Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park, located in Montana, is a stunning natural wonderland that covers over one million acres and provides a vast array of outdoor recreational opportunities. Situated on the US-Canada border, this park stretches across the Rocky Mountains and boasts breathtaking landscapes, including glaciers, lakes, mountains, and forests.

Established as a national park in 1910, Glacier National Park holds great historical and cultural significance. It was once home to various Native American tribes, such as the Blackfeet, Salish, and Kootenai tribes, who had a deep connection with the land. The infamous Going-to-the-Sun Road, a marvel of engineering, was constructed during the Great Depression and now serves as a scenic drive offering sweeping vistas to visitors.

Visitors to Glacier National Park can engage in a multitude of activities to explore its beauty. Hiking enthusiasts can embark on numerous trails, ranging from leisurely walks to challenging multi-day treks. The park provides abundant opportunities for wildlife observation, with animals like bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, and mountain goats calling this area home. Additionally, visitors can enjoy camping, fishing, horseback riding, and boating in the glacier-fed lakes.

When visiting Glacier National Park, nearby attractions should not be missed. Just outside the park lies the charming town of Kalispell, where visitors can explore local shops, restaurants, and galleries. For history buffs, the Conrad Mansion Museum showcases the opulent lifestyle of the early 20th-century industrialist, Charles E. Conrad. Further afield in Whitefish, visitors can experience quaint mountain-town vibes and enjoy recreational activities like skiing, mountain biking, and zip-lining.

Overall, Glacier National Park is a nature lover's paradise, known for its striking beauty and rich history. It offers countless opportunities to explore, hike, and engage with the awe-inspiring landscapes. With nearby towns boasting their own set of attractions and activities, a visit to Glacier National Park promises an unforgettable experience.

Glacier National Park is nestled in the northwestern corner of Montana, a state known for its diverse terrain and breathtaking landscapes. Situated along the United States-Canada border, this park spans over one million acres of pristine wilderness. It is located in the Rocky Mountains, specifically within the heart of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem, which encompasses parts of Montana, British Columbia, and Alberta. The park is characterized by its towering, snow-capped peaks, deep glacial valleys, and sparkling alpine lakes, all of which can be found within its rugged terrain. Glacier National Park's geographical location makes it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with ample opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, and wildlife viewing.

Address & Contact

64 Grinnell Drive
Glacier National Park Headquarters
West Glacier, MT 59936
Driving Directions
Phone: 406-888-7800
Web: Link

Weather & Seasonality

The best time to visit Glacier National Park is in June or September. June offers pleasant weather with an average maximum temperature of 71°F and a minimum temperature of 45°F. There is also an average monthly precipitation of 3.9 inches. This is the month when the park receives the highest number of visitors.

On the other hand, September also provides favorable weather conditions with an average maximum temperature of 69°F and a minimum temperature of 42°F. The average monthly precipitation is 1.8 inches. In September, Glacier National Park attracts a considerable number of visitors.

By visiting the park during these months, visitors can enjoy outdoor activities while avoiding crowded conditions.

Activities

Some of the activities you can do in Glacier National Park are: Astronomy Food Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Walking Hands-On Junior Ranger Program Park Film Shopping Bookstore and Park Store Arts and Culture Biking Road Biking Camping Backcountry Camping Car or Front Country Camping Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use) Climbing Hiking Boating Motorized Boating Canoe or Kayak Camping Fishing Paddling Whitewater Rafting Skiing Cross-Country Skiing Auto and ATV Scenic Driving Horse Trekking Horseback Riding Snow Play Snowshoeing Swimming Self-Guided Tours - Auto Boat Tour Group Camping Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour Citizen Science Mountain Climbing Cultural Demonstrations Live Music Horse Camping (see also camping) Stand Up Paddleboarding

Topics

Learn about these topics at Glacier National Park: Animals Birds Geology Night Sky Architecture and Building Archeology Arts Native American Heritage Transportation Westward Expansion Cats (wild) Fish Fire Fossils and Paleontology River and Riparian Rock Landscapes and Features Trails Wilderness Colonization and Settlement Watersheds Photography Schools and Education Science, Technology and Innovation Climate Change Forests and Woodlands Glaciers Grasslands Lakes Mountains Natural Sounds Scenic Views Waterfalls Wetlands Roads, Routes and Highways Elk Coniferous Forests Engineering Homesteading Headwaters Trains and Railroads Music Great Depression

Visitor Centers

St. Mary Visitor Center

The St. Mary Visitor Center is located just inside the east entrance of the park near the community of St. Mary, Montana. Rangers are on duty inside to assist with trip planning. A park film is shown throughout the day. Exhibits highlight the rich Native American history associated with Glacier National Park.

Passport Stamp locations

The following locations have passport stamps for your "Passport to Your National Parks" booklet: St. Mary Visitor Center.

