BEST AREAS FOR WILDERNESS CAMPING
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK1,013,598 acres. Located near and alongside the Canadian border, in northwest Montana, Glacier is one of our most spectacular National Parks. Along with Canada’s Waterton National Park it forms the Waterton/Gla-cier International Peace Park.
This is a region of truly splendid Rocky Mountain scenery, with extremely rugged and steep glacier-carved mountains, cirque basins and valleys, and over 50 glaciers. The Continental Divide extends the length of the park, with elevations over
10,000 feet. Virtually the entire area is wilderness.
There are over 200 lakes, countless streams with waterfalls, alpine meadows, and prairie grasslands. Forests are of spruce and fir, pine and larch. Among the wildlife are elk, deer, grizzly and black bear, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and mountain lion.
Activities: Backpacking and hiking are possible on over 730 miles of trails. Difficulty ranges from easy to very strenuous. Horses are allowed on some trails. Bikes may only be ridden on established roads, although they are permitted on three trails in neighboring Waterton Park.
Canoeing, kayaking, and rafting are available on the Flathead River. Cross-country skiing is possible throughout the park in winter, as is snowshoe-ing. Fishing is permitted along streams, rivers, and lakes. Hunting is prohibited.
Camping Regulations: Camping is allowed in the backcountry with a free permit, which is available no more than 24 hours in advance from the park’s visitor centers and ranger stations.
There are 63 established backcountry camping areas, and camping is restricted to the designated
sites in most parts of the park. Numbers of campers are limited at each site. Campfires are permitted at some but not all locations. Pets are prohibited.
One section of the park includes a wilderness camping zone, and here camping is allowed almost anywhere. In this area campfires are prohibited, and campsites should be away from meadows, at least 100 feet from water sources, and out of sight of trails and other campers. Maximum group size is 12.
For Further Information: Glacier National Park, West Glacier, MT 59936; (406)888-5441.
