Glacier National Park Vacation Planner
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National Park Service Glacier U.S. Department of the Interior Glacier National Park Vacation Planner A telephoto lens or a pair of binoculars is a safe way to improve your wildlife viewing experience. This Whitetailed Deer was safely photographed with a large telephoto lens - photo by David Restivo Keep the Wild in Wildlife Prairie, Rocky Mountain, and west coast plants all meet in Waterton-Glacier. Add in the Because park animals are still wild, they remain unpredictable, and may strike out with effects of natural processes such as fire, floods, and avalanches and you end up with a antlers, horns, teeth, hooves, or claws without warning. Animals may be hit by cars if they varied landscape which provides homes for many animals. hang around parking lots and roads, and habituated animals often have to be relocated or killed. Animal jams and habituated wildlife are serious problems. Please heed the advice of This is also a meeting place for visitors from around the world! As a visitor here, take the park staff who may be handling these situations. time to learn about the wildlife and respect their need for undisturbed space. Although some animals spend part of the year close to roads and developed areas where they are How can you help? Enjoy wildlife from a distance and properly store food and garbage. easy to observe, enjoy viewing them at a distance. While some animals appear to tolerate Never feed wildlife. We all share responsibility to keep Glacier healthy and wild. people, approaching too close can disturb them from feeding areas or travel routes. Keep at least three bus lengths (100 ft/30 meters) away from large animals and a minimum of three times that distance from bears. Use binoculars or a telephoto lens to improve your view. Keep the animal’s line of travel or escape route clear and move away if wildlife approaches you. “Animal jams” occur when many people stop along the road to view wildlife. In their excitement, some folks forget they need to be aware not only of safety concerns related to wildlife, but also traffic hazards. Slow down and pull over carefully. Remain in your vehicle, safe from wildlife and traffic, and move on in a short time so others can watch. If you are too close to an animal, on a hill, curve, or in heavy traffic, drive by slowly and avoid stopping. This visitor is way too close to a mountain goat, creating a potentially dangerous situation - photo by David Restivo Beating the Odds Increase Your Chances of Observing Wildlife Look at dusk and dawn! Many animals Look in unusual places! Have you ever are more active at those times. Remember gone fish viewing? Have you spent some however, hiking alone or after dark is never time watching the antics of chipmunks? recommended in bear country. Have you looked up for gliding eagles or rollicking ravens? Look in a variety of habitats! One of the park’s most remarkable features is the Learn about animal behavior! Knowing diversity of habitats it offers. You will see when and where to look is important. For different animals in forests than on the example, in autumn elk congregate in large prairie or in marshy areas. groups around St. Mary. Harlequin ducks Glacier National Park MT 59936-0128 Glacier, West 406-888-7800 and American Dippers frequent the fast Walk a trail! Spend some time away from moving sections of streams and creeks. the roads. Glacier offers fine short walks Golden eagles use the McDonald Creek Visit both parks on the World Wide Web. Glacier National Park at www.nps.gov/glac Wide Web. Visit both parks on the World Lakes National Parks at www2.parkscanada.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton/ or Waterton that can reward wildlife watchers. valley in their fall migration. Where to Stay Lodging Campgrounds Various accommodations are available Camping is permitted only in designated CAMPFIRES within the park. Visitors may choose from campgrounds. All campgrounds, except Campfires are permitted only in designated rooms in historic grand hotels dating back Fish Creek, St. Mary and half of the group campgrounds and picnic areas where to the early 1900’s, modern motel-type sites at Apgar, are available on a “first- grates are provided. Collecting firewood is accommodations, rustic cabins, or back- come, first-served” basis. Regulations are prohibited except along the Inside North country chalets. posted at each campground. Utility hook- Fork Road from Dutch Creek to Kintla ups are not provided. Lake, along the Bowman Lake Road, and Lodges start to open in late May and some around backcountry campgrounds that remain open until late-September. Reser- GROUP SITES permit fires. vations are encouraged! Accommodations Ten group sites at Apgar, two at St. Mary fill early, especially for the peak months of and one each at Many Glacier and Two HIKER-BIKER CAMPSITES July and August. Medicine campgrounds, accommodate