Logan Pass closed to motor vehicles this weekend

The west side of Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road will not open to motor vehicles past Avalanche Creek this weekend. Hikers and bicyclists will have the Sun Road all to themselves for a little longer.

Park snowplow crews have made an initial cut through the 70-foot-deep Big Drift just east of Logan Pass, Park spokeswoman Denise Germann said May 28.

Crews are clearing snow at the Logan Pass parking lot and visitor center, installing guardrails along the alpine highway, and clearing out trails and facilities along the way, she said.

“The priority is getting through the Big Drift,” Germann said. “They need to continue to remove snow and open two lanes over the entire area in the upper elevations.”

During their initial push up the higher elevation sections of the Sun Road, plow crews only cleared one lane of snow in some places. They’ll need to go back and finish up before the road to the pass can open to motorists.

Park officials advise those venturing beyond the vehicle closure at Avalanche Creek to check day-to-day accessibility by calling 888-7800 or online at www.nps.gov/glac.

Over the weekend, hikers and bicyclists will have unlimited access beyond Avalanche Creek, about 15 1/2 miles from the Park’s West Entrance. The Avalanche Campground is closed to camping and available for overflow parking until the vehicle closure is lifted.

Unlimited access for hikers and bikers also applies during weekdays after crews have stopped working, but Germann noted that crews may begin working extended hours as plowing nears completion.

Masonry at three places near the Rim Rocks area was destroyed by avalanches last season. Park crews are still determining how to repair the stone guardwalls before vehicle traffic can be safely permitted.

The east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road will not open to motorists until June 19 at the earliest because of road reconstruction between Siyeh Bend and St. Mary.

The Camas, Chief Mountain, Many Glacier and Two Medicine roads and part of the Inside North Fork Road are open to motor vehicles.

Many of the Park’s campgrounds opened for Memorial Day weekend. For more information on camping, including maps, operating dates, current and historic fill times and available services, visit online at home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm.