Looking to get away and reconnect with nature? Glamping near Polebridge is the perfect choice. The Dyrt lets you enjoy a unique, rustic Polebridge experience while glamping. You're sure to find glamping for your Montana camping excursion.
Glacier Campground is located just one mile from the west entrance of Glacier National Park and is the closest privately owned campground to the park, known for “the way camping used to be!” Our heavily wooded 40 acre campground is surrounded by the Flathead National Forest. West Glacier Village provides many activities including golf, mini golf, shopping, rafting, horseback rides and helicopter tours. There are also many options for great local dining. Outdoor lovers will love staying at with us
$75 / night
Pine-scented campsites here are a mere 2.5 miles from Glacier National Park's west entrance. A short drive of a few minutes brings you to the start of the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road that twists and climbs across the million-acre alpine preserve. Whitefish, Kalispell, and Flathead lake are within driving distance to explore for part of a day with plenty of time left to relax at this KOA. This KOA also offers a heated adult (18+) pool 2 adult (18+) hot tubs and a heated family (all ages) pool. Enjoy our Lazy Bear Breakfast or Dinner restaurants, as well as our Bearstream Bar and Bear Garden. You can treat yourself to huckleberry ice cream at Scoops Ice Cream Shop or head to the state's largest water park in nearby Columbia Falls.
Big Creek Campground lies in the expansive Flathead National Forest in northwestern Montana, 2 miles south of the Northwest entrance to Glacier National Park. Visitors can enjoy access to the Flathead River as well as the countless other recreational opportunities provided by the surrounding forests. Big Creek Campground has 22 campsites, 12 of which are reservable and 10 are walk-up, first come, first serve sites. The stay limit is 16 consecutive nights.
Visitors enjoy the ample fishing and floating opportunities provided by the river. Trout are a popular catch amid the calm flow of the water. Boating is also an excellent pastime, as the river is perfect for floating, rafting and canoeing. Across from the campground is the Glacier Institute's Big Creek Outdoor Education Center, which provides learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. Programs offered include seminars and guided hikes, which point out the diverse natural and cultural resources of the Glacier National Park and the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem.
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, west of the continental divide and just south of the Canadian border, lies the 2.4 million acre Flathead National Forest. Home to lynx, grizzly bear, and bull trout and with numerous lakes, streams, and rivers to enjoy, the forest is a premiere destination for visitors. The campground sits along the North Fork of the Flathead River, which begins in Canada and joins a couple other forks before depositing into Flathead Lake. It is a forested area of mature pine and fir trees that provide a sparse understory at an elevation of 3,300 feet.
For facility specific information, please call (406) 752-7924.
Big Creek Campground is just 2 miles from the Camas Creek entrance to the Glacier National Park. Columbia Falls, along the North Fork of the Flathead River, is located 19 miles south of the campground.
__Cancellations made within the 4 Day Reservation Window will be "considered" for a refund, by the concessionaire, of Camping fees only and will automatically forfeit the first nights fee. Day of Arrival cancellations must be turned in by calling Cheryl at 406-752-PWAI (7924) or 406-404-4164 to get the information to the campground Host. All Considerations will be made after your original reservation dates have passed. *No shows have no chance of a refund.
$22 - $300 / night
Located 5.5 miles from Glacier National Park's West entrance. Mile marker 147.5 on Highway 2. 30/50amp Full Hookup RV sites, Big Rig friendly, Camping Cabins and Yurts.
$60 - $80 / night
A lakeside campground on the shores of Whitefish Lake.
$4 - $34 / night
$50 - $300 / night
$30 - $56 / night
Inside North Fork Road is long, narrow, and winding dirt road to the campground. RVs and truck and trailer combinations are not recommended.
Quartz Creek campground is the smallest campground in Glacier National Park and remains in primitive status all season. It is located on the west side of the park in the North Fork area and is accessed by the Inside North Fork Road, a rough, dusty, dirt road with many blind curves and few pullouts. Trailers are not permitted. Tent campers will enjoy a wilderness experience at the campground.