Campsites within or near Glacier National Park

Apgar Campground

Apgar Campground is the largest campground in the park. It is situated in trees and provides tent and RV campers with shade and some privacy. Evening sunsets on Lake McDonald are only a short stroll, and you won't want to miss evening programs with a ranger at the Apgar Amphitheater. Many trails are located within a short drive of the campground. Advanced reservations are required for all sites. Click the reservation button below for details.
Fees (US$): 30.00 (Apgar summer status), 20.00 (Apgar primitive status), 0.00 (Apgar winter status)
Total Campsites: 194
Toilets: Flush Toilets - seasonal
Showers: Free - Seasonal
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal

Avalanche Campground

Avalanche Campground in located in one of the most popular sections of Glacier National Park west of the Continental Divide. The campground accommodates tent and RV campers, however only 50 sites will accommodate vehicle lengths up to 26 feet. Bring your hiking boots and binoculars. Two popular day hikes offer spectacular scenery and glimpses of birds and wildlife that inhabit the area. Advanced reservations are required for all sites. Check Recreation.gov for details.
Fees (US$): 30.00 (Avalanche summer fee)
Total Campsites: 87
Toilets: Flush Toilets - seasonal
Showers: None
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal

Bowman Lake

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. Trailers are not permitted. The campground is located close to the shore of Bowman Lake and camp sites are within trees for shade and some privacy. Tent campers looking for peace and quiet will enjoy Bowman Lake for its serenity and remote location.
Fees (US$): 25.00 (Bowman Lake summer status), 15.00 (Bowman Lake primitive status)
Total Campsites: 48
Toilets: Vault Toilets - seasonal
Showers: None
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal

Cut Bank

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. Trailheads are near the campground for day hiking use or extended trips in the backcountry.
Fees (US$): 20.00 (Cut Bank summer fee)
Total Campsites: 14
Toilets: Vault Toilets - seasonal
Showers: None
Potable Water: No water

Fish Creek

Fish Creek is the second largest campground in the park and is one of the campgrounds in the park that takes reservations. 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.
Fees (US$): 30.00 (Fish Creek summer fee)
Total Campsites: 178
Toilets: Flush Toilets - seasonal
Showers: Hot - Seasonal
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal

Kintla Lake

Kintla Lake Campground is Glacier National Park's most remote frontcountry and car camping campground. It is located in the uppermost northwest section of the park known as the North Fork, approximately 40 miles from the west entrance. Access is via a rough dirt road. Trailers not permitted. Due to its remote location, the campground is very quiet and rarely fills, offering tent campers a sense of solitude. The campground sits on Kintla Lake.
Fees (US$): 25.00 (Kintla Lake summer status), 15.00 (Kintla Lake primitive status)
Total Campsites: 13
Toilets: Vault Toilets - seasonal
Showers: None
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal

Logging Creek

The Logging Creek Campground is one of the smaller campgrounds in Glacier and is located on the west side of the park, south of Polebridge. Access is via the Inside North Fork Road, a dusty narrow winding road. Caution is advised when traveling this road. RVs and trailers are not permitted. Once there, campers will find a small primitive campground with all the solitude one could want. The trailhead to Logging Lake is nearby and the easy hike to the lake is a great family day hike.
Fees (US$): 15.00 (Logging Creek summer fee)
Total Campsites: 7
Toilets: Vault Toilets - seasonal
Showers: None
Potable Water: No water

Many Glacier Campground

The campground at Many Glacier is one of the most popular campgrounds in Glacier National Park. 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. Bring your binoculars, as there are opportunities to view wildlife like bighorn sheep, moose, and bears. Many Glacier also provides access to some of the best day hikes in the park. Advanced reservations are required for all sites.
Fees (US$): 30.00 (Many Glacier summer status), 20.00 (Many Glacier primitive status)
Total Campsites: 109
Toilets: Flush Toilets - seasonal
Showers: Coin-Operated - Seasonal
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal

Quartz Creek

Quartz Creek Campground is the smallest campground in Glacier National Park and remains in primitive status all season. It is located on the west side of the park in the North Fork area and is accessed by the Inside North Fork Road, a rough, dusty, dirt road with many blind curves and few pullouts. Trailers are not permitted. Tent campers will enjoy a wilderness experience at the campground.
Fees (US$): 15.00 (Quartz Creek summer fee)
Total Campsites: 7
Toilets: Vault Toilets - seasonal
Showers: None
Potable Water: No water

Rising Sun Campground

Rising Sun Campground is located 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.
Fees (US$): 30.00 (Rising Sun summer fee)
Total Campsites: 84
Toilets: Flush Toilets - seasonal
Showers: Coin-Operated - Seasonal
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal

Sprague Creek Campground

Sprague Creek is a small campground located on the northeast shore of Lake McDonald, just off Going-to-the-Sun Road. Towed units (vehicle plus unit) and RVs exceeding 21 feet are not permitted in this campground. The campground is located within trees, providing shade during warm summers. Some sites near the shore have unobstructed views of Lake McDonald. Reservations are required to camp at Sprague Creek Campground. Click the reservation button below for details.
Fees (US$): 30.00 (Sprague Creek summer fee)
Total Campsites: 25
Toilets: Flush Toilets - seasonal
Showers: None
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal

St. Mary Campground

St. Mary Campground is the largest campground on the east side of Glacier National Park and is open year-round. Activities such as interpretive programs, book sales, and shuttle service tours are located at the nearby St. Mary Visitor Center. St. Mary is one of the campgrounds in the park that take reservations for part of the summer. 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.
Fees (US$): 20.00 (St. Mary primitive status), 30.00 (St. Mary summer status), 0.00 (St. Mary winter status)
Total Campsites: 148
Toilets: Flush Toilets - seasonal
Showers: Hot - Seasonal
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal

Two Medicine Campground

Two Medicine is approximately 13 miles from East Glacier. Sites within the campground at are generally shaded by trees, and offer some privacy from other campers. 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. The campground remains open in late-September for primitive camping with no running water or flush toilets. Advanced reservations are required for all sites.
Fees (US$): 30.00 (Two Medicine summer status), 20.00 (Two Medicine primitive status)
Total Campsites: 100
Toilets: Flush Toilets - seasonal
Showers: None
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal

Hotels within or near Glacier National Park

Waterton Glacier Suites

When you a stay at Waterton Glacier Suites in Waterton Park, you'll be in the mountains, within a 5-minute walk of Waterton Glacier International Peace Park and Waterton Marina. The front desk is staffed during limited hours. Free self parking is available onsite.
Address: 107 Windflower Ave, Waterton Lakes National Park, Waterton Park, Alberta T0K 2M0
Web: Link

Aspen Village Inn

Aspen Village Inn is centrally located in Waterton Park, a 3-minute walk from Waterton Marina and 8 minutes by foot from Cameron Falls. Featured amenities include express check-out, multilingual staff, and ATM/banking services. Free self parking is available onsite.
Address: 111 Windflower Avenue, Waterton Park, Alberta T0K2M0
Web: Link

Bayshore Inn & Spa

When you stay at Bayshore Inn & Spa in Waterton Park, you'll be on the beach, just steps from Waterton Marina and 10 minutes by foot from Cameron Falls. Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk and laundry facilities. Planning an event in Waterton Park? This resort has facilities measuring 5000 square feet (465 square meters), including a conference center. Free self parking is available onsite.
Address: 111 Waterton Avenue, Waterton Park, Alberta T0K2M0
Web: Link

Lake McDonald Lodge - Inside the Park

When you a stay at Lake McDonald Lodge - Inside the Park in West Glacier, you'll be on the waterfront, just steps from Lake McDonald and Waterton Glacier International Peace Park. Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk, a library, and an elevator. Free self parking is available onsite.
Address: 288 Lake Mcdonald Lodge Loop, West Glacier, Montana 59936
Web: Link

Village Inn At Apgar - Inside the Park

When you a stay at Village Inn At Apgar - Inside the Park in West Glacier, you'll be on the waterfront, just steps from Lake McDonald and Waterton Glacier International Peace Park. Free self parking is available onsite.
Address: 1039 Going-to-the-Sun Road, West Glacier, Montana 59921
Web: Link

Many Glacier Hotel - Inside the Park

With a stay at Many Glacier Hotel - Inside the Park in Babb, you'll be on a lake, just steps from Waterton Glacier International Peace Park and a 3-minute drive from Grinnell Glacier Trailhead. Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk and an elevator. Free self parking is available onsite.
Address: 36 Many Glacier Hotel Loop, Babb, Montana 59411
Web: Link

Northland Lodge

With a stay at Northland Lodge in Waterton Park, you'll be just steps from Waterton Glacier International Peace Park and Cameron Falls. Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, luggage storage, and laundry facilities. Free self parking is available onsite.
Address: 408 Evergreen Avenue, Waterton Park, Alberta T0K 2M0
Web: Link

Crandell Mountain Lodge

With a stay at Crandell Mountain Lodge in Waterton Park, you'll be a 1-minute walk from Waterton Glacier International Peace Park and 7 minutes by foot from Waterton Marina. The front desk is staffed during limited hours. Free self parking is available onsite.
Address: 102 Mountview Road, Waterton Park, Alberta T0K2M0
Web: Link

Rb636

With a stay at this vacation home in West Glacier, you'll be next to a golf course, just steps from Glacier View Golf Course and a 3-minute drive from Alberta Tourist Information Center. Free self parking is available onsite.
Address: 636 River Bend Drive, West Glacier, Montana 59936
Web: Link

West Glacier Cabin Village

With a stay at this cabin in West Glacier, you'll be a 5-minute walk from Alberta Tourist Information Center and 7 minutes by foot from Glacier National Park. The front desk is staffed during limited hours. Free self parking is available onsite.
Address: 350 River Bend Rd., West Glacier, Montana 59936
Web: Link