KOA Resorts offer a carefree vacation in the great outdoors. Enjoy robust recreation and staff-led activities, kick back and relax by the resort-style pool, or grab a bite to eat, all while never leaving the campground. And with plenty of RV Sites with KOA Patios® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths to meet your needs, it’s the ultimate camping getaway.
KOA Resorts offer a carefree vacation in the great outdoors. Enjoy robust recreation and staff-led activities, kick back and relax by the resort-style pool, or grab a bite to eat, all while never leaving the campground. And with plenty of RV Sites with KOA Patios® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths to meet your needs, it’s the ultimate camping getaway.
3 miles west of Glacier National Park West Entrance on Highway 2. Then, 1 mile east on paved road.
GPS Coordinates: 48 degrees 27'51.74"N, 113 degrees 58'51.30"W
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Tucked into the remote North Fork area of Glacier National Park near the Canadian border, Kintla Lake offers a completely different experience from some of Glacier’s more heavily traveled destinations. This is wild, quiet Montana — towering mountains, clear water, dense forests and plenty of room to slow down and take it all in.
For guests staying at West Glacier KOA Resort, Kintla Lake makes an unforgettable full-day adventure into one of the most remote corners of Glacier National Park.
Kintla Lake is located in the far northwestern section of Glacier National Park, approximately 40 miles from the West Entrance. Don’t let the mileage fool you, though — getting there takes considerably longer than a normal 40-mile drive.
The final portion of the journey travels over narrow, rough and sometimes very bumpy gravel and dirt roads.
That remoteness is exactly what makes Kintla special.
Once you arrive, you’ll find a peaceful mountain lake surrounded by forest and the peaks of Glacier National Park. Kintla is an excellent place for a picnic, photography, hiking or simply spending a few quiet hours along the shoreline.
Motorized watercraft are not allowed on Kintla Lake, which helps preserve its wonderfully peaceful atmosphere.
Make Kintla Lake a full-day excursion rather than trying to squeeze it between other Glacier activities.
From the West Glacier area:
Travel west from West Glacier toward Columbia Falls.
Follow the route north toward the North Fork and Polebridge area.
Continue toward the small community of Polebridge, Montana.
Enter Glacier National Park through the North Fork/Polebridge entrance area.
From Polebridge, continue approximately 14 miles toward Kintla Lake on the rough North Fork road system.
Follow signs for Kintla Lake and the campground/trailhead area.
The National Park Service describes the trip to Kintla as slow, dusty and bumpy. Four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive is recommended, although road conditions can vary.
Vehicles longer than 21 feet and trailers are not permitted on North Fork roads, so this is not a trip to make in your RV.
Before leaving West Glacier, fill your gas tank and bring everything you'll need for the day.
Part of the fun of visiting Kintla Lake is the journey through the North Fork.
Polebridge is the last little community you'll pass through before heading deeper into this remote section of Glacier National Park.
Once you continue toward Kintla, services become extremely limited. Cell service is essentially nonexistent in the North Fork, so download your maps before leaving and don't depend on your phone for navigation.
Pack plenty of water, snacks or lunch, extra layers and everything you'll need for the day.
If you want to combine your Kintla Lake visit with a hike, our pick is the Kintla Lake Head Trail, part of the Boulder Pass trail system.
The trail begins approximately a quarter-mile before the Kintla Lake Campground and follows the shoreline toward the far end of the lake.
Distance: Approximately 6.6 miles one way
Full out-and-back: Approximately 13.2 miles
Terrain: Primarily rolling hills
Trailhead: About 0.25 mile before Kintla Lake Campground
The beauty of this trail is that you don't have to hike the entire 13-mile round trip.
For most West Glacier KOA guests visiting Kintla as a day trip, we'd recommend hiking along the lake for as long as your schedule and ability allow, enjoying the scenery, and then turning around.
You'll still get the experience of hiking through the quiet North Fork wilderness without committing your entire day to a long-distance hike.
Experienced hikers looking for a bigger adventure can continue farther into Glacier's Boulder Pass backcountry, but those routes require considerably more planning.
You don't have to hike at all to enjoy Kintla.
Bring lunch and have a picnic by the water, photograph the mountains reflecting across the lake, or simply find a quiet spot along the shoreline.
Kintla is also wonderful for kayaking and canoeing. Because motorized watercraft are prohibited, paddling here can be incredibly peaceful.
Remember that Glacier National Park requires an Aquatic Invasive Species inspection before launching watercraft. Check current park requirements before bringing a kayak, canoe or paddleboard.
Kintla is much more remote than destinations along Going-to-the-Sun Road, so preparation matters.
Bring plenty of drinking water, lunch and snacks, bear spray, sturdy hiking shoes, layers for changing weather, sunscreen, insect repellent, a first-aid kit and a downloaded/offline map.
A spare tire and the ability to change it are also smart precautions. Flat tires are common enough on North Fork roads that the National Park Service specifically advises visitors to be prepared for one.
And don't count on cell service.
Kintla Lake isn't the best choice for someone looking for a quick sightseeing stop.
It's for travelers who want to see a wilder and quieter side of Glacier National Park.
Allow the entire day. Drive slowly. Come prepared. And don't pack your schedule so tightly that you can't stop and enjoy the scenery along the way.
Road, weather, wildfire and trail conditions can change quickly in Glacier National Park. Always check current Glacier National Park road and trail conditions before leaving West Glacier.
Visitors traveling in 2026 should be particularly careful to check current conditions because National Park Service project work in the Kintla Lake area may periodically affect the Kintla-Boulder Pass Trail and create additional construction traffic.
One of the best things about staying at West Glacier KOA Resort is having so many different Glacier National Park adventures within reach.
Spend one day exploring Going-to-the-Sun Road and another venturing into the quieter North Fork to discover places like Kintla Lake.
Then, after a dusty day on the North Fork roads and trails, head back to West Glacier KOA Resort, relax and start planning tomorrow's adventure.
Looking for more things to do near West Glacier, Montana? Explore our guides to Glacier National Park hikes, scenic drives, family activities and day trips to help plan your stay at West Glacier KOA Resort.
That doesn't mean this area has to always be empty. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. You will be able to share your stay information with friends or family and save it for a later time if you have a KOA Account.
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