Sites are available for bicyclists and hikers. parties of 9-24 people. The fee is $50.00 These shared sites hold up to eight people. For lodging and campground accommoda- ($53.00 for the reservable sites at Apgar and The fee is $5.00 per person. Sites at St. tions outside the park, check the TravelMT St. Mary) for up to 9 people and an addi- Mary may be reserved and have an addi- website at www.visitmt.com. tional $5.00 per person after that. tional reservation fee. Granite Park Chalet - NPS photo IN-paRK RESERvaTIONS INFORmaTION The Village Inn, Lake McDonald Lodge, Rising Sun Motor Inn, Swiftcurrent Motor Campground Information Inn, and the Many Glacier Hotel are oper- ated by Glacier Park, Inc. Estimated Dates Fee Sites Flush Disposal Hiker For Larger RV’s and Additional Information For information and reservations: Toilets Station Biker Glacier Park, Inc., P.O. Box 2025 Columbia Falls, MT 59912 Apgar** $20.00 192 Yes Yes Yes The largest 25 sites have a maximum parking space of 40’. May - mid-Oct. Primitive camping is available after listed dates. (406) 892-2525 www.glacierparkinc.com Avalanche $20.00 87 Yes Yes The largest 50 sites have a maximum parking space of 26’. June - early Sept. For reservations at the Apgar Village Bowman Lake $15.00 48 Campground accessible by dirt road, large units not recommended. Lodge: mid May - mid Sept. Primitive camping is available after listed dates. Apgar Village Lodge, P.O. Box 410 West Glacier, MT 59936 Cut Bank $10.00 19 Campground accessible by dirt road, large units not recommended June - early Sept. Primitive camping only, no potable water (406) 888-5484 www.westglacier.com Fish Creek* $23.00 180 Yes Yes Yes The largest 18 sites have a maximum parking space of 35’. June - early Sept. 62 additional sites will accommodate up to 27’. Chalets Kintla Lake $15.00 13 Campground accessible by dirt road, large units not recommended. Granite Park Chalet, accessible by trail mid May - mid Sept. Primitive camping is available after listed dates. only, operates as a hikers shelter from July through mid-September. Guests provide Logging Creek $10.00 8 Campground accessible by dirt road, large units not recommended. July - Sept. Primitive camping only, no potable water sleeping bag, water, food, and cooking utensils. Optional linen service is available. Many Glacier $20.00 110 Yes Yes Yes The largest 13 sites have a maximum parking space of 35’. late May - Sept. Primitive camping is available after listed dates. Sperry Chalet, a rustic backcountry chalet, Quartz Creek $10.00 7 Campground accessible by dirt road, large units not recommended. is accessible by trail only. It operates from July - Nov. Primitive camping only, no potable water July through mid-September. Services include overnight accommodations and Rising Sun $20.00 83 Yes Yes Yes The largest 10 sites have a maximum parking space of 25’. late May - mid Sept. food services. Sprague Creek $20.00 25 Yes Yes No towed units For more information and required mid May - mid Sept. Some sites have a maximum parking space of 21’. reservations please contact: St. Mary* $23.00 148 Yes Yes Yes The largest 25 sites have a maximum parking space of 35’. Granite Park Chalet & Sperry Chalet late May - Sept. Primitive camping is available after listed dates. c/o Belton Chalets, Inc. Two Medicine $20.00 99 Yes Yes Yes The largest 13 sites have a maximum parking space of 32’. P.O. Box 189, West Glacier, MT 59936 late May - Sept. Primitive camping is available after listed dates. (888) 345-2649 www.sperrychalet.com Camping is permitted only in designated campgrounds. Campgrounds in primitive status have no water available. www.graniteparkchalet.com *Fish Creek and St. Mary Campgrounds may be reserved through the National Park Service Reservation System. **5 Group Sites in Apgar Campground may be reserved through the National Park Service Reservation System. Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov for specific reservation information. Additional Services and Information Restaurants Backcountry Guides Guided Bus Tours and Shuttles Horseback Rides Food service is available at: Eddie’s Restaurant in Glacier Guides has exclusive rights to offer Narrated tours and shuttle services are offered Horseback rides are provided by Swan Mountain Apgar • Russell’s Fireside Dining Room and Jam- guided day hikes and backpacking trips into by Glacier Park, Inc. For reservations and Outfitters at the following locations: Apgar, mer Joe’s Restaurant & Pizzaria at Lake McDon- the backcountry. For information contact: information contact: Lake McDonald, and Many Glacier. ald • Ptarmigan Dining Room, Heidi’s Snack Bar, Glacier Guides, Inc., Glacier Park, Inc., P.O. Box 2025 For information contact: and the Italian Garden Ristorante in the Many Box 330, West Glacier, MT 59936 Columbia Falls, MT 59912 Swan Mountain Outfitters Glacier Valley • Two Dog Flats Grill at Rising Sun (406) 387-5555 or (800) 521-7238 (406) 892-2525 P.