RT Going-to-the-Sun Road

Scenic mountain road is the only road that traverses the park, crossing the Continental Divide through Logan Pass at an elevation of 6,646 feet

General Information

Length:

50.1 miles From West Entrance to Saint Mary (East Entrance)

Elevation

4,340 feet

Pet Policy:

Pets not allowed on trails, along lake shores outside of developed locations, or in any building

Seasons:

Lower portions of Going-to-the-Sun Road are open year-round, but the upper elevations do not usually open until late June. The alpine sections of the road typically close for the winter on the third Monday of October, but this can change due to wintry weather.

Apgar, MT Weather Forecast

How to Get There

To West Entrance - From Missoula (138 miles): Continue to I-90 W. Take US-93 N to Montana Hwy 35 W/S Shore Rd in Lake County. Continue on Montana Hwy 35 W to Flathead County. Turn right onto U.S. Rte 2. Turn left onto Glacier Rte 1 Rd/Going-to-the-Sun Rd.

Overview

Going-to-the-Sun Road is Glacier National Park's iconic 50-mile mountain road over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, and the only road that crosses the park. It was conceived by superintendent George Goodwin in 1917, built from 1921 to 1932, and is one of the first Park Service projects made for motorists. It is named for Going-to-the-Sun Mountain, and a Blackfeet legend says the spirit Sour Spirit left his image there.

Good to Know

Season: the road takes about ten weeks to plow, with up to 80 feet of snow at Logan Pass, so full opening is usually late June to mid October
Vehicle limits: vehicles are limited to 21 feet long and 8 feet wide between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun
Getting around: a free shuttle runs the corridor, and timed-entry reservations may be needed in peak season
Stops: Lake McDonald, Logan Pass, and St. Mary Lake

This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles "Going-to-the-Sun Road", which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Featured Locations and Trails

Jeff P from Berkeley, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted

Bird Woman Falls

★ 5.0

Towering seasonal waterfall plunging from a hanging valley and creating one of the most dramatic natural spectacles visible along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.