Rising Sun Campground
Rising Sun Campground is located just west of St. Mary and halfway along St. Mary Lake. Campers at Rising Sun will enjoy beautiful sunrises in the morning with Red Eagle Mountain as a backdrop, and the campground serves as a convenient base camp to many day hikes located east of Logan Pass. Some sites are open, allowing for cool breezes throughout the day, while others are located among trees, accommodating those seeking some shade and privacy. Access to St. Mary Lake can be found at the Rising Sun Picnic Area, across the Going-to-the-Sun-Road from the campground.
More like this: reservable in Montana · pets allowed in Montana · dark sky in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 80 |
| Hike-in | 1 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
81 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Loop | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 2 | A Loop | Standard | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 3 | A Loop | Standard | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 4 | A Loop | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 5 | A Loop | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 7 | A Loop | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | A Loop | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 12 | A Loop | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 14 | A Loop | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 17 | A Loop | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1: PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 21 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Dark sky | Inside Glacier National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
| Accessibility | Site 7 is listed accessible |
Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water. Communal bear proof food storage lockers can be found spread throughout the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
| Nearest town | West Glacier, Montana |
| Area | Recreation.gov lists no exact point for this campground. The recreation area is at 48.68° N, 113.80° W. Call the office before you drive. |
Explore
Video
Rising Sun Campground Overview-Glacier National Park. Great Option if you don’t have a re
Natural features
Nestled against a cliffside, Rising Sun offers primarily shaded sites. Mixed aspen trees flutter in spring and summer breezes and provide colorful splashes of yellow late in the season. St. Mary Lake which, although too cold and occasionally too rough to swim in, provides refreshing scenery on warm days. Campers at Rising Sun will enjoy beautiful sunrises in the morning with Red Eagle Mountain as a backdrop
Recreation
Rising Sun Campground is located on the east side of the park, which boasts some of the best trails available for day hiking. Trailheads start at a higher elevation than those on the west side, so less ascent is required to reach scenic vistas. The Otokomi Lake Trailhead is the closest to the campground and begins at the west end of the Rising Sun Camp store parking lot.
Nearby
One must-see attraction is the sister park across the U.S.-Canadian border, Waterton Lakes National Park. As the other half of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Waterton Lakes offers fantastic hiking, scenic boat cruises and several scenic drives all centered around the Townsite of Waterton. Immediately east of Glacier National Park lies the picturesque Blackfeet Indian Reservation, spanning 1.5 million acres. Visit the Museum of the Plains Indian, in Browning, Montana, for a fascinating introduction to the rich cultural heritage of the largest Indian tribe in Montana.
Guidebooks for Glacier National Park
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- Moon Montana and Wyoming: with Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier National ParksCarter G. Walker, 2022Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Rising Sun Campground?
Sites at Rising Sun Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Rising Sun Campground?
Check-in 1: PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Rising Sun Campground have?
83 sites, including 80 standard sites without power and 1 hike-in site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Rising Sun Campground?
The longest site here provides 21 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Rising Sun Campground?
Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Rising Sun Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Rising Sun Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Rising Sun Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Rising Sun Campground?
Site 7 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Rising Sun Campground good for stargazing?
Yes. Rising Sun Campground sits inside Glacier National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
What is there to do at Rising Sun Campground?
Rising Sun Campground is located on the east side of the park, which boasts some of the best trails available for day hiking. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Rising Sun Campground?
West Glacier, Montana. One must-see attraction is the sister park across the U.S.-Canadian border, Waterton Lakes National Park.
Source: Getting there
Which national park is Rising Sun Campground in?
Rising Sun Campground is a Glacier National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Glacier National Park