Going-to-the-Sun Road opens for the season to vehicles

The full length of Glacier National Park's scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road opened to motorists Tuesday morning for the 2023 summer season, marking the road’s earliest opening since 2005.

Park plow crews had an easier go of it this year, with below normal snowpack west of the Continental Divide. Last year, the road fully opened on July 13, matching the latest opening on record.

Services at Logan Pass opened Tuesday, as well, however some popular trails remained closed.

The Highline Trail and a portion of the Grinnell Glacier Trail were closed due to hazardous snow conditions, park officials said. Meanwhile, the Hidden Lake Trail at Logan Pass will be closed June 15 to Aug. 7 from the overlook to Hidden Lake due to bear activity near the lake outlet while fish are spawning.

Park officials remind visitors that reservations are required for motorists through Sept. 10 between 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at all west side entrances, including the North Fork, Camas and West Glacier. With Going-to-the-Sun Road fully open, the number of vehicle reservations available will be increased in the corridor. Additional reservation will be made available each morning at 8 a.m. MDT, the Park Service said in a media release.

Advanced vehicle reservations are exclusively available on Recreation.gov and not available at the park.

For the east side of the park, vehicle reservations will not be required at the Many Glacier, Two Medicine and St. Mary (at Rising Sun) entrances until July 1.

Visitors with lodging, camping, or commercial activity reservations (e.g., boat tours and horseback rides) do not need a vehicle reservation and can use their confirmation email to access the portion of the park for which their activity is booked.

The park is open 24 hours a day, and visitors may enter the park before 6 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. People can also walk or bicycle in without a reservation.

The park’s free shuttle service along Going-to-the-Sun Road will begin operating July 1 on a first-come, first-served basis with stops at the Apgar Visitor Center, Sprague Creek Campground, Lake McDonald Lodge Avalanche Creek, The Loop, Logan Pass, Siyeh Bend, Gunsight Pass, St. Mary Falls, Sunrift Gorge, Sun Point, Rising Sun and the St. Mary Visitor Center.

Services at Logan Pass include restroom facilities and potable water. Visitor information services will be provided at the Logan Pass Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily starting June 13. The Glacier National Park Conservancy bookstore will be operating inside of the Logan Pass Visitor Center.

There will be construction zones on Going-to-the-Sun Road this summer.

Traffic lights will control a single lane through the construction area along Lake McDonald. Visitors should expect up to 30-minute delays in both directions.

The park previously reported that nighttime closures would be in place starting June 1. The contractor for the project has determined that nightly closures are not necessary at this time; however, traffic control will remain in place for nightly work. There is a possibility that a nighttime closure will be implemented in the construction zone later in the season.

Updates will be posted on the park’s construction page two weeks in advance of a nightly closure. Visitors should check the page before visiting as this may affect their trip. Visitors are encouraged to enter Going-to-the-Sun Road from the St. Mary entrance on the east side of the park to avoid construction congestion.

A temporary traffic light is in place just past the Loop on the west side of Going-to-the- Sun Road due to rock fall damage. Visitors should expect up to 10-minute delays.

While driving along the road, particularly through the Rim Rock area (approximately 1 mile west of Logan Pass) visitors should be aware of potential rockfall and should not slow down or stop in this section. Rocks and other debris continue to fall throughout the summer, requiring daily clean up.

Vehicles and vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet, and/or wider than 8 feet, are prohibited on Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Campground and Rising Sun. Vehicles over 10 feet in height may have difficulty driving west from Logan Pass due to rock overhangs.

Bicyclists are reminded that bicycle safety restrictions on Going-to-the-Sun-Road are in effect June 15 through Labor Day, Sept. 4. Bicycles are prohibited in certain areas between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.