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Skiers head up Logan Pass last week. The snow promises to go quickly, as temperatures should stay 80s in Glacier and approach 100 in the valleys.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park completely opened June 28 and the crowds responded in force over the weekend. Parking along the Sun Road was at a premium and even places that don’t normally fill were full. By 12:25 p.m. Sunday there wasn’t a parking spot to be had at Apgar Village or the Apgar Visitor Center. The Avalanche parking lot filled at 10:25 a.m. and the Logan Pass parking filled at 10 a.m.
There were even lines at the Logan Pit bathroom along the Sun Road. Virtually every pullout along the road that had any kind of view was full on Sunday. Glacier had to “flush” the entrance of cars — letting people in for free — not once, but twice at the West Entrance because the line was backing up into West Glacier to get into the Park.
People were walking a good mile to get to Avalanche Creek, with cars parked in the ditch.
The Park also restricted traffic up the Bowman Lake Road because of congestion on the rough, dirt road to the popular lake up the North Fork by 10 a.m. It implemented its new “one car in, one car out” policy to stem the crowds. The Park also had to implement “one car in, one car out” at Many Glacier on Sunday as well, spokeswoman Lauren Alley said.
Motorists looking for a parking spot should check Twitter before heading out — the Park has taken to social media to alert motorists on parking and road conditions.
At Logan Pass, visitors will discover lingering winter snow, and should be prepared for cool temperatures, wind, and icy conditions. Standing or walking on snow along the road is strongly discouraged.
Be aware of snow walls along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and hazardous snow bridges that could collapse next to the road, particularly near Big Bend, the Big Drift, Lunch Creek, and Siyeh Bend.
The Highline Trail from Logan Pass is still closed due to snow conditions.
Glacier’s free shuttle service up the highway has started, but if there’s no parking at the Apgar Transit Center, it’s tough to catch a shuttle. The shuttle makes stops at key trailheads en route to Logan Pass and beyond.
Canada is also celebrating the 150th anniversary of its national parks, which could be adding to crowds in Glacier.
Making things worse is road construction on the west side of the Park, as crews will be working from Apgar to Avalanche and on rock walls in the higher terrain this summer.
Motorists can expect up to 30 minute delays.