Glacier National Park Wilderness Permits
Each year, Glacier National Park runs two early access lotteries on Recreation.gov for Wilderness camping advance reservations.
- Large group lottery (9-12 campers) – Application submission date March 1.
- Standard group lottery (1-8 campers) – Application submission date March 15.
With its towering mountains, pristine alpine lakes, abundant wildlife, over 700 miles of trails, and 65 wilderness campgrounds, Glacier is a backpacking paradise. A permit is required for backpacking in the park. For complete details on securing wilderness camping advance reservations, visit the Glacier National Park Wilderness Camping Advance Reservations page.
Due to individual differences in fitness, backpacking experience, and personal preference, we don’t offer specific trip recommendations. What we can tell you is that in the broadest sense, Glacier's wilderness comes in two flavors—east and west roughly split along the Continental Divide. Each trail on a respective side offers a similar "feel." West side trails start at around 3,200 feet (975 m) in elevation, are more heavily forested, and offer the greatest solitude. East of the divide, trails start at around 5,000 feet (1524 m) and the terrain is more sparsely vegetated, creating more open vistas.
NPS manages the wilderness in Glacier National Park to preserve it for future generations. Remaining undeveloped, with minimal mechanization and modern influence, wilderness lands provide outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive, unconfined recreation.
Notifications and Alerts
The Many Glacier Ranger Station will not issue wilderness camping permits in 2025 due to a major utility replacement project in the area.
The Many Glacier wilderness campground (MAN) will be temporarily relocated near the Many Glacier Hotel in 2025 due to a major utility replacement project in the area.
Permit & Season Information
In order to preserve the extraordinary wilderness character of Glacier National Park, a permit is required year-round for all overnight trips in the backcountry. A wilderness permit allows the permit holder and their group (up to 8 people for advance reservations) to camp in wilderness campsites and is valid only for the dates, locations, and party size indicated. Your permit must be in your possession while in the wilderness.
- For trips between June 15th and September 30th, 70% of wilderness campsites may be reserved in advance. See below for details.
- Remaining sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis in person at a Wilderness Permit office no more than one day before the trip begins.
- Campsites that melt out before June 15th will be made available for advance reservations on Recreation.gov
- Please see the Winter Wilderness Camping web page for information on how to obtain a wilderness permit between November 1st and April 30th.
Need to Know
When planning your trip, please keep the following in mind:
- The Many Glacier Ranger Station will NOT issue wilderness permits in 2025 due to a major utility replacement project in the area
- Permits are required year round for any overnight stay in the backcountry. Visit the park's Wilderness Camping and Winter Wilderness Camping pages for more information.
- Plan your trip carefully. Consider how many miles you want to hike each day, how much elevation gain you are willing to undertake, and the totality of the experience and skill of all of the members of your group. Plan using the Wilderness Campground Map, the Glacier National Park website, and other trip planning resources such as guide books and maps.
- Pick up reserved permits in person by 4:30 p.m. the day before or on the start date of the trip, or the reservation will be cancelled.
- Because camping off itinerary can affect camping opportunities for others and damage natural resources, your itinerary must be achievable. For this reason, Recreation.gov allows a maximum daily mileage between camps of 16 miles. You may book itineraries with longer daily mileage in person at a Wilderness Permit office (subject to first-come, first-served walk-in availability).
- Camping is only permitted in the camp area designated on your permit itinerary, on the date indicated. Reserving campgrounds with the intent of not using a portion of the itinerary is prohibited and will lead to your permit being revoked. Camping off permit or outside of designated sites is subject to law enforcement action.
- Stay up to date with Current Park Conditions. It is possible to book reservations for areas that include life-threatening hazards and that require specialized equipment and experience and there is no guarantee that your route will be passable when you arrive. Glacier National Park is a dynamic resource where natural events and conditions are unpredictable. There is a possibility that trail and campground closures, campground environmental conditions, natural events (such as fires, aggressive animals, etc.), or management actions may render a particular itinerary impossible. In the event that this occurs, we will attempt to provide you with an alternate itinerary. However, refunds are not available for campground closures.
- In designated camps, all food, garbage, and scented items must be hung from the provided food poles, and/or placed in, the provided bear boxes. Durable bags, and at least a 25' rope, or paracord are necessary to hang with, and are not provided. Animal-resistant food storage canisters/bags are not required in campgrounds in summer status. However, visitors utilizing campgrounds that are still in winter status are required to provide, and use, their own IGBC certified bear resistant storage container for all food and scented items.
- Visitors are limited to 14 days in the backcountry per permit and per calendar year. Overlapping reservations for the same permit holder are not allowed.
- Wilderness campgrounds have a variable number of tent sites. Each permit allows up to 4 people to camp in a single site. Hammocks are strongly discouraged.
- Stock are allowed only in specific camp areas and trails. Grazing is prohibited. Certified noxious weed seed free feed must be packed in. Stock must be kept at the hitch rail only. Learn on the park's Private Stock Use page.
- Wood fires are permitted in a few select wilderness campgrounds and prohibited in all other areas of the backcountry. Never leave a fire unattended and be sure the fire is completely extinguished.
- There is no guarantee of your safety. Risks of wilderness travel include serious injury and death.
Leave No Trace
Please follow all principles of Leave No Trace including: Plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife, and be considerate of other visitors.
Fee Policy
You do not need a Vehicle Reservation for the duration of your wilderness permit.
Advance Reservation Lottery Fee:
- The non-refundable lottery application fee is $10
Wilderness Permit Fee:
- The non-refundable permit fee is $10
Camping Fees:
- The camping fee is $7 per person, per night
Only debit or credit cards will be accepted, no cash.
Entrance Fees. The park charges an entrance fee separate from permit fees. You may pay the fee upon arrival at the entrance station or visitor center or purchase in advance. The park also honors Federal interagency passes (e.g., annual, senior, access, 4th grade, Golden Age pass etc.). For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy:
- You may cancel your reservation up to 7 days prior to your trip start date and receive a refund of your $7/person/night camping fees. The $10 wilderness permit fee is non-refundable. Quota from cancelled reservations will immediately be released and available on Recreation.gov.
Changes.
- To change the start date, you must cancel your current reservation and reserve a new permit. A $10.00 reservation fee will apply to the new permit. You may change the itinerary up until two days prior to your trip start date through your Recreation.gov user profile. After that, you may change the itinerary in person at a park permit issuing station (subject to first-come, first-served walk-in availability).
Contact Information
Mailing Address
PO Box 128 West Glacier Montana 59936
Phone Number
406-888-7800