$10 / night
Scout
Rough road going west from Polebridge not suitable for RvS. Much better road eastbound from Eureka side. Nice camp for a tent camp or camper. Creek close. Beautiful mountains getting there from Eureka
GuideThis is a great campsite. The pit toilet is clean and it is set up as a horse camp. Ramps for loading horses and trough for feeding. Plenty of space for tents and small campers but as noted before, the road from Polebridge is a little tough for RVs.
GuideTuchuck campground is a perfect location for an overnight camp when traveling from Polebridge MT to Eureka MT. The road is well marked but does pass thru several locations that have been covered with rock slides due to recent forest fires. Road is single track in spots but does pass thru several remote locations. Camp ground has a creek running to the south side with a good amount camping locations. Fire rings and benches are available in most spots.
Traveler
The location of glacier grizzly campground is perfect for visiting st Mary or east glacier. 17 miles either way. The bonus is taking star school road in from browning. So much easier in the monster rigs. Great set up for them at this campground. It is new and still getting there. But hot showers. Super quiet nights and beautiful views and night skies. This place is a winner. I can’t wait to return once the landscaping is complete. Colin and Lori were most gracious hosts. And fly fishing at the creek right there. Awesome. Also they have teepees. Glamping at its best. Stay at the far end for wi-fi😉
Traveler
This is glamping. This is a resort with resort amenities and feels so vacation-y. I enjoyed the heck out of it. We stayed in a Deluxe Kamping lodge with a medium patio and full bath. Linens and bedding provided, partial kitchen (stocked), room for 6. KL3 is at the back of the campground away from the busy entrance and pools—feels nice and private. Beautiful grounds, two pools, and delicious steaks ($) for dinner at the Lazy Bear Cafe. Lots to do and 2.5 miles from the west entrance to GNP. Laundry available; showers and restrooms if you’re in a tent or RV. Busy, but everyone is chill. My kids think we’re in Disney and it’s nice to be able to relax a bit after a disastrous year. Note: Most amenities are outdoors, including the restaurant.
GuideSo, its a KOA which is awesome for some and not for others. I have only been to a handful but they are way too managed and the stereotypical "glamping" situation. Reason we booked was because we were headed from a nearby camp on Flathead lake and wanted to get closer to Glacier before walking in for a permit. This KOA is less than 20 minutes from the Apgar permit office... We booked a primitive cabin online before the trip, and then the night of our arrival, about 1 hour till their general store/office closed, we got a phone call saying that they made a mistake and they over booked. How did they handle it? They put us up in one of their luxury full cabins! Now, that is not the experience we were looking for, but for us this was merely a one nighter to get to Glacier. So we accepted. Campfire ring, picnic table, private parking, and our own little cabin complete with flat screen tv and surround speakers in the ceiling. 2 other bedrooms one with bunks that went unused, a kitchen with coffee maker and mini fridge, and a bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower... While not the experience we were looking for it sure made it easier to pack up and get into glacier for that walk in permit. Although there was some mistake with their booking they owned it and gave us what would be considered a huge upgrade, and we made it to the permit office early without needing to worry about deflating our sleeping pads. Thank you West Glacier KOA!
