Photo credit: John Kabel, Great Northern Railway Company Public Relations Department
Kintla Lake (Boulder Pass Trail System)
Trailhead parking is 1/4 mile before you reach Kintla Lake. The road is narrow and steep in places and winds along the historic road to Canada most of the way. There is a stock ramp and room for two stock hauling units. Trailers longer than two horse are not recommended. Kishenehn trails Trailhead parking for the Kishenehn trail system is two miles before you reach Kintla Lake. There is a loading ramp and room for two stock hauling units adjacent to the ramp. Trailers longer than two horse are not recommended. Bowman Lake (Quartz Lake, Akokala Lake, Numa Lookout, Brown Pass) Just before you enter Bowman Lake campground, there is a signed road that veers off to the right, which leads to the stock users trailhead and parking. There is a stock ramp and room for two stock hauling units. Trailers over two horse not recommended. To access all trailheads, ride east down this road. Stay to the left at an overgrown junction that leads to an old corral system. With advance permission from the North Fork Subdistrict Ranger (phone # 888-7842), stock can be held overnight here. Continue on 1/4 mile to another junction near the outlet of Bowman lake. The trail to the right goes to the Quartz Lake trail system, the trail to the left goes to Akokala Lake, Numa lookout, the head of Bowman Lake and eventually to Brown Pass and beyond. The trails are signed at all junctions to help with your map reading skills. The Akokala Lake trail system will actually lead past site # 22 in the Bowman auto campground. Polebridge When North Fork area roads are closed to vehicles, stock may use the roads as a trail. It is important not to block gates as maintenance crews or others may need access. There are no stock ramps in the Polebridge area. Parking for the Inside Road may be at the Polebridge Ranger Station or at Logging Creek Ranger Station depending on the closure location. When the road is gated shut at the Polebridge Station itself, parking is best served on the west side of the bridge in the large river access parking area on your left just as you approach the bridge. It is important to note that stock are prohibited from travel on any park road currently open to vehicle use. Road use by stock in the North Fork is normally only allowed in May and October when environmental conditions force road closures. Quartz Creek Trailhead for the Quartz Creek trail system is along the Inside Road, five miles south of the Polebridge Ranger Station. Parking is limited to only one stock hauling unit. There is no stock ramp available. Due to the narrow, winding nature of the road, trailers longer than two horse are not recommended. Logging Creek Trailhead for the Logging Creek drainage trail system is just north of the Logging Ranger Station and auto campground, about eight miles south of the Polebridge Ranger Station. A stock ramp is available at the Logging Ranger Station as is additional parking if necessary. Due to the narrow, winding nature of the road, trailers longer than two horse are not recommended.
Camas Creek
The Camas Creek trailhead is north of Fish Creek Campground, along the Inside North Fork Road. The distance from Fish Creek is six miles. There is a stock ramp and room for a couple stock hauling units. This may be the best stock access to Trout, Arrow, and Camas Lakes. Due to the narrow, winding nature of the road, trailers longer than two horse are not recommended. Huckleberry Mountain The Huckleberry Mountain trailhead is approximately six miles north of Apgar on the Camas Road. There is a stock ramp on the west side of the road. There are two loading ramps and additional parking. Fish Creek The Fish Creek trailhead is north of the Fish Creek campground on the Inside North Fork Road. Park in the gravel area to the east of the gate about 200 yards north of the campground. This trailhead can be used to access trails on the west side of Lake McDonald and also to ride the road when it is closed to vehicles. The trailhead for the Lake Trail is back towards Fish Creek about 50 yards. Apgar Lookout, Flathead Ranger Station Site After entering the park, take the road (first left past the West Entrance) leading to Quarter Circle bridge. Cross the bridge and proceed to the Apgar Lookout trailhead. Ample parking there, but currently no stock ramp is available. The trail to the Flathead Ranger Station site (building destroyed in the 2003 fire) is back down the road to the junction and then along the main road that heads west. Load limit on the Quarter Circle Bridge is five tons. Boundary Trail (Park Headquarters) To access the boundary trail leading up the Middle Fork River, stock users can park at the community building parking area and then ride the boundary trail, which begins at the end of Mather Road (the road that you turned off). Currently no loading ramp but plenty of room for trailers. Lincoln Lake The trailhead is along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, about 2/3 of the way up Lake McDonald and a mile or so before Sprague Creek Campground. Stock ramp and some parking for trailers depending on how busy the area is. If you miss it, just turn around at Sprague Creek Campground. Sperry Chalet (Gunsight Pass Trail) Head up the Going-to-the-Sun Road to the Lake McDonald Lodge. The trailhead parking for stock users is located between the campstore and the Going-to-the-Sun Road on the north end of the Lodge complex. There is a discrete road between the store and the Going-to-the-Sun Road that leads to a stock ramp and some limited trailer parking. A trail leading out the north end of the hitchrail will connect you with the Sperry and Gunsite Pass trail systems. West Lakes (Trout, Arrow, Camas, and McDonald Lake Trails) The trailhead for stock users is located at the Lake McDonald Ranger Station at the head of the lake. Turn off the Going-to-the-Sun Road to the west at the head of Lake McDonald. At the Lake McDonald Ranger Station sign, turn right and head up to the National Park Service barn. There is a loading ramp and some area to park trailers. Continue (ride) down the road to the respective trailheads. Packers Roost (Flattop, Fifty Mtn and Granite Park) Overlength stock vehicles and trailers are allowed beyond Avalanche Campground and trailhead to Packer’s Roost. There is ample parking for large trailers and trucks and two loading ramps. To get to Packer’s Roost, turn left off the Going-to-the-Sun Road about three miles above Logan Creek. It is the only road the exits the highway between Logan Creek and the Loop.
