Top Places to See
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Glacier National Park
Pictures and Slideshows
Park Map
Lodges and Chalets
In Glacier Park
Camp Grounds
In Glacier National Park
St. Mary's Area
See Map Here
McDonald Area
See Map Here
North Fork Area
Southern Boundary
Area
Two Medicine Area
Logan Pass Area
Many Glacier Area
See Map Here
Trail of the Cedars
Avalanche Area
Cut Bank Area
Chief Mountain
Goat Haunt Area
See Map Here
Services Available
In Glacier Park
Wintering In
Glacier National Park
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Horsing Around
in Glacier National Park
Horse Trail
Riding
Not all trails are suitable and open to trail riding by horseback, or to stock of any
kind, including mules, donkeys, and even llamas.
Check maintenance schedules for all trails before starting out in
case some have been closed due to landslides or debris blocking the
areas you wish to travel. These schedules may change daily so be
aware that the rangers make up a new chart showing problem areas
each day as reports come in. It is also a good idea to check river
crossings, especially the middle fork of Flathead.
Paved roads are always off limits to riders, but dirt roads that are
most popular and usually open to trail riders are: Old Flathead
Ranger Station, the road to Apgar Lookout Trailhead, Bowman Lake
Road, and inside North Fork Road.
Some of these trails will be late to open in spring and early summer
because of lingering snows and wet conditions due to heavy rainfall.
At times the trails are closed due to increased bear activity also.
This is another reason to always check in with park rangers to
assure you are going to be safe from weather, and you and your horse
or you will not become “Animals of Prey” for hungry bears. Anything
on the move looks like dinner to a Grizzly.
A party of ten animals and riders is the usual limit on any trail
ride, but by special consideration, and the supervisors permission,
as many as twenty have been known to take a day trip on certain
trails. Check ahead for this provision.
Horse and Stock Loading Ramps
If you are bringing horses or other animals into the park by stock
truck, please check with the ranger station prior to your trip to
Glacier National Park for loading ramps. The Visitor Center and
Ranger Station will either mail you the mapped list of ramps, or you
may receive it upon arrival. This list will include numbers
permitted in certain camp areas, and length of time you may occupy
these sites.
Overnight Horse Camping
For overnight or weekly camping, you must be issued a backcountry
use permit at the visitor center or ranger stations. A fee of twenty
dollars per reservation, and four dollars per person per night will
be charged. Children under age sixteen have free entry.
Backcountry camping is open June thru’ September, and reservations
for campsites is recommended, (especially if you have a preference)
in July and August. This rule is due to strict regulations on
numbers of persons and stock per site. Remember―Animals are eating
and fertilizing machines so land usage is important to not pollute
or damage the park. True trailblazers choose September to travel the
Glacier trails because crowds have thinned by then, trails are
broken-in for better horse travel, and there are fewer insects.
Low Impact Horse Usage
As I mentioned in the previous lines, proper use of Glacier Park’s
backcountry is maintained by limiting the numbers of people and
animals in specified areas in order to eliminate conflict with other
users, stop damage to natural resources, and maintain beauty and
balance of nature in the park.
By following a few simple rules, everyone can and will have a great
time and leave the park in the same pristine condition as when they
arrived.
1) No grazing is allowed―You must pack ample supplementary feed such
as grain and pellets for your animals for the entire duration of
your stay.
2) Bear resistant feeders can be found at ranger stations at the
park, and all feed must be hung high enough in trees during the
night to keep out of reach of prowling bears.
3) Pack mules, llamas, and stock not in use must be tied or tethered
securely. Animals prone to pawing or scraping the ground’s surface
should be hobbled.
4) Tie animals at least 200 ft. from any water source―streams,
lakes, waterfalls, or rivers.
5) Please use hitch racks where provided to tie animals.
6) Where there are no hitch racks, tie a rope (called a highline)
securely between two trees off trail. Tie the horses to this line to
cut down on trampling or marring root system around an individual
tree.
7) Stock is not allowed in camping grounds, so load and unload them
at hitch rails provided.
8) Loose herding or trailing is prohibited.
9) Hikers are required to stand quietly on the lower side of the
trail when stock and trail riders are passing.
10) Stay on designated riding trails―cross country riding, or riding
on pavement is prohibited.
11) Scatter manure, and level ground wherever it has been disrupted
before breaking camp.
12) Stock is not permitted in auto zones.
Border Rules and Restrictions
When crossing from the park across the border with stock, the
Canadian stockmen require a Coggins test on each animal to be
endorsed by a veterinarian. Call: Montana State Veterinarians at
(403) 653-3009 for information. US stockmen must acquire a
horsemen’s use permit from Carway Customs in order to stay no longer
than seventy-hours. Carway is the only border crossing to be used
both to enter and exit.
Horsing around in Glacier National Park was written by Tamara Hillman.
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