Guide
Stayed in a yurt for a week. Loved the vibe of the campground. Free coffee was a life safer for early rising to get into the park at 6am. Rented a ebike from rental place next door and was able to ride ebike to the park on a walking trail. Loved the yurt and stayed warm. They were very helpful to book us all side by side (2 yurts and a cabin)
TravelerBeware! The people running this business are con artists, liars with no ethics and no morals. I booked for a Glamp Tipi for 1 night for an overpriced $440. The evening of the reservation, they texted me and said that their "power is out" on all the furnished tipis and told me they have an RV instead. I said I did not want an RV because we already have one but really just wanted the tipi experience. Lori told me that she could only offer me what they have or we could just cancel. I said I will just cancel then if they can't provide what I booked for and then asked her if I will receive my refund within a few days. She said "yeah definitely". 3 week later, I noticed I still have not received my refund. I left her a few text messages, it shows that she read them but she did not respond. I called their toll-free number and Daniel answered. I explained to him what happened. He said that Lori no longer works there anymore and she probably didn't respond because she doesn't care. He said he will take down my name and number and check the system and call me back tomorrow morning. He never did. The next day, I called him back several times throughout day and he never answered the phone. This is such shady business practice. At this point, I got really worried that I'm a victim of fraud and that they have stolen my money and hiding now. I started to look up the online reviews and noticed all the negative reviews were similar stories to mine. I texted Lori again confronting her and she finally replied "I'll check back with the cancellation department and let you know when I hear about your refund." Obviously she is lying because Daniel just told me she no longer works there! And of course she never did check and never ever got back to me, even when I texted her multiple times to follow up after that day. How can they think that they can just steal innocent people's money and run off and get away with it?! I called my credit card company to dispute the charges because this business refuses to cooperate and refund me for a service that they could not provide. I called them a hundred times and through other avenues and they clearly are avoiding me. I know there are many others like me who have been scammed by them. We should all band together and take legal class action lawsuit because what they are doing is wrong and so that they don't keep doing this to more people! I found so many fake reviews they did for themselves to offset the ton of negative reviews they receive. There are obvious telltale signs that the positive reviews are so fake. They are a huge disgrace to the genuine Blackfeet Tribe community.
Scout
I hosted here in 2020..one of..if not the best experiences in my life! Close to Glacier..Polebridge is a must see..the colored stones in the clear cold water..a person could go on forever..you just need to experience this yourself!
Traveler
I got to Glacier at 1 pm, and of course by then all of the campgrounds are full.... except this one! I rushed over, through Polebridge and onto this 7 mile, horrific dirt road that my car did not appreciate, and got one of the last sites. There are only 7 sites and it is in bear country and I was camping alone, so yes I was afraid. Its next to a cute river and a hiking trail to Quartz lake, but not much else around. A good stopping point on your way to a better campground, in my case Apgar, but I wouldnt center my trip around staying here.
Scout
Awesome location. Quiet. Montana views ...
Ranger
The location of the campground is great, very close to the mountain town of Whitefish Montana and right along Whitefish Lake. The sites are small and the road is narrow but it is beautiful. I would be cautious about bringing any large campers to this area but the tent sites are nice. Be aware of ticks. Some sites are nice and level but others have a heavy slope.
Guide
KOAs can be counted on for having many sites available at about the highest cost ever. East Glacier/ st Mary’s is no exception.
But, you can make a reservation and be assured of having a site in this remote area of Montana.
The campground has a pool and a puzza parlor that delivers and a store and laundry,and lots of noise due to the hundreds of sites.
Legend
While there’s nothing stand-outish about the tent area, at least it’s furthest from the highway, tree-lined and secluded from the RVs. It would be relaxing if there were, at most, only a couple of other tent campers, because it's just an open area. There's decent open space within and especially outside the RV park. You have a lot of uncluttered valley and mountain views. The international airport is about a mile away. It’s a bonus if you like that sort of thing. One of the most gorgeous Montana sunsets happened while I was here. Big Sky Country at its very best.
Guide
Montana is absolutely gorgeous! I may be biased because I go to college in Montana, but there is so many great outdoor activities. The mountains and scenery are my favorite. Some college friends and I have done a lot of camping over the years together, and Glacier Campground was one of my favorites. The campground is awesome, and is a few exits down from the Glacier National Park. Trees surround you within the campground, which was great because my friends and I had hammocks so those were easy to hook up with all the trees! One thing we really enjoyed doing was we did some horse back riding! There is a place nearby where you can go and do this. We had a blast!! There are many lakes and rivers too that are great. We enjoyed swimming in the lake, and also rented some kayaks at a local shop a few miles away. The campground does offer spots for tents, RVs and they also have cabins. We chose to tent because we are poor college students :). Maybe at some point we would try renting a cabin because they looked pretty fun. We didn't reserve our spot ahead of time, but we were able to get a spot still. It was in the spring time, so I'm sure if it was in the summer months you might want to call and make a reservation. Each campsite does have a table and fire pit which came in handy for us. We only stayed for the weekend, but wish we could have stayed longer to do some hiking. Because Glacier National Park is right around the corner, I know they have great hikes. If you are into hiking, I would definitely research hikes in that area. I can't wait to come back!!
