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 16 | Flattop | FLA | 3 | 6 | No Fires |
| 17 | Granite Park | GRN | 4 | 0 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 18 | Lincoln Lake | LIN | 3 | 8 | No Fires |
| 19 | McDonald Lake | MCD | 2 | 0 | |
| 20 | Snyder Lake | SNY | 3 | 6 | No Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Sperry | SPE | 4 | 0 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 22 | Beaver Woman Lake | BEA | 2 | 10 | No Fires |
| 23 | Coal Creek | COA | 2 | 10 | |
| 24 | Harrison Lake | HAR | 3 | 6 | |
| 25 | Lake Isabel | ISA | 2 | 0 | |
| 26 | Lower Nyack | LNY | 2 | 10 | |
| 27 | Ole Creek | OLC | 3 | 8 | |
| 28 | Ole Lake | OLL | 2 | 6 | No Fires |
| 29 | Park Creek | PAR | 3 | 6 | |
| 30 | Upper Nyack | UPN | 2 | 10 | |
| 31 | Upper Park Creek | UPP | 3 | 6 | |
| 32 | Atlantic Creek | ATL | 4 | 6 | |
| 33 | Cobalt Lake | COB | 2 | 0 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 34 | Morning Star Lake | MOR | 3 | 0 | No Fires |
| 35 | No Name Lake | NON | 3 | 0 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 36 | Oldman Lake | OLD | 4 | 6 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 37 | Two Medicine CG | TMC | 2 | 0 | |
| 38 | Upper Two Medicine Lake | UPT | 4 | 0 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 39 | Gunsight Lake | GUN | 7 | 6 | No Fires |
| 40 | Otokomi Lake | OTO | 3 | 0 | No Fires |
| 41 | Red Eagle Lake FT | REF | 4 | 0 | No Fires |
| 42 | Red Eagle Lake HD | REH | 4 | 10 | No Fires |
| 43 | Reynolds Creek | REY | 2 | 6 | |
| 44 | Cracker Lake | CRA | 3 | 0 | No Fires |
| 45 | Many Glacier CG | MAN | 2 | 0 | |
| 46 | Poia Lake | POI | 4 | 10 | No Fires |
| 47 | Slide Lake | SLI | 2 | 6 | |
| 48 | Belly River | BEL | 3 | 0 | |
| 49 | Cosley Lake | COS | 4 | 6 | |
| 50 | Elizabeth Lake FT | ELF | 5 | 8 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 51 | Elizabeth Lake HD | ELH | 4 | 6 | 2 Nights |
| 52 | Gable Creek | GAB | 3 | 6 | |
| 53 | Glenns Lake FT | GLF | 4 | 8 | |
| 54 | Glenns Lake HD | GLH | 3 | 0 | |
| 55 | Helen Lake | HEL | 2 | 0 | No Fires |
| 56 | Mokowanis Junction | MOJ | 5 | 8 | |
| 57 | Mokowanis Lake | MOL | 2 | 0 | No Fires |
| 58 | Fifty Mountain | FIF | 5 | 6 | No Fires |
| 59 | Lake Francis | FRA | 2 | 0 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 60 | Goat Haunt Shelters | GOA | 7 | 0 | 1 Night |
| 61 | Hawksbill | HAW | 2 | 0 | No Fires |
| 62 | Hole in the Wall | HOL | 5 | 0 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 63 | Lake Janet | JAN | 2 | 6 | - |
| 64 | Kootenai Lake | KOO | 4 | 6 | No Fires |
| 65 | Stoney Indian Lake | STO | 3 | 0 | No Fires / 1 Night |
| 66 | Waterton River | WAT | 5 | 6 |
Bears and Lions
Black and Grizzly Bears
Both black bears and grizzly bears are common in Glacier National Park, and their pursuit of food causes them to seek out food stored by visitors. Soap, toiletries, and scented items may also be an invitation to bears. To help reduce the instances of human/bear conflicts, the National Park Service has developed safety guidelines. These are the safest alternatives for storing food, toiletries, and pet food items to decrease the likelihood that personal injury or property damage will occur. Observe Park Food Storage Regulations.
Packs, sleeping bags, and clothes should be kept free of food odors. As a precaution against the presence of food odors, wash your hands and face before retiring. If possible, do not sleep in clothes worn while cooking. Put garbage and waste in bearproof trash cans. Do not leave food or scraps in your firegrate or around your camp. Dump dishwater in comfort station receptacles, not on the ground near your camp. Wash the picnic table after use and clean your cook stove and fire grill. Keep a clean camp!
Mountain Lions
Mountain Lion sightings have increased in the last few years, occasionally near campgrounds. Although usually secretive and seldom seen, mountain lions are potentially dangerous to humans and there have been rare attacks in the park in the past few years.
Closely supervise children whenever they are outdoors, even in developed areas. Be especially careful around areas of dense undergrowth.
Keep pets leashed and under control. Do not leave pets tied up at your campsite. Unattended pets may attract a lion and result in the loss of your pet.
Waterton Lakes National Park Camping
Frontcountry
Homestead Campground and Waterton Riverside are two privately operated campgrounds that border the park.
Following is a list of campgrounds operated by the National Park
| Name | Open | Fee | Sites | Full Service | Location | Comments |
| Townsite | Mid-Apr Mid-Oct |
$15 - $21 | 238 | 95 | In the townsite | No open fires. An open, mowed lawns campsite, excellent for RVs. |
| Crandell | Mid-May Mid-Sep |
$13 | 129 | Semi | Along the Red Rock Parkway in the scenic Blakiston Valley. Situated in a pleasant Montane forest. | Crandell Lake is a short hike, less than 2 km, from the campground. |
| Belly River | Mid-May Mid-Oct |
$10 | 24 | None | Along the Chief Mountain Highway 26 km from Waterton townsite. | Primitive camping. Self-registration. Check with staff for occupancy. A pleasant campground in mixed aspen forest and located right beside the Belly River. |
Waterton Lakes National Park Backcountry Camping
Permit required and payment of fees for overnight stays in the backcountry. Backcountry camping permits are $6.00 / registration / night. Following is a list of backcountry campsites:
Alderson Lake
Bertha Bay
Bertha Lake
Boundary Bay
Crandell Lake
Crypt Lake
Crypt Landing
Goat Lake
Lone Lake
Snowshoe
Twin Lakes
Wishbone
Pets
Pets are not permitted on trails or along lake shores. All unplowed roadways are "trails" in the winter.
Pets must be on a leash of 6 feet or less, caged, or in vehicles at all times. Pets are not to be left unattended at any time.
Pets must be restrained while in open bed pickup trucks.
Pet waste must be collected and deposited in a trash receptacle
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