Gunsight Lake Campground

For us Montanans, Glacier National Park represents the pinnacle of our state's natural grandeur. And for those truly seeking to immerse themselves in its rugged beauty, beyond the paved roads and bustling visitor centers, Gunsight Lake Campground offers an unparalleled backcountry experience. Nestled beside one of the park's most exquisite alpine lakes, this campground is a testament to the wild, untamed spirit of Montana, providing a breathtaking and memorable escape into the high country.

Gunsight Lake Campground is renowned for being adjacent to one of the prettiest lakes in Glacier National Park, providing campers with stunning views and immediate access to pristine alpine waters. It's a place where the towering peaks, the clear mountain air, and the reflective surface of the lake create a sense of awe and profound tranquility. While it's a backcountry campground, requiring a hike to reach, it offers a surprisingly well-equipped base for exploring the surrounding high-elevation wilderness.

This campground strikes a unique balance: it’s remote enough to feel like a true wilderness experience, yet it provides fundamental amenities that make overnight stays more manageable. For Montanans who crave the solitude and raw beauty of our national parks, but also appreciate the convenience of designated facilities, Gunsight Lake Campground is an ideal choice. It's an opportunity to sleep under the vast Montana sky, awakened by views that few ever get to witness up close, truly living the essence of the "Crown of the Continent."

Gunsight Lake Campground is strategically located deep within Glacier National Park, along the Gunsight Pass Trail, near East Glacier Park, MT 59434, USA. This is not a drive-up campground; it is a backcountry campsite, meaning it requires a significant hike to reach. Its location is what makes it so special – nestled at an elevation that offers some of the most spectacular alpine views in the park.

The trailhead to Gunsight Lake Campground typically begins from the Jackson Glacier Overlook on the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. The hike to the lake is approximately 6 to 6.5 miles, with a gradual elevation gain, making it accessible for hikers with some experience. This journey is part of the allure, passing through diverse landscapes including waterfalls, meadows, and offering views of towering peaks and glaciers.

For Montanans, understanding that this is a backcountry campground is crucial for planning. Accessibility means being prepared for a wilderness trek, and securing a wilderness permit from Glacier National Park is mandatory for overnight stays. These permits are limited and often require advance reservation or an early start for first-come, first-served options. The effort to reach Gunsight Lake Campground is richly rewarded with incredible scenery and a sense of accomplishment, placing you directly in the heart of Glacier’s high country. This unique access to one of the park's most beautiful lakes and surrounding alpine trails makes the journey an integral part of the unforgettable experience.

As a backcountry campground within Glacier National Park, Gunsight Lake Campground offers essential, yet adequate, amenities designed to support a wilderness camping experience while adhering to Leave No Trace principles. Visitors should arrive prepared for a rustic stay.

• Pit Toilets: The campground provides basic pit toilets for sanitation, which are standard for backcountry sites in the park.
• Food Prep Area: There is a designated area for food preparation, helping to centralize cooking activities and minimize wildlife attractants.
• Food Hanging Poles: Crucial for bear safety in Glacier National Park, the campground provides poles for hanging food and scented items securely away from bears and other wildlife. Campers should come prepared with appropriate bags and ropes.
• Designated Campsites: While spacious, sites are designated to concentrate impact and protect the surrounding environment. Each campsite is typically limited to a certain number of people (e.g., four people per site).
• Water Access: While not potable from the lake directly, campers have access to the lake and potentially nearby streams for water, which must be filtered or treated before consumption.
• Fire Rings: Individual campsites may have fire rings, though fire restrictions are common in Glacier National Park, especially during dry periods. It's essential to check current regulations before planning a campfire.
• Wilderness Permit Required: A wilderness use permit is mandatory for all overnight stays at Gunsight Lake Campground, emphasizing its backcountry status and ensuring responsible use.

These services are designed to facilitate a safe and environmentally conscious backcountry camping trip, allowing Montanans to experience the raw beauty of Glacier National Park with necessary provisions.

