Weekend Road Update for Glacier National Park

Weekend Road Update for Glacier National Park April 7, 2010
Date: April 7, 2010
Contact: Wade Muehlhof, 406 888-7895
Contact: Amy Vanderbilt, 406 888-5838

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Officials at Glacier National Park report that the Going-to-the-Sun Road (Sun Road) is currently open for vehicles 10 miles to Lake McDonald Lodge on the park’s west side and six miles to Rising Sun on the east side. The road into Two Medicine is open for vehicle traffic as far as Running Eagle Falls. Kintla Road is open to Big Prairie. All other park roads remain closed to motorized vehicles due to snow and ice.

Plowing is complete on the west side of Sun Road from Lake McDonald Lodge to about one mile past the Avalanche Campground, but parts of the road are covered with ice, and won’t be opened to vehicle traffic until the ice melts out. Crews also cleared an avalanche slide at Red Rock Point. The Red Rock Slide left a debris field about 30 feet in depth and 100 feet in length. Hiker and biker access is currently allowed from Lake McDonald Lodge to one mile south of the Red Rock slide.

Vehicle traffic is not allowed on the Many Glacier Road until the third weekend in April at the earliest; weather permitting. While this represents the earliest possible date for vehicle access, the actual opening date for vehicles is determined by parking availability and road conditions.

The Camas Road has been plowed, but five miles of the road surface is covered with ice. The road remains closed to motor vehicles until the ice melts out.

As is always true, Glacier National Park remains open year round for various recreational opportunities, but weather and snow conditions dictate when park roads are open for vehicle access.

Through April, the Apgar Visitor Center is open weekends only from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During the week, visitors can stop at park headquarters in West Glacier for information and backcountry permits. Headquarters is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors can also phone 406-888-7800 for general park information, including the specific location of hiker/bicycle closures.

Current road conditions for Glacier National Park are available by calling 511, the Montana Department of Transportation Traveler Information System. If a phone does not support 511, call 1-800-226-7623. Both numbers are toll-free. Select “Glacier Park Tourist Information” from the main menu to hear Glacier’s road report. An interactive map showing current vehicle access points is available online at: http://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm.