Glacier Park snowplow crews reach Oberlin Bend

Glacier National Park reports that snowplowing crews are closing in on Logan Pass from both the west and east sides of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The west-side crew has reached Oberlin Bend, about half a mile from Logan Pass, while the east-side crew is about half a mile from the Big Drift, just east of Logan Pass.

Snowplowing progress is a month ahead of last year in Glacier Park, and an earlier-than-normal motor vehicle access to Logan Pass from the west side is possible.

The full length of the Sun Road won’t open until June 19 at the earliest because of construction on the east side of Logan Pass.

On the west side, the Sun Road is currently open to vehicles as far as Avalanche Creek, where visitors can park at the campground and hike up the road or on the popular Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars trails.

Park officials say vehicle access will not open beyond Avalanche Creek until Logan Pass is open. Hiking and bicycling is permitted past Avalanche Creek as far as Logan Creek during regular work hours Monday through Friday. Hikers and bikers are not restricted after work hours and on weekends.

On the east side, the Park’s snowplowing crew has cleared snow up to Lunch Creek, within half a mile of the Big Drift, the final obstacle to clearing Sun Road.

Hikers and bikers may travel up the Sun Road from the east entrance and use St. Mary Campground when crews are not working, but there is no vehicular access until at least June 4 due to road construction.

Hikers and bikers who venture past vehicle closures should stay alert for possible icy patches on the road.

The Inside North Fork Road is partially open, with closures at Logging Creek Ranger Station and Fish Creek, with primitive camping allowed at the Bowman Lake and Kintla Lake campgrounds. Camas, Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and Chief Mountain roads are open to vehicle traffic.

For updated Glacier Park road reports, visit online at www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm.