Activities ramp up at Glacier this weekend

 Hikers and bikers can enjoy unrestricted access on Going-to-the-Sun Road over the Memorial Day weekend at Glacier National Park.

The Apgar Visitor Center is open and the St. Mary Visitor Center opens Saturday. Many park concessioners and privately owned facilities will begin to offer visitor amenities this weekend.

On Friday, hikers and bikers can travel as far as Bird Woman Falls Overlook on the west side and as far as Siyeh Bend on the east side of the Sun Road. There are no restrictions for hikers and bikers Saturday through Monday.

Currently, 29 miles of the Sun Road are open to vehicle travel. Visitors can drive 15.5 miles from the West Entrance to Avalanche and 13.5 miles from the St. Mary Entrance to Jackson Glacier Overlook.  

Snow-plowing activities on Going-to-the-Sun Road continue with the west-side road crew working their way towards The Slopes area about two miles from Logan Pass. The east-side crew is now past Siyeh Bend, working toward No Stump Point.

Glacier campgrounds opening Friday include Many Glacier, Rising Sun and Two Medicine. Apgar, Bowman, and Sprague Creek campgrounds are already open.

The St. Mary Campground will have full services available by Friday. Most campgrounds are first-come, first-served, with reservations available at Fish Creek and St. Mary campgrounds and at the group sites at Apgar Campground from June 1 through Sept. 1.

The Camas, Bowman, Chief Mountain, Many Glacier and Two Medicine roads are open to motorized travel. The Inside North Fork Road is open eight miles between the Polebridge Ranger Station and the head of Big Prairie. All other areas of the Inside North Fork Road remain closed. The Cut Bank Road is closed at the park boundary.

Park visitors are reminded to be aware of changing weather conditions and plan accordingly. Bears are currently active within the park and visitors are reminded to travel in groups and make loud noises when recreating to avoid surprise encounters.

Backcountry permits are required for any backcountry overnight visit.  Permits are available from the Apgar Backcountry Permit Office and the St. Mary Visitor Center and from most of the ranger stations throughout the summer.

Visitors planning to boat within the park are reminded that all motorized watercraft require inspection and a permit before launching within the park.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, permits are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at park headquarters in West Glacier and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at all other locations, including the St. Mary Visitor Center, Two Medicine Ranger Station and Many Glacier Ranger Station. Hand-propelled watercraft such as canoes, kayaks, rowboats, rafts, and catarafts require a free self-certification permit.

The park’s summer entrance fee is $25 per vehicle and is valid for seven days.

For more information about Glacier National Park, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/glac or call 888-7800.