Restrictions on Sun Road's east side announced
<p>Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road will be closed to motor vehicles on the east side starting Monday, Sept. 22. The road will close to motor vehicles on the west side on Oct. 19.</p>
Glacier National Park officials say the last day to access Logan Pass by motor vehicle from the east side will be Sunday, Sept. 21.
The closure will allow accelerated fall season rehabilitation on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The highway will be gated to motor vehicles near the St. Mary Campground. Access to Logan Pass will be available from the west side through Sunday, Oct. 19, weather permitting.
Access to trailheads on the Sun Road between the St. Mary Campground and Logan Pass will be limited during road rehabilitation this fall. Hikers should call 406-888-7800 before departing for the Siyeh Pass, Baring Basin, Piegan Pass, Otokomi, St. Mary Falls/Baring Falls/Virginia Falls, Gunsight and Sperry trailheads. For more information, visit online at www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm.
Access to some backcountry camp sites on the east side of the park will also be affected. All backcountry permits must be obtained from the Apgar Permit Center at this time of the year. For more information, call 888-7800 or visit online at www.nps.gov/glac.
Times and locations for boat inspections also are changing. On the west side, inspections will be conducted at the Apgar Backcountry Office daily through the end of October from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On the east side of the park, inspections at Many Glacier and Two Medicine areas, are by appointment only by calling 406-888-7800.
Visitors to the Many Glacier area should be aware that work on replacing the Swiftcurrent Bridge will begin shortly after the Many Glacier Hotel closes on Sunday, Sept. 21. Visitors can expect short delays beginning Sept. 26. As of Sept. 29, there will be no motor vehicle or pedestrian traffic as the bridge is replaced.
The bridge work is expected to continue through mid-November. Access to Cracker Lake and the Piegan Pass Trail will be through the Grinnell Picnic Area, at the Grinnell Trailhead.
For additional information, visit online at www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm or call 406-888-7800 or visit online at www.facebook.com/GlacierNPS.