Glacier Park campgrounds opening

Many of Glacier National Park’s campground facilities will open on Memorial Day weekend.

Most campgrounds in Glacier Park are on a first-come first-serve basis. Reservations are available at Fish Creek and St. Mary Campgrounds beginning June 1 and may be made up to six months in advance through the National Recreation Reservation Service at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Campers without prior reservations are also welcome at these campgrounds, as space is available.

Water is available at most campgrounds, but there are no electrical or water hookups at any campground in the park. Dump and water fill stations are available at most campgrounds. Water is not available when a campground is in primitive status. Many campgrounds can accommodate campers and trailers, with some size restrictions.

Specific information about each campground, including a map of the sites, operating dates, available services, current and historic fill times, and more is available by visiting online at http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm. 

The Apgar Campground, the largest campground in the Park, hosts almost 200 camping sites for tents and RV campers. Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water. All Apgar Campground sites are first-come first-serve, with a summer overnight fee of $20. 

Hiker/bicyclist sites are available at Apgar, Avalanche, Many Glacier, Rising Sun, Sprague Creek, and Two Medicine Campgrounds for $5 per person per night, and at Fish Creek and St. Mary for $8 per person per night.

Campgrounds in primitive status cost $10/night. When campgrounds are in primitive status no water is provided. Any water taken from streams or lakes requires treatment before use. Primitive and winter front-country campgrounds include pit toilets, no running water and only a limited number of sites.

Group sites are available by reservation for groups. These sites are located in the Apgar and St. Mary campgrounds. These sites can be reserved up to one year in advance through the National Recreation Reservation Service at www.recreation.gov/ or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Many Glacier and Two Medicine campgrounds have one group site at each campground, and both are on a first-come first-serve basis.

Visitor centers are located at Apgar, St. Mary, and Logan Pass and each feature unique exhibits and activities. Interpreters and rangers are available at each visitor center during open hours.

Campers are reminded to keep a clean camp and obey food storage regulations. Animals are attracted to food and food odors. All food, garbage, and equipment used to cook, serve or store food must be kept sealed in a vehicle or in an approved bear-resistant container. For more information about food storage regulations, please visit the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm or contact the park at 406-888-7800.

Campground opening and closing dates are as follows:

Apgar — May 1 to Oct. 11, fee $20, primitive camping in picnic area Oct. 12–31 and April 1-May 1: $10 per night; Nov. 1–March 31; free with valid entrance pass.

Avalanche — June 19 to Sept. 13, fee $20, closes for season at noon Sept. 14.

Bowman Lake — May 21 to Sept. 13, fee $15, primitive camping Sept. 14 to Oct. 31 weather dependent, fee $10 per night Nov. 1 through closure, free with valid entrance pass.

Cut Bank — June 5 to Sept. 27, fee $10, operated in primitive status all season, closes noon on Sept. 28

Fish Creek — June 1 to Sept. 6, fee $23, operated as a National Recreation Reservation Campground, closes at noon Sept. 7.

Kintla Lake — June 11 to Sept. 13, fee $15, primitive camping May 20 to June 11, fee $10 per night, primitive camping Sept. 14 to Oct. 31 weather dependent, fee $10 per night, Nov. 1 through closure:, free with valid entrance pass.

Logging Creek — July 1 to Sept. 20, fee $10, primitive camping all season, closes at noon Sept. 21.

Many Glacier — May 22 to Sept. 27, fee $20, primitive camping Sept. 28 to Oct. 31 weather permitting, $10 per night.

Quartz Creek — July 1 to Oct. 30, fee $10, primitive camping all season; closes at noon Oct. 31.

Rising Sun — June 19 to Sept. 13, fee $20

Sprague Creek — May 8 to Sept. 13, fee $20

St. Mary — April 1to June 4, fee $10, campground will be closed to vehicle traffic from April 1 to June 4 and be open for walk-in campers only, fee $10 per night and the campground will remain in primitive status, no flush toilets nor running water. Vehicles can be parked in the St. Mary Visitor Center parking lot and walk to Loop C, which is approximately half a mile. From June 5 to Sept. 7 fee $23 operated as a National Recreation Reservation Campground; Sept. 8–20, fee $20; Sept. 21 to Oct. 31, fee $10; primitive camping Sept. 21 to Oct. 31; Nov. 1 to March 31 free with valid entrance pass; April 1 to regular season opening in May, fee $10 per night

Two Medicine — April 18 to Sept. 27, fee $20, primitive camping Sept. 28 to Oct. 31 weather permitting, fee $10 per night.