Bowman Lake is a bit of a hidden gem in Glacier National Park! Located in the northwest section of the park camping at the Bowman Lake Campground is the perfect location for anyone who wants to spend some time on the water.
Bowman Lake Campground
The campground has 46 sites in a large loop. There is a great visitor tent with information about the park and what to do around Bowman Lake. Camp hosts are on site to answer any questions you may have.
Similar to the Kintla Lake Campground you will need to drive a dirt road to reach the campground. The road is small but easily traveled.
Be prepared for mosquitos during your visit.
Season:
Summer - May - Sept
Primitive - Sept - Oct
Number of Sites: 46
Location in the park: North Fork area of Glacier National Park
Campsite Cost: $15.00 / night
Payments accepted: cash/check
Reservations: No, Sites are available on a first-come, first served basis.
Latitude/Longitude: 48.8288° N, 114.2027° W
Elevation: 5,600
Accessible Sites: #4 has a lifted tent pad, #7 the tent pad is not lifted
Pets Allowed: Yes but they must be on a leash at all times
Campground Reservations
Are campground Reservations Available? No, Sites are available on a first-come, first served basis.
Glacier National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$45.00-$145.00 for commercial sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons), $25.oo for vehicle plus $20.00 per person 16+.
$75.00 for commercial van with 7-15 seats
$100 for commercial mini-bus with 16-25 seats
$200.00 for commercial motor coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Glacier Ticketed Entry
In 2021, Glacier NP created a ticketed entry program for the Going to the Sun Road. This was created to help relieve congestion and allow visitors to enjoy the park.
For 2025 the park will have ticketed entry from June 13 through September 28, 2025 between the hours of 7 am and 3 pm.
One ticket per vehicle will again be required to enter the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) at the West Entrance, St. Mary Entrance, and the new Camas Entrance.
A ticket per vehicle will also be required at the Polebridge Ranger Station to visit the North Fork area of the park.
The GTSR and North Fork tickets will be two separate tickets. The park anticipates a portion of tickets becoming available by early March.
The park will offer three-day tickets for GTSR rather than the seven-day ticket offered last year, and one-day tickets for the North Fork.
Visitors with lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations within the GTSR corridor can use their reservation for entry in lieu of a $2 ticket.
Campground Amenities
Flush Toilets: No, vault toilets
Payphone: No
Is wifi Available? No
Is cellular Phone Service Available? No
Is camp host available on site? Yes
Is firewood available for purchase? Firewood is available for purchase at most camp stores.
It is unlawful to gather or cut firewood
Amenities at each campsite:
Fire pit in the site? Yes
Picnic Table in the site? Yes
Bear Box in site/area? Yes,
Potable Water? Potable water is available at water spigots in the campground
Fee showers are available at the Rising Sun and Swiftcurrent Motor Inns and private campgrounds adjacent to the park.
Don't forget to pack
Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.
We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.
Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.
Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.
Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!
Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!
Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.
RV Camping at Bowman Lake Campground
RV Length: Vehicles over 21’ in length and/or vehicle-trailer combinations are prohibited at Bowman Lake due to the nature of the long, narrow, and windy dirt road to the campground, and very tight parking areas at each campsite.
Dump Station: No
Generators: Generator use in campgrounds is permitted only during the hours: 8:00 - 10:00 am; 12 noon - 2:00 pm; and 5:00 - 7:00 pm.
Hookups: No
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
How to get to Campground
6.3 miles from Polebridge
Campground Regulations
A maximum of two tents per site is permitted.
Sites may not be left unattended for over 24 hours.
Campground speed limits are 10 miles per hour.
The maximum number of people in a campsite: limited to eight people
The number of cars per campsite: two vehicles
Checkout time: 12 noon
Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.
Maximum Stay:
Between July 1 and Labor Day, camping in Glacier National Park is limited to 14 days, either in a single period or combined separate periods.
Between Labor Day and June 30, camping in Glacier National Park is limited to 30 days, either in a single period or combined separate periods.
Bowman Lake Campground Map
Photos of Bowman Lake Campground
Site #31 is next to the bathroom
Site #48 is near the road and maybe louder
If you don't want to camp the entire time you are in Glacier check out all of the Glacier National Park Lodging options!
Glacier National Park Lodging
There are amazing Glacier National Park Lodging options within the park. Glacier has some of the most amazing National Park Lodges in the park system.
Lodging near Glacier
Lodging outside of the park includes in Kalispell and Whitefish, Montana along with West Glacier on the west side of the park.
On the east side of the park, there is loading in St. Mary's.
Wander Camp Glacier - Enjoy glamping tents under the stars. This smoke-free campground features express check-in, a picnic area, and free self parking. Accommodations offer 3 bathrooms and showers.
Meadow Lake Resort - 3.5-star family-friendly resort. A free roundtrip airport shuttle, 18 holes of golf, and a coffee shop/café are just a few of the amenities provided at Meadow Lake Resort & Condos. The onsite American cuisine family restaurant, Meadow Lake Bar & Grille, features golf course views and happy hour. Enjoy the gym, as well as activities like volleyball. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a playground and an arcade/game room.
Cedar Creek Lodge - 3.5-star lodge, free breakfast buffet, a terrace, and laundry facilities at Cedar Creek Lodge and Conference Center. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a fireplace in the lobby and a gym
Kandahar Lodge at Whitefish Mountain Resort - free continental breakfast, a garden, and a library at Kandahar Lodge at Whitefish Mountain Resort. The onsite fine-dining restaurant, Café Kandahar, features local cuisine. In addition to laundry facilities and a fireplace in the lobby, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Pine Lodge on Whitefish River, Ascend Hotel Collection - Enjoy a terrace, an arcade/game room, and dry cleaning/laundry services at The Pine Lodge on Whitefish River, Ascend Hotel Collection. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Enjoy the gym, as well as activities like hiking/biking. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a fireplace in the lobby and a business center.
Lodge at Whitefish Lake - 4-star family-friendly hotel by the lake, At Lodge at Whitefish Lake, you can look forward to a marina, a poolside bar, and a terrace. With a beachfront location, beach massages, and fishing, this hotel is the perfect place to soak up some sun. Indulge in aromatherapy, a body treatment, and a manicure/pedicure at Spa at Whitefish Lake, the onsite spa. The onsite fine-dining restaurant, Boat Club, features pool views and al fresco dining. Enjoy the gym, as well as activities like rowing/canoeing, snowshoeing, and kayaking. In addition to a coffee shop/cafe and a garden, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Click on the map below to see additional vacation rentals and lodging options near the park.
Learn more about Glacier National Park Camping!
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
Leave a Reply