New 'dashboard' provides visitors real-time Glacier Park info

Visitors to Glacier National Park now have a new way to keep up with the park’s ever-changing weather and traffic conditions.

After years of planning, the park’s Recreation Access Display (RAD) is up and running at https://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/dashboard/.

The “dashboard,” which works best in the Google Chrome web browser, puts a variety of useful information at visitor’s fingertips, including real-time weather information for both the east and west sides of park, as well as Logan Pass. The dashboard also gives real-time updates on the status of campgrounds throughout the park, letting visitors know which sites are open or full before they reach the park entrance. In addition, the site also displays at what time campsites were full the previous day.

“We’ve been working for a few years to get real-time information to our visitors,” Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said in a press release. “Thanks to suggestions from the public and innovation from park staff, we’re pleased to roll out this new trip planning tool for the 2019 summer season. This is a great complement to the park’s webcams, which provide an on-the-ground visual of park conditions,”

The dashboard also gives updates on parking lot closures at many popular areas in the park, including Avalanche Creek, Bowman Lake, Logan Pass, Many Glacier, Two Medicine and the St. Mary Visitor Center. Visitors to the site can also learn of any vehicle restrictions that may be in place.

With the RAD, visitors can learn about conditions inside the park before they arrive, helping them plan a better visit.