Quartz Creek Campground
Glacier National Park
| Address: | Quartz Creek Campground, West Glacier, MT 59936, USA |
| GPS: |
48°43'21.1"N 114°13'27.3"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Montana |
National Park
Camp
Quartz Creek Campground is the smallest campground in Glacier National Park, a remote, primitive spot with only seven sites in the North Fork region on the park's undeveloped west side. It lies along the rough Inside North Fork Road just under six miles south of the Polebridge Ranger Station, reached by a slow, narrow gravel drive that is not suitable for RVs or trailers, which is exactly why it stays so quiet and wild.
Its seven first-come, first-served sites make it the most intimate campground in the park. Facilities are bare-bones: vault (pit) toilets and no drinking water, so campers must bring their own supply or treat water, and there are no hookups or services. Sites come with picnic tables, fire rings and bear-resistant food storage. With so few sites in such a remote location, it offers a rare sense of solitude even in a national park.
The campground sits in deep North Fork forest near Quartz Creek and provides access to the Quartz Lake Loop, a rugged backcountry trail linking Lower, Middle and Upper Quartz Lakes, a superb hike for those wanting to leave the crowds far behind. Like the rest of the North Fork, it is true grizzly country with no cell service and no amenities. For self-reliant campers and backpackers seeking the most secluded drive-in camping Glacier has to offer, Quartz Creek is hard to top.
More Information
Glacier National Park Itinerary
This Glacier National Park Itinerary will help you get started as you plan your vacation to Glacier National Park.
https://www.justgotravelstudios.com/collections/national-park-itineraries/products/glacier-national-park-itinerary?ref=9zpxis0diinGlacier National Park (U.S.) - Wikipedia
IUCN category II (national park)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_National_Park_(U.S.)North Fork Flathead River - Wikipedia
The North Fork Flathead River (Ktunaxa: kqaskanmituk [3]) is a 153-mile (246 km)[2] river flowing through British Columbia, Canada, south into the U.S. state of Montana. It is one of the three primary forks of the Flathead River, the main inflow of Flathead Lake and a tributary of the Columbia River via the Clark Fork River and the Pend Oreille River. The river is sometimes considered the upper headwaters of the Flathead River,[4] although the North Fork is its official name in the U.S. Other naming conventions for the river include Flathead River - North Fork, North Fork of Flathead River, and North Fork of the Flathead River.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Fork_Flathead_RiverQuartz Lake - Wikipedia
This article is about the lake in Montana. For the lake in Alaska, see Quartz Lake (Alaska).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz_LakeDirections
From Glacier National Park
- Head west on Camas Rd toward N Fork Rd (0.2 mi)
- Turn right onto N Fork Rd (12.9 mi)
- Turn right toward Polebridge Loop (151 ft)
- Turn right onto Polebridge Loop (1.0 mi)
- Continue onto Glacier Dr (0.7 mi)
- Turn left to stay on Glacier Dr (407 ft)
- Turn right onto Inside North Fork RdMay be closed at certain times or days(5.5 mi)
- Turn left (256 ft)
- Slight rightDestination will be on the left(200 ft)
Morning at Quartz Lake courtesy of GlacierNPS↗ (Public domain↗)
Fog over Quartz Lake courtesy of GlacierNPS↗ (Public domain↗)
Fog lifting off Quartz Lake courtesy of GlacierNPS↗ (Public domain↗)
The shore of remote Quartz Lake courtesy of GlacierNPS↗ (Public domain↗)
Quartz Lake reflections courtesy of GlacierNPS↗ (Public domain↗)
Other Arenas Nearby
Logging Creek Campground
Glacier National Park
2.2 miles SEA first-come, first-served campground nestled in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, with 49 sites and close access to the Grinnell Glacier and Swiftcurrent trails.
Camp
Bowman Lake Campground
Glacier National Park
7.4 miles NA stunning lakeside campground in the heart of Glacier National Park with 50+ campsites, bear-proof lockers, nearby hiking trails, and access to swimming, fishing, and paddling on Bowman Lake.
