Glacier National Park - Private Horse Use

Private Stock Use
Temporary Closures Day Use Limits
Overnight Camping
Loading Ramps & Area Limits
Crossing the Border
Low Impact Stock Use
Trails Closed to Stock
20 Head Limit (day use)
Loading Ramps
Stock Use at Bowman Lake
Campgrounds outside the Park that allow stock

Trail Status
Click on the above Trail Status link for updated trail conditions and projected trail maintenance schedule.
Generally, the trails of Glacier National Park are open to stock (i.e., horses, mules, donkeys, llamas),as well as foot travel. There are a few trails, however, that due to their physical condition or unsuitability, are not available for stock use. See list on reverse. Check for maintenance schedules to determine if rock and downfall have been cleared from the trails. It is a good idea to check on the status of river crossings, especially the Middle Fork of the Flathead.

Stock use is prohibited on paved roads at all times. Dirt roads where stock use is permitted include: the Old Flathead Ranger Station Road, the spur road to the Apgar Lookout Trailhead, the Bowman Lake road (when closed to vehicular traffic) and the Inside North Fork road (when closed to vehicular traffic).

Certain conditions may cause trails to be closed to stock use. Generally, this is in the early summer, when they still have steep snow banks, before trails have dried out sufficiently, or during extended periods of wet weather. Bear activity may also result in temporary closures at any time. To be certain, check at a visitor center or ranger station.

The day use limit shall be no more than 10 animals in a party, except on the trails listed on the reverse, where 20 shall be allowed due to special maintenance or other considerations. This list may be modified by the Superintendent. Overnight Camping Overnight use of the backcountry is controlled by the issuance of a Backcountry Use Permit. Permits are issued for periods of up to 6 nights and may be obtained at visitor centers and major ranger stations. Advance reservations may be requested. There is a fee of $20 for each confirmed advance reservation and an additional fee of $4 per person per night (age 16 and under free) for backcountry camping (June - September). Backcountry campgrounds have designated capacities for numbers of people and stock that cannot be exceeded. Competition is very keen at some areas for available space from July to mid-August. Stock users are encouraged to plan overnight trips after this period, when trails and campgrounds are less crowded, in better condition for horse travel, and there are fewer insects. When planning an overnight trip in the backcountry using stock, be aware that certain campsites are not available for stock use due to size or resource considerations (see Backcountry Guide). Loading Ramps
Area Limits If you are using a stock truck, there are loading ramps located at the sites listed below. Check with a visitor center or ranger station for exact locations. Overnight limits for specific campgrounds may not be exceeded for day use stop-overs; however, up to five head may be taken into areas that do not allow overnight use. Also, parties which exceed particular limits may pass through the area, but may not remain (Example: A 10-horse party may cross Brown Pass although only 5 head at a time may stop at the Brown Pass Campground). An information sheet with details about parking and loading ramps, for west side trailheads is available upon request. Crossing the Border Special provisions and restrictions apply when crossing the International Boundary with stock. Canadian stockmen must have proof of a Coggins test, endorsed by a veterinarian. Call the Montana State Veterinarian (406) 444-2043 for more information.

U.S. stockmen must obtain a horse use permit from Carway Customs; each animal must have had a Coggins test endorsed by a veterinarian, and must enter and exit at Carway. Length of stay is 72 hours. Call (403) 653-3009 for more details. Low Impact Stock Use The proper use of Glacier"s backcountry will prevent damage to the natural resources, maintain the aesthetic quality of the area, and avoid conflicts with other users. Please comply with the following regulations, guidelines and Leave No Trace techniques. Grazing of stock is not permitted. Stock users need to pack supplementary feed such as grain or pellets. Feed must be hung out of reach of bears using the established food hanging device or an NPS approved bear-resistant feed container (available to checkout at permit stations). Transporting hay into or through Glacier is prohibited, except on the portion of U.S. Highway 2 which passes through the park. Due to problems with noxious weeds, feeding hay at trailheads or backcountry campgrounds is prohibited. When not being used, pack and saddle stock must be tethered. Horses, llamas or mules that are nervous "diggers" or "pawers" should be hobbled when tied to prevent unnecessary damage to the terrain. Please tie at least 200" from streams or lakes Always use hitch-racks where provided. Where there are no hitchracks, tie a rope between two trees, "a highline" away from the trail and hitch the stock to the rope. This avoids damage to the tree and trampling around the root system. Stock are not permitted in the camping areas of campgrounds. Load & unload at the hitchrails provided. Loose herding or trailing is prohibited. Hikers are required to stand quietly on the lower side of the trail and yield the right-of-way to stock. Many hikers do not know and understand the need for this procedure, so stock users are encouraged to courteously coach them on proper meeting procedures. Please stay on established trails. Cross-country riding or riding on paved roads is not permitted. Scatter manure after camping or stopping for long periods and smooth out any ruts or holes. Stock is not permitted in auto campgrounds. Trails Closed to Stock In the Lake McDonald Valley
Avalanche Lake Trail
Loop Parking Area to Packer"s Roost Trail Junction (Granite Park Trail)
Spur Trail to Sperry Glacier
Trail of the Cedars Nature Trail

At Logan Pass
Hidden Lake Trail
Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet

In the Many Glacier Valley
Appekunny Falls Trail
Grinnell Glacier Trail
Hidden Falls Trail
Josephine Walkway
Swiftcurrent Lake Nature Trail

In the St. Mary Valley
Baring Falls from Sunrift Gorge
Sun Point Nature Trail

In the Two Medicine Valley
Dawson Pass to Cutbank Pass Trail Junction
Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail

In Other Parts of the Park
Hole-in-the-Wall Spur Trail
Huckleberry Mountain Nature Trail
Spur Trail to Lake Francis 20-Head Limit
(Day Use Only) Apgar Lookout Trail, Apgar Mountain Loops, Apgar Flats Trail, Cracker Lake Trail, Gunsight Pass Trail (Lake McDonald Lodge Trailhead to Sperry Chalet), Josephine Lake/Grinnell Lake (Horse Trails), McDonald Valley Trails, Red Gap Pass Trail (Many Glacier Road to Poia Lake), Swiftcurrent Pass Trail (Many Glacier to Granite Park), Bowman Lake Road*, Inside North Fork Road* The Old Flahead Ranger Station Road, The Spur to Apgar Lookout Trailhead

*When closed to vehicles

Check with Rangers for specific locations. Loading Ramps Apgar Horse Concession, Bowman Lake, Camas Creek Trailhead, Chief Mountain Trailhead, Coal Creek Trailhead, Fielding Access Road Trailhead, Gunsight Pass Horse Trailhead, Kishenehn Trailhead, Lake McDonald Ranger Station, Lincoln Lake Trailhead, Logging Creek Ranger Station, Many Glacier Horse Concession, Mt. Henry at Two Medicine Trailhead, Nyack Trailhead, Packer"s Roost Trailhead, Sperry Chalet Trailhead (near campstore), Walton Ranger Station Stock Use at Bowman Lake Stock users may keep up to ten head of stock at the Bowman Lake Corral while they camp at Bowman Lake Campground (about ¼ mile away). Prior permission must be obtained from the Polebridge Ranger Station (888-7842).

Noxious weed-seed free pellets and grain may be fed, but hay is prohibited. Campgrounds Outside the Park that Allow Stock Devil Creek
(U.S. Forest Service) 10 miles west of East Glacier on U.S. Highway 2

Red Eagle Campground
226-5512
4 miles north of East Glacier on State route 49 on Lower Two Medicine Lake

St Mary/Glacier Park KOA
732-4122
north of St. Mary, on Lower St. Mary Lake

Chewing Blackbones
732-4512
north of St. Mary, on Lower St. Mary Lake

Leaning Tree
732-9285
east of Babb on County Road 464

Duck Lake
338-5007
4 miles east of Babb on County Road 464 (portable corrals required)

Buffalo Child Youth Camground
338-3264
1 mile south of the junction of Highway 89 and the Cutbank Road. Top of Page
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