Legend9/13/19 West Glacier, Montana
West Glacier KOA Resort
Most beautiful location of the KOAs I've stayed at. Nestled against the mountains and less than 3 miles to Glacier National Park.
Lots of sites to choose from. Ours was a pull thru with nice vegetation between. Fire pit with benches and picnic table. Some sites are close together with no privacy. Some have gas grills and patio furniture. There are cabins and tent sites as well. Bathhouse was average. The cafe was open for breakfast and dinner.Ice cream shop closed for the season. Amazing pool! Nice play area, dog parks. Really nice camp store, firewood available. KOA Workshop on site. RV wash and dog grooming by appointment.
TravelerYes it’s a new campground but it’s very close to all of the East Glacier attractions and it’s surrounded by Montana’s natural beauty. I stayed for 5 days and had an amazing time. I even got a chance to talk to the owner and he was extremely helpful. Also, he informed me on the rich history behind the land. This place has a lot of history behind it. I feel like I can now say I have a great understanding of Blackfoot and Glacier Park history staying here. I officially have checked off something that’s been on my bucket list for the longest time! Thank you guys!
GuideWe stayed here for 4 nights. Only 5 minutes away from West Glacier Park entrance. Close by is a zip line attraction with a blow up slide in water for the little ones and bounce house obstacle with a slide. Also an adventure park that has go karts, bumper cars, lazy river etc. Great location with so much to do outside the park. We had a corner spot which I really liked for some privacy. Each site has its own fire pit which was nice. Wi-Fi in my opinion worked great. Has a dog park and a little playground for kids. Laundry room and bath houses were very clean. Also has an arcade and loved how they use honesty policy during closed hours where you can pick up firewood or ice and pay the next morning:) I definitely recommend and will come back for another Montana adventure.
Guide
Sylvia Lake is tucked back into the Flathead Forest. Wild fires have burned through this area leaving a path of dead tree stand as a reminder of mother nature’s fury. It’s oddly beautiful as the new growth is finding its resilient way back.
The road to the lake is long, winding, often rutted and dusty, BUT the lake beckons to be explored. There is designated camping as well as a few dispersed spots that have been created over time. You will find no amenities and you are quite a distance from any sort of cell service or stores, so come prepared.
The sketchy rope swing was left untried but the crawdads were plentiful! If you want to disconnect and want something other than the typical Montana camp, Sylvia is just right.
LegendThis is both a campsite review and a Dyrt Ranger product review.
CAMPSITE REVIEW: We almost cancelled our trip to Glacier due to the current forest fires that have closed some of the park. We decided to take a chance on it though, and stayed just outside the west entrance of the park, at the privately owned Glacier Campground. We decided, given possible problems with smoke and haze, to rent one of their camper cabins instead of tent camping. Their camper cabins here are cozy and really nice, and much more reasonably priced than any others in or near the park! There were a lot of nice tent and RV spots for camping too, the whole place was like an upscale state park with many large, secluded shady campsites tucked into beautiful mature forest. There is a terrific indoor-outdoor cafe on site, and a central gathering area with playground and group picnic shelters. There are hot showers and regular bathrooms too. The campground is 1/2 mile to the entrance to Glacier National park, but 1/2 mile in the other direction is the new “Crown of the Continent” Geotourism and Education Center sponsored by the state of Montana and National Geographic. The folks at the campground can shuttle you over here to view the high quality environmental and geography education exhibits on display, to sample local foods and crafts, or to sign up for outdoor adventures like horseback riding, fly fishing, llama trekking and more. The campground itself is pet friendly, they even allowed our dog to stay in a camper cabin with us, which many dont. To our dismay, we discovered that dogs arent allowed on hiking trails within Glacier National Park itself, but we got advice at both the campground and at the Geotourism Center about National Forest trails in the area that dogs ARE welcome to hike on. So this a fabulous place to stay, with something for everyone, and an especially good homebase for dog families who want to get out on area hikes. Note: there is also an Amtrak train stop near this campground, and they have a shuttle to pick you up if you arrive by train!