Gunsight Lake Campground stands out due to several exceptional features and highlights that make it a truly remarkable destination in Glacier National Park:

• Adjacent to One of the Prettiest Lakes: Its primary allure is its location right next to Gunsight Lake, widely considered one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the entire park. The views are simply breathtaking.
• Beautiful Surrounding Views: Beyond the lake itself, the campground offers panoramic vistas of the surrounding rugged mountains, including Fusillade Mountain, Gunsight Mountain, and Mount Jackson, with glimpses of glaciers.
• Beach Access to the Lake: Direct access to the lake's shores provides opportunities for peaceful contemplation, photography, and possibly a refreshing (though cold!) dip in the clear water.
• Alpine Lake Experience: It's lauded as "almost as good as it gets for Alpine lakes," promising a quintessential high-mountain lake experience with pristine conditions.
• Spacious and Secluded Campsites: Despite being a popular backcountry spot, the campsites are described as large and designed to feel private and secluded, allowing for a sense of solitude even when other hikers are present.
• Direct Trail Access: The campground is on the Gunsight Pass Trail, allowing campers to easily continue their journey over Gunsight Pass or explore other nearby routes.
• Wildlife Viewing Opportunities: Being in a natural, remote setting, there is a high likelihood of encountering local wildlife, including mountain goats and hoary marmots, adding to the wilderness experience. Deer can be nuisance animals, known for seeking out salt on trekking poles and shoes.
• Stargazing Potential: Away from light pollution, the alpine setting offers incredible opportunities for stargazing on clear nights.

While the campground is "easily accessible by hikers," which means it might not offer the extreme lonesome feel of some deep backcountry spots, its stunning beauty and strategic location for further exploration far outweigh this, making it a dream destination for hikers and nature lovers alike.

For those planning their unforgettable backcountry adventure to Gunsight Lake Campground, here is the essential contact information for Glacier National Park, which manages this wilderness site:

Address: Gunsight Pass Trail, East Glacier Park, MT 59434, USA

Phone: (406) 888-7800

Mobile Phone: +1 406-888-7800

It is crucial for Montanans interested in camping at Gunsight Lake Campground to understand that it is a wilderness campground requiring a permit. The provided phone numbers connect to the main Glacier National Park information line. This is the primary contact for obtaining information on wilderness permits, reservation procedures (which are often required for backcountry sites), current trail conditions, weather forecasts, bear activity, and any fire restrictions. Given its remote and high-alpine nature, consulting with the park service before your trip is vital for safety and to ensure you have the necessary permits. Planning ahead and contacting the park well in advance is highly recommended, especially during peak hiking seasons, to secure your spot at this coveted location.

Gunsight Lake Campground is an exceptionally fitting destination for us Montanans, offering an quintessential Glacier National Park backcountry experience that aligns perfectly with our adventurous spirit and love for raw, majestic landscapes. For locals who cherish the high country and seek to escape the more heavily trafficked areas, Gunsight Lake provides an accessible yet profound wilderness immersion.

The promise of camping adjacent to "one of the prettiest Lakes in the park," surrounded by "beautiful surrounding views," speaks directly to the visual splendor that draws us to Glacier. It’s the kind of breathtaking scenery that reminds us why we live in Montana. The "beach access to the Lake" offers a unique opportunity for tranquil moments by the water's edge, a serene counterpoint to the challenging hikes.

While some might find its accessibility by hikers to "take away from the lonesome backcountry feel," for many Montanans, this strikes a perfect balance. It means you can experience true alpine wilderness without needing extreme mountaineering skills, making it achievable for a wider range of outdoor enthusiasts. The presence of essential amenities like pit toilets, food prep areas, and crucial food hanging poles also enhances safety and responsible backcountry practices, which are values many locals uphold.

Gunsight Lake Campground is ideal for Montanans who are prepared for a backcountry trek and who value the reward of unparalleled alpine beauty, unique wildlife encounters (like the notorious salt-seeking deer!), and the deep satisfaction of sleeping under the stars in the heart of Glacier. It's not just a campsite; it's a gateway to some of the most stunning vistas and memorable experiences our incredible state has to offer.

Gunsight Lake Campground

Gunsight Pass Trail, East Glacier Park, MT 59434, USA