Dispersed camping near Siyeh Bend, Montana provides access to the high-elevation terrain of Glacier National Park's eastern section, where altitudes range from 5,000-7,000 feet. The camping season is considerably shorter here than western sections, with most sites closed by mid-September due to early snowfall. Nighttime temperatures can drop below 40°F even in summer, requiring adequate cold-weather gear for comfortable camping.
What to do
Sunrise photography at St. Mary Lake: Just a short drive from St Mary Campground, the morning views offer excellent photo opportunities. "We're currently staying at St. Mary's Campground, located right inside the east entrance of Glacier National Park, and the Going-To-The-sun road. One of the biggest perks this summer (2025) is that you don't need a park entrance reservation to access the park from this entrance—unlike most of the other entrances," shared one visitor.
Hike to Fishercap Lake: Located near Many Glacier Campground, this short 1-mile hike offers excellent wildlife viewing. "When you stay at Many Glacier you are situated in the heart of the best hiking and wildlife viewing in the park. Grizzly sightings on the slopes nearby are an almost nightly occurrence. Sometimes the animals wander right through the campground," reports one regular visitor.
Summer solstice camping: The extended daylight hours around June 21st create a unique camping experience. At Rising Sun Campground, "We were here for the summer solstice! Didn't get dark until 1030ish, very beautiful long days. Bathrooms were clean. No cell service. Nice short walking path to St Mary's lake."
Backcountry permit preparation: For those seeking multi-day hikes, prepare by setting up base camp near a ranger station. "If you're looking to do some backcountry in the park but don't have a permit, you are well advised to show up to the backcountry offices as early as possible, and this place is nearby a station, so I liked having this option for arriving late the night before with a guaranteed spot," notes a camper about Johnson's Campground.
What campers like
Natural bear sightings from safe distances: Many campgrounds offer wildlife viewing opportunities without leaving camp. "The most prestige area imaginable on the east side of Glacier National park. Wildlife galore from Grizzly bears to mountain goats and moose... Lots of campers bring high power binoculars to watch the Grizzly bears in the mountains," explains a visitor to Many Glacier Campground.
Lake swimming after hikes: The lakes near camping areas provide refreshing swimming options. At Sprague Creek Campground, "It's really nice being right on Lake McDonald, very warm and a great afternoon soak after Glacier hiking all day."
Generator-free camping options: Campers seeking quiet can find dedicated non-generator loops. "A loop is a NO generator loop," notes a camper at St. Mary Campground, while another mentioned: "We took a last minute trip to Glacier in early August. Camped loop C (non-generator) which was perfect for our teardrop camper."
Proximity to Going-to-the-Sun Road: Several campgrounds offer strategic access to this iconic route. "You can't beat this location. right on Lake McDonald and in the park close to hiking areas, the lodge, and the shuttle stop is right across the road," shares a Sprague Creek camper.
What you should know
Early arrival necessity: Particularly for first-come, first-served sites, timing is crucial. "We took a last minute trip to Glacier in early August. Stayed in Columbia Falls the night before we arrived, hoping to make it to the campground to snag a last minute sight. Arrived at Many Glacier about 8am. Confused about the reservation vs first come first served process. Apparently you must be waiting for a campsite at 5am to be part of the first come first served lotto," cautions one camper.
Bear safety requirements: Bear-resistant storage is mandatory at all sites. At Fish Creek Campground, "Wildlife frequent this campground and do not feed them. Be Bear Aware, and always carry your bear spray, and flashlight especially at night. Properly store food or smelly attractant items in a hard-sided vehicle or special bear containers. Coolers are not bear proof."
Morning road noise: Campgrounds near Going-to-the-Sun Road experience early traffic. "The campground is also close to the road, which starts to get busy around 5AM with people trying to beat the crowds at Logan Pass and beat the timed entry for the west entrance," warns a Sprague Creek Campground visitor.
Limited shower availability: Many campgrounds offer minimal shower facilities compared to site numbers. At Johnson's Campground, "Showers are token operated (you get 1 token per night/per person that allows a six minute shower)." Similarly, at St. Mary Campground, one visitor noted "There are only 3 showers for 142 campsites. One of which has not hot water."
Tips for camping with families
Trail of the Cedars accessibility: For families with young children or mobility concerns, Avalanche Campground offers a perfect starting point. "There's a very short handicap accessible plank trail called Trail of the Cedars at this pull-off and a few mile in and out hike to Avalanche Lake. No solitude, but great easy hike for people of all ages."
Evening ranger programs: Several campgrounds offer educational evening activities. "The campground hosts have been super friendly and helpful, and there's even a ranger talk in the evening, which is a nice touch," notes a camper at St. Mary Campground.
Playground access: Some private campgrounds offer family-friendly features. At Glacier Campground, "There is a terrific indoor-outdoor cafe on site, and a central gathering area with playground and group picnic shelters."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Plan specific times for wildlife observation with children. "Fishercap Lake near the Many Glacier area offers regular moose sightings in mornings and evenings," notes a regular visitor, while another adds, "Several deers strolled through loop A in the morning, along with squirrels, chipmunks and birds."
Tips from RVers
Length restrictions and options: Vehicle size limits access to certain campgrounds and roads. One RVer noted, "If you are camping with a travel trailer (and thus not able to drive the Going-to-the-Sun road because of length limitations), you are allowed to park your trailer in the the RV section of the St. Mary Visitor Center parking lot for the day, and drive in with your car alone."
Limited hookup availability: Most campgrounds offer minimal services. At Glacier Campground, "All the camp sites have Electric, and water hookups. Some have sewage as well. There is a dump station, and propane fill up on site. It's $25 to dump."
Bring extension cords: Power post locations may require extra cable length. "Make sure you bring an extension cord to hook up your electric just in case you have a short standard cord on your camper," advises an RVer at Glacier Campground.
Site selection tips: RV travelers should research specific sites. "Sites vary in how level they are, but most are decent sized and have fire rings and picnic tables," notes a teardrop camper owner, while another RVer mentioned, "I was reluctant to reserve a site at Fish Creek Campground because they are mostly pull-in, and very few back-ins... To my surprise, I was actually digging the pull-in sites because it offered more room to a site."
