Rising Sun Campground

Rising Sun Campground is a developed frontcountry campground on Going-to-the-Sun Road, about six miles west of the St. Mary entrance and halfway along St. Mary Lake. Its 84 sites make it a handy base for day hikes east of Logan Pass. Otokomi Lake Trailhead starts at the west end of the Rising Sun Camp Store parking lot, so you can walk to it from the campground complex.

The sites sit below a rocky cliff in Douglas fir, where the landscape opens toward prairie slopes and St. Mary Lake. Some sites are open and breezy; others have more tree cover for shade. Early light brings Red Eagle Mountain into view behind the campground, one of the reasons to stay overnight instead of just passing through.

Seasonal flush toilets, potable water, bear-resistant food lockers, a camp store, and a ranger-program amphitheater make this a developed campground. There are no electrical hookups or cell reception, and vehicle-and-trailer combinations are limited to 21 feet. The restrooms are accessible, and one wheelchair-accessible site is listed. A casual restaurant and fee-based showers are at the adjacent Rising Sun Motor Inn area; check current availability. Keep food and other attractants in a locker or hard-sided vehicle when not in use.

St. Mary Lake access is at Rising Sun Picnic Area, across Going-to-the-Sun Road from the campground. Cross there for the shoreline and boat tours; the lake is often cold and can be rough for swimming, so treat it as scenery rather than a beach day. The campground usually operates from early June into early September. Most sites are booked online, so check current availability before arriving—the campground has no cell service.