Lincoln Creek (Harrison Lake)
The trailhead for Lincoln Creek and Harrison Lake is located about 5.2 miles east of West Glacier. There is a large gravel area on the right side of the road to park and unload in. A mounded area along the bank serves as a loading ramp, too. The route from there is across the highway and down the gated road. Cross Ousel Creek and ride down the railroad tracks about 500 yards. Pick your way down to the river above Lincoln Creek to the obvious ford. After crossing, head towards Lincoln Creek and then up the creek on a light trail. A trailhead map is available at visitor centers and ranger stations. Nyack Creek Nyack Creek trailhead is located about 11 miles from West Glacier, along U.S. Highway 2. Just past mile marker 164, take the county road to the left. About .2 miles in you come to a T-intersection. On your left is a loading ramp and hitchrail with lots or trailer parking. To access the trail, go back to the T-intersection and ride up the tracks almost to the overpass. There is a discrete trail over the tracks and to the river. Find the best crossing in this area. You should be able to pick up the trail across from the likely ford. A trailhead map is available from visitor centers and ranger stations. Coal Creek The Coal Creek trailhead is located 16 miles east of West Glacier along U.S. Highway 2. Located just .4 mile west of the Stanton Creek Lodge (on the south side of the highway) with a stock ramp and plenty of trailer parking. The trail begins on the north side of the highway just a little east of the parking area. Follow the trail down to the river on the old road and then up the river to the ford. An obvious trail can be picked up on the park side of the river. A trailhead map is available from visitor centers and ranger stations. Walton Ranger Station (Ole and Park Creek, Scalplock Lookout) The Walton Ranger Station is located 32 miles east of West Glacier along U.S. Highway 2. There is a stock ramp and some designated backcountry parking. Additional parking for stock trailers can be found out near the highway across from the ranger station. A trail leads out from near the barn that connects to all trails. Fielding (Ole and Park Creek, Fielding Coal Creek Trail) The Fielding trailhead is located about 37.3 miles east of West Glacier on US. Highway 2. There is an access road across from mile post 192 that heads past the Bear Creek Ranch. Take this road about 1/3 of a mile to a large open area. On your immediate left you will see a stock ramp and hitchrail. Park and unload here. To access the area, continue up the road another 1/3 mile. A large sign is at the trailhead (an old road) and at the beginning of some private property. Traverse this property to the railroad tracks and then across the tracks to the park. The trail to Elk Mtn. is not recommended for stock due to the steep and narrow trail. A trailhead map is available from visitor centers and ranger stations. Autumn Creek This trailhead begins 39 miles east of West Glacier on U.S. Highway 2. Just before mile marker 194 there is a highway pullout that has ample parking. Take the gated road across the highway and up the hill to the railroad tracks. Go across the tracks and into the Autumn Creek drainage. A trailhead map is available from visitor centers and ranger stations. Summit (Autumn Creek, East Glacier, Lubec and Firebrand Pass) Summit trailhead is located on top of Marias Pass 42.7 miles east of West Glacier and 11.4 west of East Glacier. Take the road on the north side of U.S. Highway 2 and park near the railroad tracks. Cross the track and pick up the obvious trail. A trailhead map is available from visitor centers and ranger stations.
Lubec
The trailhead is located 6.3 miles west of East Glacier and 47.8 miles east of West Glacier. The turn off is on the crest of a small hill, just east of mile marker 203. Drive down to the railroad track and park along the tracks. The trailhead and park is through the fence across the tracks. Large trailers may be difficult to maneuver into the trailhead. A trailhead map is available from visitor centers and ranger stations. East Glacier, Autumn Creek Turn off of Highway 2 at East Glacier and head under the railroad underpass to the East Glacier Ranger Station. Turn left just past the ranger station and then left again. Head down a dirt road to a bridge. Just past the bridge take the left fork about .1 mile to a tree with an orange marker. Follow a faint dirt road to the right and park in the meadow and look for orange markers. There is a trailhead map available from visitor centers and ranger stations. East Glacier, MT. Henry Turn off U.S. Highway 2 at East Glacier and head under the railroad underpass to the East Glacier Ranger Station. Turn left past Sherburne’s Motel and travel .6 miles down a dirt road to the marked trailhead. Trailer and truck parking is available. There is a trailhead map available from visitor centers and ranger stations. Two Medicine Entrance Station Parking area suitable for small horse trailers. Trailhead for Old Man Lake and Pitamakan Pass. Two Medicine (Old Man, No Name and Upper Two Medicine Lakes, East Glacier Ranger Station, Two Medicine, Dawson and Pitamakan Passes) Parking for all of the above trails is at the Mt. Henry trailhead. This trailhead begins just before you reach Two Medicine Ranger Station and developed area. Look to your left as you approach and you will notice a gravel area and trailhead. A ramp is available with plenty of parking for stock units. To access the trailheads, continue across the small bridge, the road splits with trails to the Dry Fork and north shore of the lake on your right, and the south shore and Two Medicine Pass to the left. The Mt. Henry trailhead takes off from the loading and parking area to the east. There is also room for a trailer at the Two Medicine Entrance Station for Dry Fork Trail (Old Man Lake). |
Last updated: April 22, 2026