Park officials release details for spring operations
This file photo from April 14, 2020 shows plows at the Loop along Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. (Glacier National Park photo FILE)
Glacier National Park officials say those looking to visit the park this spring should be prepared for changing weather conditions, ongoing construction projects, various road closures and shifts in service offerings.
Road plowing in the main corridor commenced the first week of April and will continue until the Going-to-the Sun Road opens over Logan Pass, which typically occurs between mid-June and mid-July. A news release from the park says because snow levels are lower than usual this year, road crews believe they will be able to plow to The Loop fairly quickly this season, though no estimated finish date was provided.
On the west side of Glacier, the Going-to-the-Sun Rod is open to vehicles approximately 12 miles from the West Entrance to Lake McDonald Lodge. When the road crew is working, hikers and bikers may advance six or so additional miles to Avalanche Creek, but can travel all the way to The Loop on the weekends or when crews are not working.
On the east side of the park, visitors may drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road approximately six miles from St. Mary to Rising Sun. Hiking and biking is allowed up until a hiker/biker closure is implemented, which according to the news release, is determined by changing road crew activity and conditions.
Two Medicine Road is closed at the park boundary, though hikers and bikers may travel deeper into the Two Medicine valley if they wish. Many Glacier Road is closed to all public access, but will open for the season on May 28. After the road opens, visitors should still anticipate 40-minute delays in both directions due to ongoing road construction.
The Inside North Fork road is closed between the Polebridge Ranger Station and Fish Creek. Road access to Bowman and Kintla Lakes has not yet opened for the season, and will do so “when conditions allow but are prone to intermittent closure in the spring due to muddy conditions,” the news release states.
Camas Road, on the other hand, is open for the season, though construction on the road will require 30-minute delays in both directions beginning mid-May.
Even though many areas of the park are open for hiker and biker access in the spring, the free shuttle that typically caters to those groups will not be running this year due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements. However, the news release states the park is “moving forward” with plans to operate a shuttle service during the regular season as COVID-19 mitigations allow.
VISITORS CAN expect more campgrounds to be open for 2021 than there were in 2020.
Campgrounds expected to open in the coming weeks include Apgar Campground on April 23, Sprague Creek Campground on May 7, Two Medicine campgrounds on May 28, and Bowman Lake, Kintla Lake and Fish Creek campgrounds on May 28 as well, though those three will be reservation-only.
St. Mary, Rising Sun and Cut Bank campgrounds will not open this year due to staffing shortages associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the exception of the Goat Haunt area, all wilderness campgrounds - formerly referred to as backcountry campgrounds - will be available in 2021, as conditions allow.
The park received a record number of reservation applications this year after permits became available on March 17, and according to the news release, rangers are still sorting through those applications.
Finally, all park concessions are expected to operate this summer, however, some services have been modified in order to adhere to COVID-19 mitigations.
Early season openings include the following: Lake McDonald Campstore on May 7, Lake McDonald Lodge on May 14 with take-out food service, Village Inn at Apgar on May 19, Two Medicine Campstore on May 28, Swan Mountain Outfitters horseback rides begin May 15, Glacier Park Boat Company tours and rentals begin May 15 and Glacier Guises day hikes will begin in May.
Private boating will begin on Lake McDonald on May 8 with the opening of the Apgar aquatic Invasive species inspection station. Inspections at Many Glacier will begin May 29 - the same date a new aquatic invasive species station will open at Polebridge for Kintla and Bowman Lakes.
The Apgar Visitor Center will be staffed on weekends beginning April 17, with daily operations launching May 15. The St. Mary Visitor Center will be open daily starting May 28.
Visitors are encouraged to check the Glacier National Park website regularly for any updates on construction projects, road closures and service offerings.