High avalanche danger delays clearing of Going-to-the-Sun Road
Glacier National Park Road Crew plowing Triple Arches avalanche slide on June 6, 2022. (NPS photo)
High avalanche danger has caused delays and continues to be a concern for road crews clearing both sides of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
West Side crews re-cleared the snow that slid at Triple Arches over Memorial Day weekend and cleared almost to Rim Rocks. It is the third time snow has slid at the location this spring. The Park Service was able to capture video of the clearing operations.
On top of high avalanche danger and low visibility concerns, officials are keeping an eye on additional hazards expected to crop up over the weekend and into early next week, including increased rockfall due to a predicted atmospheric river and large amounts of rainfall.
Going-to-the-Sun Road continues to be closed to vehicle traffic beyond Avalanche Creek on the west side with the hiker/biker avalanche hazard closure still set at the Loop.
East Side crews have cleared up to No Stump Point and are working toward the East Tunnel. The east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is open to traffic to the Jackson Glacier Overlook with the hiker/biker closure currently set at the same point.
According to the park, there is currently no estimated date for the full opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road this season.
Hiker/biker avalanche hazard closure points are reassessed each week on Thursday while the road crew closures are updated on a daily basis.
Road crews typically work Monday through Thursday, between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. MDT.
For more information about visiting the park, check one of the park’s several new updated web pages, including:
Trail status webpage:
https://home.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm
Road status, hiker/biker closure and snow plow status page:
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/directions.htm
Campgrounds: