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Glacier National Park Wilderness cancellations
The single advance reservation that covers backcountry camping across all of Gla...
Two Medicine Backcountry Permit
Glacier National Park · Montana
Booked one camp per night, in order
Permits for Two Medicine area.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Two Medicine were gone within 10 minutes.
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Two Medicine Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelModerate6/10
SeasonAdvance reservations cover trips from June 15 - September 30; the Two Medicine permit office closes September 8, 2026
Cost$10 permit fee plus $7 per person per night, May 1 to October 31. Winter permits (November 1 to April 30) are free. The lottery application fee is $10 and is non-refundable.
Max Group Size12 people
Two Medicine Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Two Medicine in Glacier National Park, Montana requires a permit issued via reservation.
- The Two Medicine lottery typically opens March 15, 2026 for standard groups of 1-8; March 1, 2026 for large groups of 9-12 and closes 11:59 pm MT on the same day - each Glacier lottery is a single-day window, with results announced March 17, 2026 for standard groups; winners book March 21 to April 30.
- Cancelled Two Medicine permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensMarch 15, 2026 for standard groups of 1-8; March 1, 2026 for large groups of 9-12
Lottery Closes11:59 pm MT on the same day - each Glacier lottery is a single-day window
ResultsMarch 17, 2026 for standard groups; winners book March 21 to April 30
SeasonAdvance reservations cover trips from June 15 - September 30; the Two Medicine permit office closes September 8, 2026
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level6/10
LocationNorthern Rockies, MT
Pro Tips
- •For 2026, finish by September 7. The road closes at Running Eagle Falls and the permit office shuts on September 8.
- •Route everything off the South Shore Trail this season. It costs about a mile each way and saves you an unbridged ford.
- •Two Medicine is the easiest good district in Glacier to draw. If Many Glacier and the Highline will not come up, apply here.
- •The concession boat across Two Medicine Lake turns a 5-mile approach to Upper Two Medicine Lake into 2.2. Check its schedule before you plan around it.
- •Bring wind gear you would trust on a ridge. Dawson and Pitamakan are open tundra and this corner of the park catches everything coming off the plains.
What to Expect
Highlights
- •Five wilderness campgrounds: Cobalt Lake, No Name Lake, Oldman Lake, Two Medicine and Upper Two Medicine Lake
- •Four people per campsite; maximum party size 12 across the permit
- •No campfires at any of the five
- •The North Shore Trailhead is unreachable in 2026 - the reroute needs an unbridged ford, or add a mile via the South Shore Trail
- •The Two Medicine Campground is closed for all of 2026 and the road closes at Running Eagle Falls from September 8
- •The Two Medicine Ranger Station issues permits May 25 to September 7 and closes September 8, 2026
- •A concession boat across Two Medicine Lake cuts the walk to Upper Two Medicine Lake from 5 miles to 2.2
Best Time to Visit
Mid-July to early September, and in 2026 specifically before September 8, when the road closes at Running Eagle Falls and the permit office shuts. The passes hold snow into July. Larches around Oldman Lake turn in late September, but by then the access is gone for the year.
Hazards & Considerations
- !The 2026 North Shore reroute requires an unbridged ford
- !The Two Medicine Road closes at the Running Eagle Falls Trailhead from September 8, 2026
- !Grizzly bears throughout the valley
- !Dawson and Pitamakan Passes are fully exposed, with no shelter for miles and afternoon thunderstorms in summer
- !Wind strong enough to be a real hazard on the pass traverse
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
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Backcountry Tips
- Day 4: 61% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
- Day 5: 73% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
- Day 6: 75% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
Today
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View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a National Park Service account
Sign up at National Park Service if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
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Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand4/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill2/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation2/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Backpackers who want Glacier's scenery without Glacier's crowds and are willing to work around a construction season.
Recommended Experience
Multi-day backpacking in bear country, plus comfort on long exposed traverses in wind. The exposure rating is about Dawson and Pitamakan Passes, which have no shelter and no quick way down.
Not Recommended For
Anyone uncomfortable fording unbridged water, if they use the North Shore reroute, and anyone planning a late-September trip in 2026.
About This Permit
Two Medicine holds five of Glacier National Park's 65 designated wilderness campgrounds: Cobalt Lake, No Name Lake, Oldman Lake, Two Medicine and Upper Two Medicine Lake. All five are no-campfire camps, and Two Medicine itself is flagged as no campfires in 2026.
The permit is Glacier's single park-wide wilderness permit on Recreation.gov. The maximum party size is 12, each wilderness campground has 2 to 7 campsites, and each campsite is limited to four people. Glacier has no group campsites - it issues five large-group advance reservations a year for parties of 9 to 12 through a separate single-day lottery, after which large groups can only get permits on a walk-up basis.
Costs are $10 for the permit plus $7 per person per night from May 1 to October 31; winter permits are free. The lottery application fee is a separate non-refundable $10. In 2026 the large group lottery ran March 1 and the standard group lottery for parties of 1 to 8 ran March 15, for one of 3,000 advance reservations, with results March 17 and booking from March 21 to April 30. General sale opened May 1 at 8:00 am MT and ran to September 30; October is in-person walk-up only. Approximately 30% of all sites parkwide are held for walk-up campers - a share of sites, not of permits.
2026 is the year to plan carefully here. A utility project replacing the full water distribution system in the Two Medicine developed area and campground started in May 2026, and the Two Medicine Road closes at the Running Eagle Falls Trailhead from September 8, 2026. The Two Medicine Campground is closed for the whole of 2026. The North Shore Trailhead is not accessible because of that construction; the park's reroute to the North Shore Trail requires an unbridged ford, and the workaround is to use the South Shore Trail, which adds about a mile one way. The Two Medicine Ranger Station, which issues permits, is open May 25 to September 7 and closes on September 8, 2026. Vehicle reservations are not required in Two Medicine in 2026.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Two Medicine is the part of Glacier that feels like the park did before the Going-to-the-Sun crowds. Sinopah Mountain over the lake, the Dawson-Pitamakan loop over two passes in a day, and camps at No Name, Oldman, Cobalt and Upper Two Medicine that almost never appear in anyone's photographs. It is also the district where a utility project has rearranged access for the whole 2026 season.
The Route
The park publishes one-way distances and gains from the Two Medicine trailheads: Cobalt Lake 5.8 miles and 1,400 feet from the South Shore Trailhead; No Name Lake 4.9 and 800 from the North Shore Trailhead; Oldman Lake 6.4 and 1,500 from the North Shore Trailhead; Upper Two Medicine Lake 5 miles and 350 feet, or 2.2 miles if you take the concession boat; Dawson Pass 6.5 and 2,450; Pitamakan Pass 7.6 and 2,400; Scenic Point 3.9 and 2,350.
For 2026 the North Shore Trailhead is not accessible because of construction in the Two Medicine Campground. The park has established a reroute to the North Shore Trail, but it requires an unbridged ford. Twin Falls, Upper Two Medicine Lake, No Name Lake and Dawson Pass can all be reached without that ford by using the South Shore Trail instead, at a cost of about one extra mile each way.
The Feeling
Wind. Two Medicine sits where the Rockies meet the plains and the weather comes at you sideways. The lake is grey-blue under Sinopah, the passes above are open tundra, and the valley is emptier than anywhere else in the park with this much scenery in it.
Trailhead Information
Two Medicine North Shore
Recreation.gov entry point TNE. The standard start for No Name Lake, Oldman Lake, Dawson Pass and Pitamakan Pass. NPS says that in 2026 this trailhead is not accessible due to construction in the Two Medicine Campground, and that the reroute to the North Shore Trail requires a ford, an unbridged water crossing.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Nearest Services
The Two Medicine developed area, on concession operating dates of May 29 to September 7. There are no fueling stations inside the park.
Two Medicine South Shore
Recreation.gov entry point TSE. The start for Cobalt Lake, 5.8 miles one way with 1,400 feet of gain, and the ford-free way NPS names in 2026 to Twin Falls, Upper Two Medicine Lake, No Name Lake and Dawson Pass, adding about a mile each way.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Nearest Services
Two Medicine developed area in season.
Two Medicine Entrance
Recreation.gov entry point TME, at the ranger station and permit office.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Getting There
For the 2026 utility project, NPS says the Two Medicine Road will be closed at the Running Eagle Falls Trailhead, and that closures in the developed area fall outside the concession operating dates of May 29 to September 7.
Nearest Services
East Glacier Park.
Cut Bank Creek
Recreation.gov entry point CBE. NPS says Cut Bank is accessed off US Highway 89, between Two Medicine and St. Mary, and gives Morning Star Lake as 6.6 miles with 642 feet of gain and Triple Divide Pass as 7.2 miles with 2,380 feet. Recreation.gov puts Oldman Lake 11.2 miles from here.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Nearest Services
St. Mary and Browning.
Rules & Regulations
- •A wilderness permit is required for all backcountry camping and must name your campgrounds and dates
- •Maximum party size is 12; each campsite is limited to four people
- •Maximum length of stay in the backcountry is 14 nights total during July and August
- •Never leave food, garbage, or anything used to prepare, consume, store or transport food unattended - including your backpack
- •All edible items, containers, cookware and trash must be stored in a vehicle or designated food locker, or hung, day and night
- •Approaching or engaging in any activity within 100 yards of bears or wolves is prohibited; keep 25 yards from other wildlife
- •Campfires are prohibited at all five Two Medicine wilderness campgrounds
- •Advance reservations are limited to 16 miles per day
Gear Checklist
Required
- Bear spray, carried where you can reach it
- A stove - all five camps are no-campfire
- Wind protection. Two Medicine gets the plains wind and the passes are fully exposed
- Water treatment
- Shoes you can ford in, if you use the North Shore reroute
Recommended
- Trekking poles for the 2,400-foot pass climbs
- A bear-resistant container
- A four-season-capable shelter in September; this valley snows early
- Sun protection for long treeless traverses
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Two Medicine
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
Two Medicine Lake
The valley's centrepiece, with Sinopah Mountain at the head of it. A concession boat crosses in season and cuts 2.8 miles off the walk to Upper Two Medicine Lake.
No Name Lake
4.9 miles and 800 feet from the North Shore Trailhead, under the wall below Pumpelly Pillar.
Oldman Lake
6.4 miles and 1,500 feet from the North Shore Trailhead, in the larch below Pitamakan Pass.
Cobalt Lake
5.8 miles and 1,400 feet from the South Shore Trailhead, at the head of the Paradise Creek valley.
Dawson Pass
6.5 miles and 2,450 feet up. Half of the classic loop with Pitamakan Pass, and fully exposed to the wind that comes off the plains.
Two Medicine FAQ
Do I need a permit to camp in the Two Medicine backcountry?
Yes - Glacier National Park's wilderness permit, naming your campgrounds and dates. It costs $10 plus $7 per person per night from May 1 to October 31, and winter permits from November 1 to April 30 are free.
Is Two Medicine open in 2026?
The backcountry is, with conditions. A utility project starting in May 2026 replaces the water system in the developed area and campground; the Two Medicine Campground is closed for all of 2026; the Two Medicine Road closes at the Running Eagle Falls Trailhead from September 8, 2026; and the Two Medicine Ranger Station closes the same day. The North Shore Trailhead is not accessible - the park's reroute requires an unbridged ford.
How do I reach No Name Lake if the North Shore Trailhead is closed?
Use the South Shore Trail. The park says Twin Falls, Upper Two Medicine Lake, No Name Lake and Dawson Pass can all be reached without the ford that way, at a cost of about one extra mile each way. The North Shore reroute exists but requires crossing unbridged water.
Which campgrounds are in the Two Medicine backcountry?
Five: Cobalt Lake, No Name Lake, Oldman Lake, Two Medicine and Upper Two Medicine Lake. All are no-campfire camps, and Two Medicine is flagged as no campfires in 2026 specifically.
How many people can camp at a Two Medicine wilderness campsite?
Four. The park caps party size at 12 overall, gives each wilderness campground 2 to 7 campsites, and limits each campsite to four people - so a party of eight takes two sites.
How far is Dawson Pass from the Two Medicine trailhead?
6.5 miles one way with 2,450 feet of gain, per the park's own hiking page. Pitamakan Pass is 7.6 miles and 2,400 feet, and linking the two is the valley's classic day. Both are fully exposed - there is no shelter up there.
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunrise on Sinopah Mountain from the east end of Two Medicine Lake - the shot the whole valley is known for.
Best Light
Late afternoon on the Dawson-Pitamakan traverse, when the tundra goes gold and the plains haze up to the east.
Beat the Crowds
There is not much of a crowd to avoid here even in August. Running Eagle Falls and the boat dock are the only busy spots, and both empty out by evening.
Classic Shots
- 📍Sinopah Mountain reflected in Two Medicine Lake at dawn
- 📍No Name Lake under the wall below Pumpelly Pillar
- 📍The Dawson Pass traverse with the Two Medicine valley below
- 📍Larches turning around Oldman Lake in late September
- 📍Running Eagle Falls, which runs out of the middle of a cliff
Can't Get a Two Medicine Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Many Glacier
Same AreaThirteen wilderness campgrounds in the park's best-known backcountry valley, an hour north.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Much more scenery per mile and much harder to book. A June 2026 flood closed all trails in the valley and the park's live status is not published in readable form.
Glacier Wilderness Permit
Same AreaThe park-wide backcountry permit covering all 65 designated wilderness campgrounds.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Same lottery and fees, wider choice of country - useful when a specific district is under construction.
Highline Trail
Similar ExperienceThe Garden Wall traverse from Logan Pass to Granite Park and Fifty Mountain.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
The most sought-after walking in the park, so expect to lose the lottery more often. Same four-people-per-site cap.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Two Medicine trip
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