Increased fees and reservations proposed at Many Glacier

Campers at Glacier National Park’s Many Glacier Campground could face an increased nightly fee and the site could allow some reservations to give visitors the peace of mind in knowing they have a camping site available upon arrival.

The proposal is to increase the nightly camping fee from $20 to $23 per campsite, and allow for site-specific reservations at approximately half of the campsites through the National Recreation Reservation System. The increase in fees would offset the service charge of the reservation service provider and would be applied to the entire campground.

It is proposed that the new fees and opportunity to reserve a campsite would begin in the summer of 2014.

The Many Glacier Campground is currently managed as a completely first-come first-served campground for all 109 of its campsites. But due to its popularity in the summer months, all of the sites filled by mid-to-late morning.

The park would allow site-specific reservations at approximately half of the campsites, while the other half of the campground would remain first-come, first-served. Individuals who hold a senior or access pass through the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program would continue to receive a 50 percent discount on camping fees.

St. Mary and Fish Creek Campgrounds already have reservations available with a nightly fee of $23.

Public comments on this proposal should be submitted by March 6. An online form is available at www.parkplanning.nps.gov/Many GlacierCampgroundFees.

Comments may be also be submitted through the mail to: Glacier National Park, Attention: Many Glacier Campground Fee Rate Increase, PO Box 128, West Glacier, MT 59936.