Camp
Hay Creek Trail #3
11.4 miles W
A 5.4-mile non-motorized trail from Road #376 to the Whitefish Divide Trail #26 junction — open for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in Montana.
Mountain Bike
Smokey Range Nrt. Trail #270
Whitefish, Montana
14.9 miles SA 9.3-mile non-motorized trail near Whitefish, Montana running from Road 316 to Road 803 through backcountry terrain.
Mountain Bike
Summit Mountain Bike Trail #810
Whitefish, Montana
16.1 miles SAn 8-mile mountain bike trail at Whitefish Mountain Resort, accessible from the base or by taking Chair 1 to the summit — suited for advanced beginners through advanced riders, with a lift-served descent option.
Mountain Bike
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Whitefish, Montana
16.2 miles SAn 8-mile climb through beautiful alpine forest to the summit of Whitefish Mountain with huckleberry picking in summer, panoramic Flathead Valley views, and a restaurant at the top — then an epic 8-mile downhill back.
Mountain Bike
Fish Creek Campground
Glacier National Park
16.3 miles SEA 193-site Glacier National Park campground along Fish Creek, surrounded by pine and cedar forest, with mountain views, fire rings, and access to the Trail of the Cedars nearby.
Camp
Sprague Campground
Glacier National Park
17.4 miles SEAn 85-site campground on the west side of Glacier National Park near Lake McDonald, with swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, and the Trail of the Cedars nearby.
Camp
Glacier National Park
West Glacier, Montana
17.5 miles SESwim near West Glacier, Montana
Swim
Apgar Campground
Apgar Village, Glacier National Park
17.5 miles SECampsites on the shores of Lake McDonald within Glacier National Park, with easy access to the Apgar Visitor Center, nature center, nearby hiking, and the western entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Camp
Runaway Train Trail #815
Whitefish, Montana
17.5 miles SA 2.8-mile advanced downhill-only trail from Whitefish Mountain Resort's summit to the base, loaded with rock drops and natural features — serious riders only.
Mountain Bike
Old Flathead River Ranger Station Trail
Columbia Falls, Montana
18.1 miles SEA mostly level 9-mile round-trip trail near Columbia Falls through new-growth forest along the Flathead River rim — beautiful views and a few challenging ups and downs.
Mountain Bike
Kintla Campground
Glacier National Park
18.1 miles NA 26-site campground on the shores of Kintla Lake inside Glacier National Park — fire pits, bear boxes, vault toilets, and the Kintla Lake Trail at your doorstep.
Camp
Swift Creek Trail
Whitefish, Montana
18.6 miles SWA short out-and-back section of the Whitefish Trails that ends at a nice overlook — a quick, scenic ride near Whitefish, Montana.
Mountain Bike 0.9 mi
Trail of the Cedars
Apgar Village, Glacier National Park
18.7 miles EAn easy wheelchair-accessible loop through towering 500-year-old cedars up to 100 feet tall in Glacier National Park, with gorge views of glacial Avalanche Creek and a footbridge over the water.
Hike
Avalanche Campground
Glacier National Park
18.8 miles ENestled on Glacier National Park's west side, Avalanche Campground puts 128 sites, flush toilets, and bear-proof storage right next to the Trail of the Cedars and the stunning Avalanche Lake hike.
Camp 4.5 mi
Avalanche Lake
Apgar Village, Glacier National Park
18.8 miles EHike near Apgar Village, Glacier National Park
Hike
Whale Creek Trail #11
19.4 miles NW
A 6.2-mile non-motorized trail in Montana beginning at the end of Road 318 — open to hikers and bikers, with a highline available for stock users.
Mountain Bike
Green Gate Trails
West Glacier, Montana
20.2 miles SEA network of mountain bike trails in West Glacier including the Outer Loop, Figure 8, and Ridenour Trail — diverse riding just outside Glacier National Park.
Mountain Bike
Lupfer Trailhead Loop
Whitefish, Montana
20.7 miles SWA loop mountain bike trail near Whitefish with an optional 0.7-mile side trail to a lookout — overgrown but enjoyable for beginners, with a few good turns and exposed roots.
