Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [162]
outback to this campground, which sits in the shadow of Bad Marriage and Medicine Wolf mountains. The campground only recently reopened after being rebuilt, so is relatively undiscovered; the road and campground are best suited to recreational vehicles 21 feet or shorter.
Fish Creek Campground is 2 miles from Apgar, on the western shore of Lake McDonald. Kintla Lake Campground is in the northwest section of the park, reached by primitive dirt roads through the Polebridge entrance station, so it is not recommended for RVs. Logging Creek is a primitive campground just beyond Quartz Creek and reached by dirt roads. Quartz Creek is another primitive campground, accessible by dirt roads through the Polebridge entrance.
Sprague Creek Campground is on the eastern shore of Lake McDonald. No towed trailers or vehicles longer
than 21 feet are allowed. St. Mary Campground is just outside the town of St. Mary. Rising Sun Campground, 6 miles west of St. Mary, is close to the public showers at Rising Sun Motor Inn.
The Two Medicine Campground is in the shadows of major mountains near three lakes and a stream. It is a forested area that has beautiful sites, plenty of shade, and opportunities to wet a fishing line or dangle your feet in cool mountain water.
Backcountry Camping. If you're bent on seeing the backcountry, Glacier has 65 backcountry campgrounds. Fortunately, many are at lower elevation, so inexperienced backpackers have an opportunity to take advantage of them. For an accurate estimation of your itinerary's difficulty and advice on what you may need, check with rangers in the area you contemplate visiting. One of the main dangers is running into a bear. Visitors planning to camp overnight in Glacier's backcountry must stop at a visitor center, ranger station, or the Apgar Backcountry Permit Office and obtain a backcountry use permit. Backcountry permits may be reserved in advance (see "Exploring the Backcountry," above). Permits are good only for the prearranged dates and locations, with no more than 3 nights allowed at each campground. Certain campgrounds have a 1-night limit. There are separate fees for advance reservations ($20 per permit) and backcountry camping ($4 per person per night).
Backcountry camping permits may be obtained in person from the backcountry office at Apgar, Waterton Townsite, and St. Mary, or the ranger stations at Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and Polebridge. During summer months, permits may be obtained no earlier than 24 hours before your trip.
Winter Backcountry Camping. Though snow camping isn't for everyone, it's a great way to see the park in winter and to complement a winter excursion. Permits are required for all overnight trips, but there is no fee to reserve one up to 7 days in advance. There are a few rules that take effect beginning each November 20, so double-check at visitor centers for details.
Chalets. Two of the park's most popular destinations, Granite Park and Sperry Chalets, are National Historic Landmarks built by the Great Northern Railway between 1912 and 1914. Granite Park is a basic hikers' shelter, and Sperry is a full-service chalet.
Granite Park Chalet has 12 rooms (all with single bunk beds), and sleeps two to six per room. The chalet is pricey if you just stay overnight (about $70 per person per night, with an additional $10 per person linen charge; there's no running water and no other facilities); you may get better value by going on an organized trip.
Sperry Chalet, a rustic backcountry chalet, is accessible by trail only. It operates from mid-July through mid-September. Services include overnight accommodations and full meal service for a double rate of about $250. Reservations are required. For information and reservations for either chalet, contact Belton Chalets, P.O. Box 188, West Glacier, MT 59936 (☎ 888/345-2649 or 406/387-5654; www.graniteparkchalet.com and www.sperrychalet.com).
NEAR THE PARK
IN EAST GLACIER
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P.O. Box 146, East Glacier, MT 59434. ☎ 406/