This news story about the opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is based on a July 13, 2022, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here.
After several weeks of snow-clearing and plowing efforts, the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park has finally opened for the 2022 season on July 13. Road crews have worked tirelessly to remove snows and rocks from the road, as well as install new guard rails.
The famous mountain road is now accessible for “motorized vehicles all the way through from both the West Glacier and St. Mary entrances,” the National Park Service said.
In practice, this means that motorists can now see and explore beautiful places like Haystack Falls, the Weeping Wall, Big Bend, the Triple Arches, Logan Pass and Hidden Lake.
2022 Going-to-the-Sun Road Opening Date Tied for Latest Opening Ever
Except for its original opening on July 15, 1933, the Going-to-the-Sun Road has never opened later than July 13.
Other years when the road opened late were 2011 and 2020, both of which also had a July 13 opening date for the Going-to-the Sun Road.
In 2011, just like this year, the road opened late due to heavy snowpack, while in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The National Park Service said that “[t]his year the late opening has been attributed to late winter weather, making it difficult for road crews to clear the road during continued avalanche danger.”
Reminder That Vehicle Reservations Are Necessary for the Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2022
This year, just like last year, vehicle reservations are needed to enter the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor at the West Glacier Entrance, Camas Entrance and Rising Sun checkpoint (located 6 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance) from 6 am until 4 pm each day.
North Fork area of the park reservations are required between 6 am and 6 pm. 24-hour advanced reservations are released at 8 am MDT the day before the effective date on Recreation.gov.
Reservations are not required for any other portions of the park (for example Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Cut Bank, Walton, Goat Lick, St. Mary or Chief Mountain Highway) and visitors are still subject to the per vehicle entrance pass fee.
Keep in mind that these areas can be very congested, and visitors can expect traffic restrictions between 10 am and 2 pm.
Visitors with service reservations along Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor and in the North Fork area of the park do not need a vehicle reservation. Valid service reservations will serve as a vehicle reservation for the day of the service reservation and include lodging, camping, commercial tours, etc.
Now that the Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open, the number of vehicle reservations available will be increased, the National Park Service said.
This increase will be executed through a series of additional reservation releases made available each morning starting July 13 at 8 am. Advanced reservations are exclusively available on Recreation.gov. Visitors will not be able to obtain a reservation at the park.
You can find information about the Going-to-the-Sun Road reservation system in this blog post.
The park’s free shuttle service, along Going-to-the-Sun Road will be operational this year under a first come-first served system.
The shuttle bus stops at the Apgar Visitor Center, Sprague Creek Campground, Lake McDonald Lodge Avalanche Creek, The Loop, Logan Pass, Siyeh Bend, Gunsight Pass, St. Mary Falls, