Glacier National Park officials announced early Saturday morning, June 22, the complete opening of the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road, allowing motorized traffic to travel the scenic route between West Glacier and St. Mary. This milestone was achieved despite the considerable challenges road crews faced, including avalanches and deep snow at elevations above 5,500 feet.
This year, crews battled significant snow and avalanche debris to clear the road. Facilities staff worked diligently in freezing temperatures to make the park’s water system operational. As of Thursday, they were still busy shoveling walkways and clearing access to the visitor center, highlighting the extensive efforts to ensure the park’s readiness for visitors.
Services and facilities
Services at Logan Pass include restroom facilities, but visitors are advised to bring their own drinking water as potable water is currently unavailable. The Logan Pass Visitor Center will provide information services from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and the Glacier National Park bookstore will be open inside the center.
Going-to-the-Sun Road reservation and entry details
To manage the influx of visitors, vehicle reservations are required to access Going-to-the-Sun Road from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. through September 8. These reservations can be made on Recreation.gov starting at 7 p.m. each day for next-day access. Reservations are not needed to enter the road from the St. Mary Entrance on the east side.
Visitors with lodging, camping, or commercial activity reservations can use their confirmation emails as entry passes for the relevant sections of the park. The park is accessible 24/7, and visitors may enter without a vehicle reservation before 6 a.m. or after 3 p.m.
Shuttle services and parking
The weekend hiker/biker shuttle has ceased operations after the road opened. Daily shuttle service will begin on July 1, operating on a first-come, first-served basis from Apgar and St. Mary visitor centers with stops along Going-to-the-Sun Road. Due to anticipated congestion, visitors are encouraged to use these shuttles, although wait times may be long.
Parking at Logan Pass, Apgar Village, and other popular spots may be limited or temporarily unavailable. Visitors are urged to check the park’s website for additional shuttle information and updates on parking availability.
Safety precautions
While enjoying the scenic drive, particularly through the Rim Rock area west of Logan Pass, visitors should be mindful of potential rockfalls and are advised not to slow down or stop in this section. Given the substantial snow at Logan Pass, extreme caution is advised, and visitors should avoid crossing snowfields or standing under snow overhangs.
Vehicle restrictions are in place: vehicles and combinations longer than 21 feet, wider than 8 feet, and over 10 feet in height (particularly westbound from Logan Pass) are prohibited due to narrow lanes and overhanging rocks.
Trail conditions and closures
The Highline Trail and part of the Grinnell Glacier Trail remain closed due to hazardous snow conditions and emerging vegetation. For the latest trail conditions and updates, visitors should refer to the park’s trail status webpage. Additionally, the Hidden Lake Trail will be closed until August 7 from the overlook to Hidden Lake due to bear activity related to fish spawning.
Traffic and bicycling restrictions
Based on previous vehicle reservation seasons, traffic is expected to surge daily at 3 p.m. when vehicle reservations are no longer required. For safety, Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed to bicycles from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily between Apgar and Logan Pass through September 8.
For more information on road conditions, trail updates, and shuttle services, visitors are encouraged to visit the Glacier National Park website.
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Thank you, Gail! 🙂 We will avoid it all, but especially the Going-to-the-Sun road. I appreciate the warnings and additional details; thank you! 🙂 Have a wonderful week and SAFE travels! 🙂
In my opinion, and not a very popular one I’m sure, bicycles should not be allowed on Going to the Sun Road at all after it opens all the way. We are here now, and it is a very dangerous undertaking with everyone who are in cars, understandably, paying more attention to the views than the road at times. They were actually doing bike tours in the rain and clouds, where cars could barely be seen! I don’t understand anyone biking that road.