David Restivo, NPS

West Entrance of Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is open every day of the year. Winter weather however, tends to dictate when most visitor facilities open and close. Generally from late May to early September, facilities are open to welcome summer visitors.

Many people enjoy the "off-seasons" as a time when the park is a bit quieter. Late September and October can be spectacular, but visitors will need to be more self relient, as facilities are closing down for the season. Winter provides a carpet of snow that makes for some good cross-country skiing opportunities. Spring tends to arrive late and last a very brief time, but can provide an interesting and quiet experience. During the shoulder seasons, and in winter, lodging and other guest services are available in gateway communities. Contact local Chambers of Commerce for more information.

Visitor Centers throughout the park open and close at different times during the year and are staffed with Park Rangers who provide interpretation and information to help in trip planning. 2011 visitor information hours are:

Apgar Visitor Center
May 1 - June 18: 9:00am to 5:00pm
June 19 - Septenber 5: 8:00am to 6:00pm
September 6 - October 22: 8:00am to 5:00pm
October 23 - April 30, 2012: Weekends only, 9:00am to 4:30pm 

St. Mary Visitor Center
May 22 - June 18: 8:00am to 5:00pm
June 19 - September 5: 8:00am to 9:00pm
September 6 - September 30: 8:00am to 5:00pm

Many Glacier & Two Medicine Ranger Stations
May 22 - September 23: 7:00am to 5:00pm

Logan Pass Visitor Center
Opening is weather dependant from opening until September 6: 9:00am to 7:00pm
September 6 - September 30: 9:30am to 4:30pm

Park Headquarters
Monday - Friday (closed holidays): 8:00am to 4:30pm, closed for lunch from 12:00pm to 12:30pm in the fall, winter and spring

Park Roads

Portions of the Going-to-the-Sun Road remain open all year and provide access to many locations and activities. Ten miles of the Going-to-the-Sun Road (from park headquarters at West Glacier to Lake McDonald Lodge) are maintained throughout the winter providing access to winter recreation opportunities at the head of the lake. Frequently asked questions and answers about the Going-to-the-Sun Road can be found here.

Plowing park roads and the Going-to-the-Sun Road is a monumental challenge each year. Unpredictable spring snow storms or other weather related events can slow down plowing progress. It is not uncommon for plowing crews to need to re-plow sections of park roads when weather events happen. Safety for our plowing crews, contractors, and the public is our utmost concern and priority. These unknown factors make predicting the opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road impossible. During plowing season, our plowing status page provides information on where plows are working. As the status of park roads change, we will immediately update our road status page.