The Babb area sits at approximately 4,300 feet elevation at the eastern edge of Glacier National Park, where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. Summer temperatures range from 40-80°F with occasional thunderstorms, while winter brings sub-zero temperatures and significant snowfall. Camping facilities near Babb offer varying levels of accessibility to Many Glacier, with most sites operating seasonally from late May through September.
What to do
Hiking to Swift Current Lake: Just 8 miles from Babb on the Many Glaciers road, visitors can access stunning alpine lake views. "Make the trip to Many Glaciers! Be aware, there's a few miles of dirt road that's bumpy and some large ruts. You'll be paid off when you reach Swift Current Lake. I felt transported to Switzerland!" notes a visitor at Heart of Glacier RV Park & Cabins.
Fishing at Hungry Horse Reservoir: The reservoir offers excellent fishing opportunities about 45 minutes from West Glacier. "Lid Creek is 15 miles off U.S. 2 on a very winding but paved road. The lake, Salish Mountains and Montana's big sky are all front and center here," explains a camper at Lid Creek Campground.
Steak dinner in Babb: The limited dining options in Babb include exceptional steaks at the local restaurant. "If you like steak, Cattlemen in Babb (the only rest.) makes the best steak and lamb per hubby. Avoid the Salmon, though," recommends a camper from Heart of Glacier RV Park.
What campers like
Mountain views from campsites: Many RV parks near Babb feature panoramic mountain vistas. "Heart of Glacier RV park had an awesome view of Gun-site ridge. Its just awesome to wake up in the mornings, walkout side and see Gun-site Ridge," notes a visitor at Heart of Glacier RV Park.
Privacy in tent camping areas: Some campgrounds offer more secluded tent sites compared to RV sections. A visitor at Johnson's Campground & RV Park commented, "We stayed in the tent camping area and felt like it gave great privacy vs. the typical rows of RVs. There is tons of shade in the tent camping areas whereas the RVs were more in the open."
Natural settings at smaller parks: Less developed campgrounds maintain native vegetation and wildlife viewing opportunities. "This park is all about location and you pay a premium for that. FHU pull through sites, pretty good wifi and no OTA TV or cable for the times not in GNP," notes a visitor at West Glacier RV & Cabin Resort.
What you should know
Road conditions to camping areas: Some campgrounds require navigating unpaved or challenging roads. "The road down to the campground is gravel, lots of tight turns but generally in good shape; we did just fine towing our 30 ft travel trailer. Double-check the campsite length when you reserve - some sites are very short," advises a Lid Creek Campground visitor.
Wildlife precautions: Bear activity requires proper food storage at all campgrounds. "There are bear-proof food boxes - there are definitely bears in the area. Keep pets close by and please store food in the storage boxes," warns a camper at Lid Creek Campground.
