Your welcome Austin. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but this year is incredibly busy. The "competition" for camping spots is fierce to say the least. Fights have occurred over parking spaces at the Logan Pass parking lot. If you luck out and get a spot at Rising Sun(my choice) or Many Glacier...I would stay there and do day trips to your hikes. Otherwise you're going to be spending an excessive amount of time moving from one spot to another very early in the mornings. And remember that EVERY parking lot at places of interest is filling early. So get up early and get going whatever you're doing.austinpropst wrote:I do not have campground reservations. I would like to stay in 2-3 different sections of the park (Waterton is certainly on the table)
1. What are the most likely campgrounds to be guaranteed a site w/o a reservation?
To be guaranteed? This year, the way things are going---NONE in my opinion
2. Do you have a favorite (and/or a least)? Why?
I've always liked Rising Sun because of it's central location to hiking on the East Side. Many Glacier is nice, but the past couple years it has been simply crazy busy and crowded. It's also a long drive to any hiking other than that in Many Glacier. I was there yesterday evening and cars were still parked all up and down the road in places. The other day they were stopping cars at the Many Glacier park entrance. Only those with reservation were being let in.
3. At what time do they fill/when should I set out to find a site at the given campgrounds?
If your going to try for Many Glacier CG, 0430 as absurd as that sounds, would be my suggestion. A GMS member from out of town told me yesterday that at 0700 there were 37 cars in line when the Ranger came out to issue 18 permits. They went to Johnson's CG in St Mary.
4. Favorite/never miss the opportunity at Glacier NP!?
The hikes that imo that will leave a last impression on a new visitor are these:
1.The Highline out to Granite Park Chalet...then back to Swiftcurrent. (AKA The HockeyRef hike)
2. Siyeh Pass and Piegan Pass in the St Mary Valley
3. Iceberg Lake in Many Glacier
4. Grinnell Glacier in Many Glacier
5. Dawson-Pitamakan loop in Two Medicine
(My spouse and I will be there from Aug 22-26)
Thanks! -Austin
At the risk of sounding like a negative Nelly, this year there is *no* uncrowded part of the Park. Please scroll through Glacier's Twitter feed:austinpropst wrote:Thank folks for your insight. I was able to at least get one site reserved at Fish Creek for our first night, so that offers a lot of peace of mind. I'm hoping we can score a spot at Rising Sun for the rest of our time at the park (or at lease something central). If not, I guess we'll venture to less crowded parts of the park towards Bowman. I think we'll avoid the crowds at Many, etc.
Selkie wrote:At the risk of sounding like a negative Nelly, this year there is *no* uncrowded part of the Park. Please scroll through Glacier's Twitter feed:austinpropst wrote:Thank folks for your insight. I was able to at least get one site reserved at Fish Creek for our first night, so that offers a lot of peace of mind. I'm hoping we can score a spot at Rising Sun for the rest of our time at the park (or at lease something central). If not, I guess we'll venture to less crowded parts of the park towards Bowman. I think we'll avoid the crowds at Many, etc.
https://twitter.com/glaciernps
and you will see that most days cars can't even get close to Bowman or Kintla by 10 a.m.
The probability of scoring a spot at Rising Sun is nonzero but may as well be zero.
For your own sanity, keep checking for cancellations and openings at St Mary or Many Glacier, if you want to be on that side of the Park. Johnson's or the KOA, both in St Mary, are other options but likely are full as well. Thronson's, in Babb, is a possibility.
Right across the street from Glacier on the East side are campgrounds such as Summit and Devil's Creek that have some reservable spots. The BLM manages several sites on the West side, not in Glacier proper.
There are some private places in Polebridge.
This year it would be significantly better to have places nailed down in advance than to hope for first come, first served spots.
What do you think...better to try for Rising Sun in the early morning or just head to the remote Westside CG of Bowman and/or Kintla? The fill times in the remote sites appear to be much later on any giving day (https://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/ ... status.cfm). What's the average drive time from Bowman/Kintla to East Glacier/Logan Pass/Etc?PeteE wrote:I just got back from a weekend on the East side. Its INSANE over there. Stayed at Johnson's sharing ND's sight. Johnson's has been filling lately...Saturdayfilled by late afternoon.
Sunday we got to Swiftcurrent about 0630 for breakfast and hike Grinnell glacier. Cars were lined up from the CG gate to the beginning of of the parking lot for the Inn over 40 cars.
Glacier Jim and his wife arrived at the CG at 0430 and were 3rd in line, but got a site on Saturday.
This morning I stopped at 0700 at Rising Sun to get coffee.
Drove by the CG at 0715. Looked like 20-25 cars in line for a spot. Insane.
If you plan on getting a campsite in the park(or anywhere ) this month, you get out there early, very early.
pete
The drive time from Kintla to Apgar/West Glacier is about 90 minutes--on a good day.austinpropst wrote:What do you think...better to try for Rising Sun in the early morning or just head to the remote Westside CG of Bowman and/or Kintla? The fill times in the remote sites appear to be much later on any giving day (https://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/ ... status.cfm). What's the average drive time from Bowman/Kintla to East Glacier/Logan Pass/Etc?PeteE wrote:I just got back from a weekend on the East side. Its INSANE over there. Stayed at Johnson's sharing ND's sight. Johnson's has been filling lately...Saturdayfilled by late afternoon.
Sunday we got to Swiftcurrent about 0630 for breakfast and hike Grinnell glacier. Cars were lined up from the CG gate to the beginning of of the parking lot for the Inn over 40 cars.
Glacier Jim and his wife arrived at the CG at 0430 and were 3rd in line, but got a site on Saturday.
This morning I stopped at 0700 at Rising Sun to get coffee.
Drove by the CG at 0715. Looked like 20-25 cars in line for a spot. Insane.
If you plan on getting a campsite in the park(or anywhere ) this month, you get out there early, very early.
pete