Sun Road opens to Logan Pass
The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park opened to Logan Pass and beyond on Monday. At 5:30 a.m. the parking lot at Logan Pass already looked like it was at capacity and by 9 a.m. it was definitely packed.
Due to concerns about the coronavirus, the east side entrances to Glacier will not be open this tourism season, as the Blackfeet have restricted all non-essential travel on the reservation, which encompasses the east side of the park.
As such, the Sun Road will be closed to vehicles beyond Rising Sun. All traffic will be required to turn around there. The St. Mary entrance and campground will remain closed, as will the campground. Folks are reminded to make sure they have enough fuel in their tanks, as there are no gas stations inside the park.
The park has also resumed fee collection at the gate, so motorists should expect long lines.
There will be sporadic work zones on Going-to-the-Sun Road with traffic control and flaggers, including on-going spillway work along Lake McDonald, guard wall repair near Triple Arches, and seepage repair at Siyeh Bend. Visitors need to be on the lookout for multiple work zones.
Services at Logan Pass will include restroom facilities and potable water. Visitor information services will be provided outside of the Logan Pass Visitor Center from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily. The Glacier National Park Conservancy bookstore will be operating inside of the Logan Pass Visitor Center, with access at the upper level. The bookstore will be accepting credit cards only and will limit the number of people inside at any one time to enable appropriate social distancing.
Services at Rising Sun Motor Inn will include the campstore and public restrooms from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Two Dog Flats restaurant will be providing “on-the-go” food service from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A water bottle filling station is available. The overnight lodging and public showers are closed for the season. The Rising Sun campground is currently closed.
There are no shuttle services this year on the road due to coronavirus concerns. That includes red bus tours, the park’s free shuttle and the Sun Tours.
Bicycle restrictions are also in effect. Bikes are prohibited on most of the road on the west side from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Folks are also reminded to watch for rockfall and stopping near Rimrocks, a large cliff face just before Logan Pass is not recommended because of daily rockfall.
Last year a teenager in a pickup truck was killed when rocks hit the vehicle she was in at the East Side Tunnel. The popular Highline Trail at Logan Pass was closed as of presstime, but initial clearing was expected Tuesday (July 14) meaning it could open soon.