Federal and State Regulations

National Park Service boating regulations are found in Title 36, Part 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations and are available at park headquarters and staffed ranger stations. It’s your responsibility to know and obey the US Coast Guard and State of Montana regulations for boat operation and safety. Rangers may board any boat for the purpose of examining documents, licenses, and other permits relating to the operation of the boat and to inspect the boat to determine compliance with regulations.

All sailboats 12 feet (3.7 m) in length and longer must be registered and numbered according to State of Montana regulations. Hand-propelled boats are exempt.

One US Coast Guard-approved, wearable, personal floatation device (PFD), of the appropriate size for the intended user, readily accessible, and in good condition, must be carried on board.

All children 12 years and under must wear a PFD when the vessel is underway.

Navigation lights for motorboats and sailboats must be used between sunset and sunrise.

Non-motorized boaters should have a light if out after dark.

Keep to the right in channels and when approaching another boat head-on or nearly so.

Yield right-of-way to vessels on your right in crossing situations and to vessels you overtake or pass.

Boats propelled by oars, paddles, or sails have the right-of-way over boats propelled by motors.

Reckless/negligent boat handling that endangers or is likely to endanger the lives of others.

Boat handling by any person under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Riding the gunwales, transom, or foredeck while the boat is moving faster than 5 mph.

Swimming from a boat while it’s underway.

Interference with other boats or with free and proper navigation of waterways.

Leaving a boat unattended for more than 24 hours without specific authority from the park superintendent or his/her duly authorized representative.

Using trailers to launch or recover vessels.

Overloading of boats.

Installation of any obstruction in the water.

Operating airboats.

Para-sailing.

Operating personal watercraft vehicles (Jet Ski, Wave Runner, etc.).

Operating a vessel over 5 mph within 100 feet (30.5 m) of a diver’s marker or swimmer.

Discharging toilet waste into the water.

Depositing trash, refuse, or debris of any kind in the water.

Boaters should render assistance to all persons needing help.

Report any accident resulting in death, personal injury, or property damage to a park ranger no later than 24 hours after the incident.

The operator of each vessel involved must complete a written report. This report needs to include the name and address of the boat operator and identification of the boat to any injured person or to the owner of any property damaged.

Trailered watercraft with gas-powered motors are permitted on Lake McDonald, Bowman Lake (10 hp limit), Two Medicine Lake (10 hp limit), and St. Mary Lake after an inspection and after being quarantined for 30 days prior to launch. Boats will be sealed to the trailer after inspection and seals will be removed by park personnel following the 30-day drying time. Non-motorized watercraft and non-trailered, electric motorized watercraft will also be permitted, and do not require the quarantine period.

The road to Bowman and Kintla lakes has length restrictions. The total length of a vehicle and trailer may not exceed twenty-one feet.

Non-motorized watercraft and non-trailered, electric motorized watercraft are permitted same-day launch on Lake McDonald, Bowman Lake, St. Mary Lake, Two Medicine Lake, and Swiftcurrent Lake, after inspection and permit issuance by NPS staff. They do not require a 30-day dry time because the motors are not water-cooled and therefore are classified as lower risk, similar to hand-propelled watercraft. Kintla Lake is open to hand-propelled watercraft, after inspection. Inspections for the North Fork area of the park (Bowman and Kintla lakes) are performed just across the bridge from the Polebridge Ranger Station.

Hand-propelled boats and sailboats are permitted on park waters with the following exception: the section of Upper McDonald Creek between Mineral Creek and Lake McDonald is only open to boating and floating (of any type) from October 1 to October 31 in order to protect nesting Harlequin ducks.

Boating may be restricted in certain areas for safety, or to protect sensitive wildlife habitat throughout the park. Marker buoys and/or signing will be placed to designate the closures.

Shoreline Restrictions
In order to provide for the safety of the general public using Lake McDonald beaches for swimming and other similar activities, a “No Wake Zone” has been established. This zone is 300 feet north of the south shore (end) of the lake from Going-to-the-Sun Road to the lake outlet located at Lower McDonald Creek. Marker buoys will be placed annually to delineate the zone.

Public boat docks are located at Lake McDonald (Apgar), St. Mary, and Upper Waterton (Goat Haunt) lakes. Trailers may not be used to launch or recover watercraft.

Boat launching ramps are available on Bowman and McDonald lakes on the west side of Glacier, as well as Swiftcurrent and St. Mary lakes on the east side of the park.

Whitewater canoeing, kayaking, or rafting can be enjoyed on the Flathead River, which forms the south and west boundary of Glacier.

Boaters operating on Waterton Lake, who land in the United States, must report their intention to cross the international border to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the CBP Roam app. This can be done on a personal device or by using a tablet at the Waterton Townsite.

A Wilderness Camping Permit is required for all overnight backcountry camping. Between May 1 and October 31, a $7 per-person, per-night fee will be charged at the time of permit issuance, as well as a $10 permit fee. Please check Glacier's Wilderness Camping page for details.

Undesignated camping is not allowed on lakes or lakeshores. Overnight camping on a vessel/boat within the park is prohibited.

Pets are allowed in developed areas, frontcountry campsites and picnic areas, along roads, and in vessels on lakes where motorized watercraft are permitted (Bowman, McDonald, Sherburne, St. Mary, Two Medicine, and Upper Waterton Lakes). Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet, under physical restraint or caged at all times, including while in open-bed pickup trucks. Pets are not to be left tied to an object when unattended. Pet owners must pick up after their pets and dispose of waste in a trash receptacle. Owners must not allow a pet to make noise that is unreasonable.

Glacier’s rivers and lakes are very cold year-round. All users (boaters and swimmers) should be aware of the dangers of hypothermia, even at temperatures above freezing. People in poor physical condition or who are exhausted are particularly at risk.

Avoid hypothermia by wearing water-resistant or moisture-wicking clothing and dressing in layers. Minimize wind exposure and, if your clothes become wet, shed and replace them with dry layers.

White water canoeing, kayaking, and rafting can be enjoyed on the North and Middle Forks of the Flathead River, which form the south and west boundaries of Glacier.

Boaters operating on Waterton Lake who land in the United States are subject to US Customs regulations and are required to check-in prior to traveling to Goat Haunt USA using the cbp roam application. The app is available on both Apple and Google platforms. For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goathaunt.htm

Packrafts, SUPs, and other non-motorized watercraft are permitted for use in the backcountry with a launch permit, obtainable at an inspection station inside the park. Note: inspection stations may not be available at all park entry points. Boaters must still visit an inspection station as required. Location details are provided above. After securing a permit, it may be necessary to exit the park and re-enter in a different location to access certain trailheads. In this instance, when no other inspection station is encountered, users may re-enter without needing another inspection.