• Sunset at Granite Park Chalet

    Glacier

    National Park Montana

Backcountry Camping

backcountry
Ahern Pass
David Restivo, NPS
 

Glacier is a backpacking paradise. The park consistently ranks as one of the most popular backpacking parks in the NPS. Famous for its towering mountains, pristine alpine lakes, abundant wildlife, and its 700+ miles of trails, this amazing place is growing in popularity each year.

Many resources are available online for backcountry users to plan their trips. The most important is the Backcountry Guide that is available as a PDF file. In addition to the Backcountry Guide we also have Trail Status Reports, Advance Reservation Availability Calendars, a Walk-in Availability Chart, Backcountry Campground GPS Data, and a Backcountry Blog.

Follow the steps below to start planning your next adventure.

 

Step 1 - Read the Backcountry Camping Guide

Glacier National Park's current Backcountry Camping Guide is now available online as a PDF document. Please read through the entire Guide. Changes may effect your planned route. Incorrectly completed applications will be returned unprocessed, decreasing your chances of obtaining your trip planned. 

All advanced reservation requests received from January 1 through April 15, 2012 are eligible for the advanced reservation request lottery. The lottery processing begins on April 16, 2012. Each reservation application will be designated a randomly generated number and will be processed in that order. It can take up to a month to process all the advance reservation requests received in the lottery. Advanced reservation requests that are received after April 15 will be processed in the order of receipt and after the initial advanced reservation requests are processed.

Backcountry Camping Guide 2012 1.2 MB PDF File

Backcountry Application

 



Step 2 - Use our great trip planning aids 

Advance Reservation Availability, Trail Status Reports and Walk-in Availability are only updated mid-May through early fall  

  • Advance Reservation Availability
    Wouldn't it be nice to know if the sites you want were available to reserve in advance? This link will take you to a map of the park. Click on any campground to see a calendar with green squares indicating how many of the sites are still available.The calendar will be accurate by the middle of May once the advance reservation lottery has been processed. Check the date at the top to make sure the calendar is current.

  • Trail Status Reports
    As backcountry rangers and trail crews return from patrols and maintenance activities they update our Trail Status Database. That information is posted to the website every morning, supplying the most up-to-date information possible on trails.
    Updated May through early fall.

  • Walk-in Availability
    What's available tonight? This link will take you to the Daily Backcountry Availability Chart to see what's available for trips starting less than 24 hours in advance. The dates are listed in green at the top of the chart. The numbers below indicate how many sites are available for a "walk-in" permit. Check the date at the top to make sure the chart is current.

  • Backcountry Campground GPS Data
    A PDF file of coordinates to all the backcountry campgrounds.

  • Backcountry Blog
    Read reports and backcountry news from some of our Backcountry Rangers. The blog is update mid-May through early fall.

 
images of the backcountry

David Restivo and Bill Hayden, NPS

Glacier's Backcountry

Step 3 - Watch our Backcountry Camping Videos

Summer Backcountry Camping
This 14 minute video is an essential tool to plan a successful overnight experience in the park. Day-hikers and the casual visitor to Glacier will also enjoy this introduction to the wilds of one of the most spectacular and wild areas in the world.

Winter Backcountry Camping Video
This video will aid in planning a successful winter overnight experience in the park. Park visitors not planning on this level of extreme winter recreation will appreciate the challenges highlighted in this short vignette into Glacier's winter.

Leave No Trace
Learn how you can minimize your impact on Glacier National Park and other places you recreate.

 
podcast icon
Podcasts
The three files above are also available as Podcasts on the iTunes Music Store, and as mp4 files for other video capable devices.
 

Step 4 - Apply for a backcountry permit

The application (the link to the application form is above in Step 1) may be filled out online and printed or printed and filled out by hand. In either case mail or FAX the completed application to:
Backcountry Reservations
Glacier National Park
West Glacier, MT 59936

406-888-5819

 
Hole in the Wall
Near Hole in the Wall
David Restivo, NPS
 
Hiking Guide Service
Glacier Guides offers guided day hikes and backpacking trips into Glacier's backcountry.

Drop Camp Service
Swan Mountain Outfitters offers drop-camp service, packing visitors gear into certain backcountry campgrounds, using stock.

Did You Know?

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Did you know that in 1985, the Going-to-the-Sun Road was dedicated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark?