Glacier national park going to the sun road open

Q: Is the going

Glacier National Parks scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road had one of its latest seasonal openings on record Wednesday. Park officials said late winter weather and continued avalanche danger hampered crews from clearing the road sooner. The alpine highway also opened on July 13 in 2011 due to a late snowpack and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3.5/50 3.5 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road are open for travel.

Table of Contents Show

Glacier Park By Season
Dates of Availability
Visitor Center & Ranger Station Hours
STAY CONNECTED
Is the going
When does going to the Sun Road open?
How do I get to Huckleberry Mountain from West Glacier?
Do I need a reservation for the going to the Sun Road?
How much of Going

Note:

The west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed to all activities due to construction until May 15, 2023, from the four-way intersection at Apgar to Logan Pass. There is NO hiker, biker, skier or snowshoer access on the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road this winter. Please recreate responsibly by adhering to road closure signage. Activities permitted in the park during winter will be allowed in Apgar and on the east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road only.

Alerts
Going-to-the-Sun Road Construction Closure
The Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) is closed on the west side of the park at the four-way intersection in Apgar due to a construction project. From the east side of the park, the GTSR is currently open from St. Mary to Rising Sun.
More Information
COVID-19 Masking Advisory
When COVID-19 CDC Community Levels are high in Flathead or Glacier County, mask wearing is required for all people when entering federal buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
More Information

Dates & Hours
Getting Here
Getting Around
Airport
Going-to-the-Sun
Maps
Webcams
Fees & Policies

Winter weather dictates when most visitor facilities, hiking trails, roads and activities open and close for the season. June through September is typically considered our "summer" season when most facilities and roads are open and accessible.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road typically opens in mid June and closes in mid October.

Our seasonal lodging properties typically open in late May or early June and close in mid to late September. Grouse Mountain Lodge, located in Whitefish, Montana is open year-round.

For more information, see our 2023 Lodging Dates below.

For the most up-to-date information regarding Glacier National Park, visit www.nps.gov.

Glacier Park By Season

Summer

The best time to visit Montana and Glacier National Park depends on what you're looking for in your vacation. July and August are the warmest summer months with reliable warm weather and most roads and hiking trails will be fully accessible. The Going-to-the-Sun Road typically opens in mid to late June. This also means that July and August are the busiest times of year. If you're looking to beat the crowds, spring or fall may be the best time of year to visit.

Winter

Winter in Whitefish is a beautiful time of year! Whitefish Mountain Resort typically opens for the season in the first week of December and the first couple weekends before the holidays are great times to get lots of turns without the crowds. The busiest weeks in winter are around Christmas and New Year's as well as around President's Day (Family Day in Alberta). We see lots of snow throughout the winter, but the chance of a bluebird ski day is higher March.

Spring

Spring is the secret season in Montana. The landscapes are awakening from the long winter and the weather becomes mild. Glacier National Park and Whitefish are much less busy in May and early June before kids are out of school for the summer. In spring, not all roads and hiking trails will be open, but there is still plenty to do! Spring is the best season for whitewater rafting at the peak of run-off and cyclists can bike the Going-to-the-Sun Road before it opens to vehicle traffic. Although most hotels in the Park open in early June, Grouse Mountain Lodge is open year round and Apgar Village Lodge and the West Glacier Village typically open in late May.

Fall

Yes—we have fall colors in Montana! The Larch tree, also known as Tamaracks, are deciduous conifers that change color and lose their needles in the fall. The Larch turn the mountains gold and create spectacular scenes of fall color. Also in the fall, Whitefish has a great line-up of events filled with local flavor, including Whitefish Oktoberfest! For fall visitors to Glacier National Park, the Going-to-the-Sun Road typically stays open until mid to late October, depending on when we receive our first snowfall. Although most properties in the park close in September, Grouse Mountain Lodge is open year-round.

Dates of Availability

*As we continue to adapt to changing circumstances, these anticipated opening dates may change.

Visitor Center & Ranger Station Hours

Visitors centers throughout the Park open and close at different times.
Times are subject to change throughout the year.

Logan Pass Visitor Center

Road Opening – September 5: 9 AM to 7 PM
September 6 – Septemeber 30: 9:30 AM to 4 PM
October 1: Visitor Center closed for season

Park Headquarters

Monday to Friday (closed holidays): 8 AM to 4:30 PM year round,
closed for lunch from 12 PM to 12:30 PM in the fall, winter and spring

Many Glacier & Two Medicine Ranger Stations

May 26 – September 17: 7 AM to 5 PM, backcountry permits available until 4:30 PM.
September 18: Ranger stations closed for the season

Polebridge Ranger Station

May 29 – September 17: 9 AM to 5 PM, backcountry Permits available until 4:30 PM.
September 18: Ranger station closed for the season

Apgar Visitor Center

January – May 13: Weekends only, 9 AM to 4:30 PM
May 14 – June 10: 9 AM to 4:30 PM
June 11 – September 5: 8 AM to 6 PM
September 6 – October 10: 8 AM to 5 PM
October 11 – mid-May 2018: Weekends only, 9 AM to 4:30 PM

St. Mary Visitor Center

May 28 – June 25: 8 AM to 5 PM
June 26 – August 14: 8 AM to 6 PM
August 15 – October 2: 8 AM to 5 PM
October 3: Visitor center closed for season

STAY CONNECTED

Insider tips, inspiration and deals - delivered straight to your inbox.

Is the going

Glacier National Park's scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road had one of its latest seasonal openings on record Wednesday. Park officials said late winter weather and continued avalanche danger hampered crews from clearing the road sooner. The alpine highway also opened on July 13 in 2011 due to a late snowpack and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When does going to the Sun Road open?

Open Season. There is no set date for the road to open. Typically the road has been fully open in late June or early July. Closing portions of Going-to-the-Sun Road is also weather dependent. Typically the road is fully open into October, but that may change due to weather conditions at any point.

How do I get to Huckleberry Mountain from West Glacier?

From West Glacier, head into Glacier National Park and turn left onto the Camas Road at the first four-way stop. The Camas Road will take you several miles through the park around the aptly named Huckleberry Mountain. You will then exit the park and come to a junction with the North Fork Road (the North Fork Road is un-paved and can be rough).

Do I need a reservation for the going to the Sun Road?

Vehicle reservations are needed to enter Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor at the West Glacier Entrance, Camas Entrance and Rising Sun checkpoint (located 6 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance) from 6 am until 4 pm each day.

Is Going

Park Closures The Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) is closed on the west side of the park at the four-way intersection in Apgar due to a construction project. From the east side of the park, the GTSR is currently open from St. Mary to Rising Sun.

Is Going

Going-to-the-Sun Road between Daytime delays and nightly closure 10 pm to 6 am starting June 1. Full closure from October 1, 2022 to May 15, 2023.

Is Going

The only later date was when the road first opened to the public on July 15, 1933. While Going-to-the-Sun Road is now open for the 2022 season, most visitors will need vehicle reservations to travel along the famed roadway during peak hours this summer.