AlertsPark Closure
NPS/Daniel Lombardi What is it like in Glacier right now? Check out our webcams for a peek. During this time of year it is also a good idea to check the current road status to ensure that the area you want to visit is accessible by vehicle. The following information should also help you in understanding current conditions in Glacier National Park. 
NPS Have Patience in Crowded Conditions June set a new visitation record in Glacier, proving what we already knew: the park is busy. Plan for crowded conditions and waiting periods for parking, particularly during peak times of day. Early morning and later evening continue to offer less crowded opportunities to visit the park during the summer months. Bowman and Kintla Lake parking areas are routinely filling by 10 am or 11 am. Logan Pass parking is routinely filling between 9 am and 10 am. Avalanche Creek, Apgar Village, and the Apgar Visitor Center parking lots are also regularly filling in the morning or early afternoon. In the North Fork area and other areas of the park as needed, rangers are temporarily restricting traffic to ensure that roads and parking areas remain accessible to emergency vehicles and do not become gridlocked. The park is posting when parking lots fill and other information about real-time park conditions at twitter.com/glacierNPS. 
NPS/Jacob W. Frank Weather Weather is always unpredictable in the mountains. Montana is seeing some hot days this summer, but remember temperatures vary with time of day and elevation, so be prepared with layers of clothing. For a clickable map of Glacier National Park weather visit the National Weather Service Recreation Safety Forecast for Glacier National Park. For a text version of the weather forecast for Glacier visit their Glacier National Park Forecast page. Visit our Weather page for more. 
NPS Going-to-the-Sun Road Going-to-the-Sun Road is open in its entirety to motorized vehicle travel. Visitors can drive the whole length of the road, including access at Logan Pass. Services at Logan Pass include restroom facilities and potable water. Logan Pass Visitor Center is also open daily. Vehicles and vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet, and wider than 9 feet, are prohibited along the Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Campground and Rising Sun. There is lingering winter snow around Logan Pass. Drive with caution and be aware of snow walls and possible rockfall along the road. 
NPS What is open? All the park visitor centers and ranger stations are open for the season. Check the operating hours page for specific visitor centers and backcountry permit offices. Trails are also opening up all the time. Check the Trail Status Reports page for regular updates. Trails in high elevations, like near Logan Pass, will be covered in snow, and visitors should exercise caution when hiking. Be aware of unseen holes in the snow and snow bridges that exist. Avoid crossing steep, snow-covered slopes. 
NPS/David Restivo Camping Check the Camping Status page for up-to-date information, like status and past fill times. For advanced trip planning, sites in Fish Creek, St. Mary, some of Many Glacier and half of the group sites in Apgar can be reserved online at www.recreation.gov starting in June. Campsites at Fish Creek and St. Mary are reservable no more than 6 months in advance. Group campsites at St. Mary and Apgar Campgrounds are reservable no more than 12 months in advance. Reservations through Recreation.gov must be made 3 days in advance. 
NPS/Jacob W. Frank Boating Regulations 2017 This summer, non-motorized, non-trailered watercraft will be permitted on Glacier National Park waters. Hand-propelled watercraft will be permitted on Lake McDonald and North Fork waters beginning May 15, and will be permitted on Two Medicine, St. Mary, and Many Glacier waters beginning June 1. This year, non-motorized watercraft will require an in-person inspection by National Park Service boat inspectors. Find inspection locations on the Boating page. Privately owned motorized and trailered watercraft will continue to be restricted, following the detection of aquatic invasive mussels within the State of Montana announced in November of 2016. For more information see the Aquatic Invasive Species page. 
NPS/Jacob W. Frank Hiker-Biker Access Now that the road has fully opened to vehicle traffic, the spring hiker-biker shuttle has stopped operating. Bicyclists are reminded that bicycle safety restrictions on Going-to-the-Sun-Road are in effect, and remain in effect through Labor Day, September 4. Bicycles are prohibited between Apgar Campground, and Sprague Creek Campground from 11 am to 4 pm. Bicycles are prohibited eastbound (uphill) between Logan Creek and Logan Pass from 11 am to 4 pm. Information on bicycle restrictions and average bicycle times may be found on the Bicycling page. 
NPS/Jacob Frank Wildlife It is important to provide Glacier's wild residents as much space as possible. If an animal reacts to your presence you are too close. Please remain at least 100 yards away from bears or wolves, and no closer than 25 yards of any other wildlife. It is important to keep campgrounds and developed areas clean and free of food and trash. It is always a good idea to check our safety information concerning wildlife and humans. Check out the new park video on the goat behavior research project at Logan Pass. |
Last updated: July 10, 2017