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Contact: Melissa Wilson, 406-888-7895 WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Visitors to Glacier National Park’s west side can now drive to the Avalanche area on the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun (Sun) Road. During plowing, the hiker/biker closure is currently at the Loop; however, as there is no pioneering plowing this weekend, there will be no applicable hiker/biker closure. On the east side of the Sun Road, vehicles can travel to Rising Sun. During plowing operations, the east side hiker/biker closure is just below the St. Mary parking area. This weekend, there will be no hiker/biker closure. Other west side road access is as follows. On the Camas Road, the road is closed to vehicles at McDonald Creek and the North Fork Entrance. For the Inside North Fork Road, the vehicle closures are at the Polebridge Ranger Station and Fish Creek. On the Bowman/Kintla Road, the closure is also at the Polebridge Ranger Station. On the Two Medicine Road, vehicles can travel to the Running Eagle Falls picnic area. The vehicle closure is at the park boundary for the Many Glacier Road, Chief Mountain Road, and Cut Bank Road. Road crews on the Sun Road are nearing Road Camp, approximately 2.8 miles east of the Loop. Road crews are beginning pioneering efforts to Siyeh Bend on the east side. It is important for visitors to remember that spring weather will impact continued plowing progress. Avalanches pose a danger to the plowing crew and either low avalanche danger or clear weather for spotter monitoring avalanche paths is necessary for plowing to continue. Further, in addition to plowing, road crews must undertake additional work before roads can be opened. Among other efforts, this work includes installing guardrails, repairing potholes, culvert clearing and bridge repair, road sweeping, sign installation, and clearing of parking lots. Visitors should always be alert for snowplows and other heavy equipment on park roads as well as areas of ice and/or slush, avalanche zones and/or fallen rock. Additionally, spring snowstorms can cause hazardous driving conditions and/or temporary road closures. Park visitors should also remember to keep alert for bears and other wildlife. Please report any bear or mountain lion activity or sighting to a park ranger. Plowing photos are available online at https://www.nps.gov/glac/gallery/plow2006.htm. Visitors can also tract plowing progress, through the plowing status Web site at https://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/gttsroadplow/gttsroadplowstatus.cfm. For information on current road conditions, visit the park’s road status Web site https://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm. This page is updated as conditions change. Current road conditions are also available by calling 511, the Montana Department of Transportation Traveler Information System. If your phone does not support 511, call 1-800-226-7623. Both numbers are toll-free. Select “Glacier Park Tourist Information” from the main menu to hear Glacier’s road report. Travelers may also call park headquarters at 406-888-7800 for current road and weather conditions. |
Last updated: February 24, 2015