Rising Sun Picnic Area

A practical east-side pause where Glacier’s mountains meet the prairies.

When to come

In summer, the picnic area has flush toilets with sinks and running water; a vault toilet serves the shoulder season. Bring drinking water in either season.

Natural Attraction

Natural AttractionOPERATIONAL★ 5
Picnic Area

Pause for a picnic at Rising Sun on Glacier’s east side, about 6 miles from the St. Mary Entrance. Summer flush toilets and a shoulder-season vault toilet make it a practical stop, but bring drinking water: the picnic area has none.

Getting there & parking

How To Get There
About 6 miles (9.6 km) from St. Mary Entrance. Vehicles or vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet are prohibited between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun; check your vehicle dimensions before driving that stretch.
Parking Details
Parking lot available

When to go

Best Time To Visit
In summer, the picnic area has flush toilets with sinks and running water; a vault toilet serves the shoulder season. Bring drinking water in either season.
Best Visit Times
Weekdays in the shoulder seasons

What you will experience

Attraction Type
Picnic Area

Facilities, fees & access

Accessibility
NPS lists flush toilets with sinks and running water in summer, and a vault toilet in the shoulder season. Ask park staff about the current route from parking to the picnic tables and toilets if you need step-free access.
Nearby Facilities
The surrounding Rising Sun developed area includes a camp store, cabins, motor inn, restaurant and campground. Those are area facilities, not services operated by the picnic area; drinking water is not listed for this picnic area.
Family Friendly Notes
Children should be supervised near lakes and streams; cold water, swift currents, slippery rocks and logs can be hazardous. Stay on designated viewing areas rather than climbing wet rocks.

Planning advice

Tips Advice
  • Bring drinking water; NPS says there is no drinking water at this picnic area.
  • Keep children supervised near lakes and streams, which may have cold water, swift currents, slippery rocks and logs.
  • Keep pets on a leash up to 6 feet in developed picnic and parking areas; pets are not allowed on park trails, backcountry or undeveloped lakeshores.
  • Check your vehicle dimensions before using the Avalanche Creek–Rising Sun stretch if your vehicle or combination may exceed 21 feet in length or 8 feet in width.

More details

Park Area
Rising Sun
Review Summary
Rising Sun is an east-side picnic stop about 6 miles from the St. Mary Entrance, with seasonal restrooms and no drinking water at the picnic area. The surrounding developed area has a camp store, motor inn, restaurant and campground.

Location

Rising Sun Picnic Area overlooks a turquoise lake framed by towering peaks in Glacier National Park.Rising Sun picnic area trail in Glacier National Park winds through pine trees toward a distant lake under a clear blue sky.Elk herd at Rising Sun Picnic Area in Glacier National Park, grazing among tall grasses with evergreen trees in the background.Rising Sun Picnic Area at Glacier National Park with a rocky lakeshore and towering mountain reflected in calm water.

Frequently asked questions

Should I bring my own water?

Yes. NPS says there is no drinking water at this picnic area, so bring what you need.

Are restrooms available here?

Yes. Picnic-area toilets are flush toilets with sinks and running water in summer, and a vault toilet in shoulder season.

Can I bring my dog to the picnic area?

Pets may be in developed picnic and parking areas when leashed up to 6 feet and kept under physical control. Pets are not allowed on park trails, in the backcountry or along lakeshores outside developed locations.

Is this a good stop with children near the water?

Keep children supervised and stay on designated viewing areas. Glacier lakes and streams can be extremely cold, with swift currents and slippery rocks or logs.

Can a large vehicle use the road to Rising Sun?

Vehicles or vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet are prohibited between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun.

Is parking available for east-side shuttle boarding?

NPS describes abundant parking at Rising Sun for east-side shuttle boarding. Check the current NPS shuttle schedule and allow for changing parking conditions rather than relying on an available space.

Pyramid Peak

Granite peak sharpened by glacial ice; scrambling to Pyramid Peak from Pyramid Pass.

Grace Lake

Grace Lake: glacial cirque lake at 3,966 ft, reached via the Logging Lake Trail.

Two Medicine Picnic Area

Two Medicine’s lake and peaks reward a future picnic; road access is closed as of September 9, 2026.

Monument Falls

215 ft waterfall fed by glacial meltwater; view from Avalanche Lake shore.

Lake McDonald

A west-side lakeshore pause: choose Apgar or Lake McDonald Lodge, then leave room for a separate walk or boat outing.

Saint Mary Lake

Choose Sun Point views, a waterfall hike or a Rising Sun boat tour on Glacier’s eastern lake.

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Sources

Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.

Last updated April 2026. Report an issue.