Mountain BikeNearby Campsites
Logging Creek Campground
Glacier National Park
2.2 miles SEA first-come, first-served campground nestled in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, with 49 sites and close access to the Grinnell Glacier and Swiftcurrent trails.
Camp
Bowman Lake Campground
Glacier National Park
7.4 miles NA stunning lakeside campground in the heart of Glacier National Park with 50+ campsites, bear-proof lockers, nearby hiking trails, and access to swimming, fishing, and paddling on Bowman Lake.
Camp
Fish Creek Campground
Glacier National Park
16.3 miles SEA 193-site Glacier National Park campground along Fish Creek, surrounded by pine and cedar forest, with mountain views, fire rings, and access to the Trail of the Cedars nearby.
Camp
Sprague Campground
Glacier National Park
17.4 miles SEAn 85-site campground on the west side of Glacier National Park near Lake McDonald, with swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, and the Trail of the Cedars nearby.
Camp
Apgar Campground
Apgar Village, Glacier National Park
17.5 miles SECampsites on the shores of Lake McDonald within Glacier National Park, with easy access to the Apgar Visitor Center, nature center, nearby hiking, and the western entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Camp
Kintla Campground
Glacier National Park
18.1 miles NA 26-site campground on the shores of Kintla Lake inside Glacier National Park — fire pits, bear boxes, vault toilets, and the Kintla Lake Trail at your doorstep.
Camp
Avalanche Campground
Glacier National Park
18.8 miles ENestled on Glacier National Park's west side, Avalanche Campground puts 128 sites, flush toilets, and bear-proof storage right next to the Trail of the Cedars and the stunning Avalanche Lake hike.
Camp
Cameron Lake
Waterton, Glacier National Park
21.6 miles NA picturesque Canadian glacial lake in Waterton Lakes National Park surrounded by mountain scenery, avalanche-sculpted shores, kayaking, fishing, and Herbst Glacier views.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Clements Mountain Trail
Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
23.2 miles EA four-mile round-trip climb of Clements Mountain in Glacier National Park, with several routes of varying difficulty and significant elevation gain — often confused with nearby Reynolds Mountain.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Rock Climb
Many Glacier Campground
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
25.4 miles EMany Glacier Campground sits in what many visitors consider the most spectacular corner of Glacier National Park: the Many Glacier valley on the park's northeast side, cradled among towering peaks...
Camp 9.7 mi
Iceberg Lake
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
25.4 miles ENine miles of alpine trail deliver sweeping views of Ptarmigan Wall, Mount Grinnell, and Mount Wilbur before arriving at an iceberg-dotted cirque lake in Glacier NP.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 11.8 mi
Cracker Lake Trail
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
26.3 miles EA 12.5-mile hike through forests and meadows to a surreal turquoise lake in the Many Glacier area — plan for two days to fully enjoy this bear-country gem.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Rising Sun Campground
Glacier National Park
32.1 miles EMore than 150 sites in eastern Glacier National Park close to Going-to-the-Sun Road, St. Mary's Falls and Red Rock Falls trails, and frequent bear, elk, and bighorn sightings.
Camp
St. Mary Campground
Glacier National Park
35.6 miles EOver 200 campsites on the edge of Glacier National Park with flush toilets, showers, and quick access to Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Highline Trail, and St. Mary Lake.
Camp
Cut Bank Campground
Glacier National Park
39.3 miles EA peaceful forested campground along Cut Bank Creek in Glacier National Park with 48 first-come sites, nearby hiking trails, and access to fishing at St. Mary Lake.
Camp
Jewel Basin
Kalispell, Montana
40.6 miles SThe Jewel Basin Hiking Area packs 35 miles of hiker-only trail, two dozen alpine lakes, and the Mount Aeneas lookout into the Swan Range near Kalispell.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Two Medicine Campground
Glacier National Park
42.5 miles ETwo Medicine Campground lies in the quiet, dramatic southeast corner of Glacier National Park, on the shore of Two Medicine Lake beneath the sharp pyramid of Sinopah Mountain. About 13 miles up the...
Camp