PRODUCT REVIEW (note: I made a video review that is in the photo gallery for this written review, but it seems to have uploaded in low-res format. For the high-def version, check this link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RSpe9dDicR0ICEPaS_JBpTlKqszY9kWa
As a Ranger for the Dyrt, sometimes I get to test new products. This is a review for the OOmg women's low-rise sport shoe made by OOFOS. I was interested to try them out because they are billed as supportive "recovery shoes" for hikers or runners after a long trek. As I have plantar fasciitis and am also a few months post-recovery from a broken metatarsal, I wanted to try something that might help on an upcoming hiking and camping trip. After the shoes arrived, I thought I should break them in a bit so I wore them around the house and on dog walks around the neighborhood--so comfortable from the start that no breaking in was needed, but I also didn't want to take them off! Really comfortable and really supportive. I was really impressed--so impressed that once we started on our trip, I wore them on short easy hikes rather than just wearing them after hikes, and they held up well. In fact, they were more comfortable than my actual hiking shoes, so I ended up wearing them on all my hikes over the next week, more than 40 miles of action. They may not have the deep tread or the ankle support needed for really rugged or really steep and slippery mountain trails, but I tried them on easy to moderate trails in all kinds of conditions and they held up great, and so did my feet in them. I was really really impressed, more than I thought I would be. Through all the days of hiking, no pain, no arthritis, no trouble walking, these are not just great recovery shoes, but great overall walking shoes.
One other aspect that really impressed me was this: prior to my trip, I discovered a crack in the sole of the shoe, about an inch long, which appeared just a few days after I got them while I was just doing casual walking around the neighborhood. Perhaps I somehow stepped on something sharp that cut into the sole but I didn't know it because the soles are so thick and comfortable? I was disappointed about that and mentioned it to customer service when they emailed to see how I liked the shoes. They informed me that they guarantee their shoes, that if there is a problem in the first six months they can be returned for replacement. That seemed like a good plan, so I thought I would see how they held out during the hiking trip and maybe return them when I got home. However, part way through the trip, I checked the sole and the crack appeared to be smaller, only a half inch instead of an inch. At the end of the trip, I checked again--no crack at all! It seems the sole is made out of some kind of self-healing material. Walking on it had therefore made the crack better, not worse. Wow! Amazing! Needless to say, I won't be returning this pair, and will surely buy more in the future. I can't say enough good things about these shoes! In sum:
Pros:
These shoes have great arch support. They would be supportive for anyone, but I need especially good arch support with my plantar fasciitis, and these are more supportive than any other shoes or orthotics I have.
Good overall support. These shoes really cradle your whole foot with both support and shock absorption. I broke a metatarsal in my foot a few months ago, and wanted to go hiking anyway despite residual arthritis from it, but I found I had no pain at all when wearing these shoes, even on the one day when we hiked a fairly steep trail over 8 miles.
Self healing material in sole. There was a pretty good sized crack in the sole before we left for our trip, it slowly closed during the trip and was "healed" by the end of the trip ten days later. Impressive!
These shoes fit well right out of box, there was no need to break them in, the uppers are flexible and well fitting so they stay on nicely without laces, they also retain their shape without stretching out even while conforming to your foot. The order info recommends ordering a half size up as they run a little small, so I did that; I usually wear an 8 1/2 so ordered a women's size 9 and they fit perfectely.
Despite the snug fit, I never developed any blisters even after more than 40 miles of walking in them. I also didn't get sweaty feet when wearing them without socks, so the uppers are breathable, but they are also comfortable with peddies or regular socks
These are supposed to be recovery shoes for the end of the trail, after you have been hiking, but I found they were good ON the trail for both regular walking and fairly challenging hiking, and I tested them in a variety of conditions, in sun, rain, mud, on rocks, in forest shade and in the open, wading in water and sand, and they held up well through all of it. They seem to have good grip and traction on damp trails, though I am not sure about really steep or slippery trails
Not waterproof, but they dry quickly when they get wet
You can wash them if they do get dirty, I hand washed them with dish soap and so they look almost like new and dont lose their shape when they get really wet.
Cons:
These shoes aren't cheap, and some folks might be put off by the price. However, I would like to point out that I have paid more for supportive official orthopedic-type walking shoes, but these feel better and work better for me, so they would be worth every penny!
These are great casual outdoor shoes and I wouldn't hesitate to buy more in other colors! They are such good shoes, though, that I wish I had some like them to wear for work or formal occasions; but they don't really have a supportive shoe like this one in a nice dressy style. Maybe that will change, if they do come up with any I would buy them.
So, overall, wonderful shoes! Highly recommended!
LegendThere are about 8 sites here, several miles down the road from the —- Glacier ranger station. It’s quiet, all you can hear is the creek and the wind in the trees. Sites 4 and 5 are the best as they are right on the creek with water access. There is one central bear box, one central water pump (currently NO water), and one clean vault toilet. You are close to a couple of trailheads as well.
Traveler
We tent camped. There are many campsites available, just have to drive on a long gravel road to get there. No running water except a pump from the creek. 2 vault toilets. Deer were roaming the campsites all evening, very cool.
RangerThis is the back country site about 5 miles in on the logging lake trial. The site is beautiful and is right on the lake. The views are incredible. There is plenty of flat space to pitch tents.
There is a fire ring with logs around it. There is also a pipe to bag your bear bag from. A privy for the campsite is located up a small hill, which does not provide TP. It's a little terrifying to go to alone at night.
Guide
This beautiful, remote campground is absolutely gorgeous, and sits on the shores at the head of Bowman Lake. Unlike the easily accessed campground at the foot of the lake, which gets a tremendous amount of traffic and pressure from tourism, the back country one has only a few sites (5 I believe), and the access is via a 6'ish mile (one way), flat, picturesque trail along the lake. The sites are level and graveled, there is a separate cooking area, and a pit toilet. And the views...incredible. Back country permits are required for all park back country camp grounds, and must be purchase from the park service and are available via online early registration, or within 48 hours of your stay, but must be picked up in person at the ranger station in Apgar, in Glacier Park. There are no exceptions, so don't go if you haven't secured a permit. Weather is unpredictable there, so prepare for every kind of weather. Trails to further back country areas continue from this campground, and it's a "must stay" if you're hiking in the park.
TravelerThe greatest backcountry campsite I’ve ever been to. This site is pristine! The tent sites are right along the water, the pole is already set up to hang your bear bag and there is a ready-made fire pit with benches to sit on. To top it off, the whole site is clean, easy lake access, and a top notch backcountry shitter.
You are doing it wrong if you don’t brave the cold for a dip in the clear turquoise blue water. I simply can’t praise the site enough.
The only downside is there are a decent number of mosquitoes, so make sure to bring bug spray.
TravelerCamp host is Excellent! Very accommodating! Nice clean areas. Picnic tables. Camp fire rings! We will be back!!
TravelerI visited here in late July for ten days and am trying to condense the experience so, bear 🐻with me Pros: Excellent camp host. Say hi to Jim. 20 miles to Columbia Falls shopping Whitewater rafting Near west side of Glacier NP Faucet water Ask Jim about Red Meadows Camps 5-15 are on the Flathead R Some sites are on Recreation.gov Cons: Swift current and slippery rocks Shooting range noise Dusty Washboard dyrt road for 6 miles All in all, doggy and I had a wonderful time there. I’ll be going back. Don’t forget your swimsuit!!!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Polebridge, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Polebridge, MT is Glacier Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 50 reviews.
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