Sun Road could open from east side before June 21

While the entire length of Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road won’t open until June 21 at the earliest because of construction, access to Logan Pass could come sooner than that.

Park snowplow crews were closing in on the pass last week despite the Wednesday, May 22, snowstorm. Crews were working at Oberlin Bend on the west side, about half a mile from the pass when the snow arrived. Meanwhile crews on the east side of the Continental Divide were near the East Side Tunnel.

Plow crews encountered about 8 inches of snow at Rimrocks, just west of Logan Pass, on Thursday, May 23, and did not return to the area the next day, according to Park spokeswoman Denise Germann.

Snow was still falling up high near the pass on Thursday, she said. Plow crews on the east side encountered 3 inches of snow on the Sun Road about two miles from Logan Pass.

While the snowstorm likely delayed plowing efforts a few days, crews could have the pass plowed before June 21 if the weather holds.

If they do and the road is ready, the Sun Road will be opened to vehicles from the east side prior to June 21, Park facilities manager Jim Foster said last week.

The June 21 opening date on the west side was set by contract with HK Construction, which has full access to the Sun Road until June 21. HK currently is working from Avalanche Creek to the Logan Pit. That work will likely wrap up in August.

Hikers and bikers are prohibited from traveling the Sun Road on Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The road is open to hikers and bikers on Fridays and weekends without restrictions.

Summer construction will begin on the Sun Road from Siyeh Bend to Rising Sun. That work will result in the closure of Sun Point, which will be used as a staging area for construction crews.

There will also be night-time restrictions on the Sun Road through that section. The road will be closed to vehicles from Siyeh Bend to Rising Sun from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. with a 15-minute open window at 2 a.m.