Frontcountry camping

Glacier National Park

Immerse yourself in the stunning scenery and cultural history of the Columbia Mountains by staying in one of Glacier National Park’s frontcountry campgrounds.

 Camping Reservations

Reservations for the 2024 season will launch on January 19, 2024 at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. Campsite reservations are accepted at Loop Brook Campground and Hermit Meadows backcountry campground. All other campgrounds assign sites on a first come, first served basis.

Reserve your campsite!

Campgrounds and huts in Glacier National Park

Illecillewaet Campground makes a great basecamp for exploring Glacier National Park as it is also the starting point for several popular trails. Campsites are unserviced and can accommodate tents and RVs. Sites for large RVs are very limited and all sites are first come, first served. The name Illecillewaet comes from a Sinixt word meaning "big water". It is pronounced ill ah SIL-ah-wet (or ill a silhouette).

Loop Brook Campground is known for the old stone railway pillars that guard its entrance. A smaller, more intimate campground, Loop Brook is steps away from self-guided interpretive trails that delve into the area’s rich railway history. Campsites are unserviced.

Mount Sir Donald Campground (frontcountry) is closed until further notice.

Glacier National Park campgrounds
Illecillewaet Loop Brook Mount Sir Donald (frontcountry)
 2024 operating dates (nights) June 21 - October 13 June 28 -September 23 Closed until further notice
 2024 reservation dates (nights) First come, first served June 28 - September 22
Location from
the summit of
Rogers Pass
3 km west 5 km west 6 km west
Fees * See fees
Number of sites 60 20 15
Flush toilets Yes Yes No
Food lockers Yes Yes Yes
Potable water Yes Yes No
Kitchen shelters Yes Yes No
Campfires allowed ** Yes, with fire permit (See fees) Yes, with fire permit (See fees) No
Showers No No No
Electricity available No No No
Barrier-free access
(wheelchair-accessible sites and washrooms)
No No No
Staffed welcome station Yes No No
Sani dump
(sewage disposal)
No*** No*** No***

* National park pass required. Available for purchase at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre and the Illecillewaet Campground Welcome Station.

** Firewood is available for use within the campground with purchase of a fire permit. Please don’t take more than an armload per night. Use only firewood that is provided at the campground. Moving firewood to and from campgrounds can spread invasive species.

*** Closest Sani dump service can be found in the cities of Revelstoke and Golden.

Check in, registration & check out

Illecillewaet Campground is entirely first come first served. Please select and occupy a campsite that fits your equipment and check in at the welcome station near the centre of the campground within 30 minutes of arrival. For after-hour arrivals, self-registration by credit card and exact cash is available at the welcome station.

Loop Brook Campground is by reservation only. If you have a reservation, please proceed directly to your site. If you do not have a reservation, inquire with the attendant on duty at Illecillewaet Campground for possible vacancy. After hours, if the campground is not full, available sites will be marked as ‘available for one night only’. Payment can be made through self-registration by credit card and exact cash or the following morning with the attendant at Illecillewaet Campground or at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre.

The maximum length of stay is 14 nights. The check-out time for all Glacier National Park campgrounds is 12 p.m.

Quiet hours

Quiet hours are in effect daily to ensure that visitors get a good night's sleep.

  • Quiet hours are from 11 pm - 7 am
  • Campfires, visitors, consumption of alcohol, cannabis and cannabis products are not permitted during this time
  • Only registered campsite occupants are allowed in the campground after 11 pm

Please remember, even quiet conversations can carry through a forested area. Excessive noise is not permitted at any time of the day. Please report disturbances to park wardens or staff.

Generator use
Illecillewaet and Loop Brook campgrounds are located in quiet wilderness settings. Generators can be used for short periods to recharge RV batteries, between the hours of 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Maximum occupants and equipment allowed per site

Up to 7 people may stay at a site.

The maximum units at each campsite are one of the following:

  • 1 RV and 1 tent
  • 1 vehicle with camping trailer and 1 tent
  • 1 vehicle with 2 tents
  • 2 bikes/motorbikes and 2 tents

They must all fit on the gravel pads. In addition, dining tents are permitted at all campsites where they can fit on the gravel pad. Tents and vehicles are not permitted off of the pads. This regulation is strictly enforced.

Extra parking is extremely limited.

A very small number of campsites in the park accommodate Class A motorhomes (over 10 m or 33 ft). Snowforest Campground in nearby Mount Revelstoke National Parks offers reservable motorhome campsites with power connections.

Bears

Bears are naturally wary of people, but can become a serious hazard if they become used to human food sources. Keep a clean campsite and ensure that anything associated with food, cooking, personal hygiene or pets is stored in your vehicle or in the campground food lockers when you’re not using it. Do not store any of these items in your tent. This is for your safety and it’s also a requirement in any national park. Bear attractants are not just food. For tips and information on keeping your campsite safe in bear country, check out The “Bare” Campsite Program.

Camping with dogs

Bringing your furry family member? Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash at all times. Do not leave pets unattended. You must pick up after your pets and ensure that all pet food is stored in your vehicle.

Alcohol and cannabis

Consuming alcohol, cannabis and cannabis products is only allowed at registered campsites. Daily quiet hours concerning consumption are also in place.

Cannabis is legalized and strictly regulated in Canada. It is your responsibility to understand federal, provincial and municipal regulations for cannabis and alcohol consumption while visiting Glacier National Park.



Camping outside of Glacier National Park

Snowforest Campground in Mount Revelstoke National Park is 70 km west of Rogers Pass. Several commercial campgrounds are found in the communities of Revelstoke and Golden.

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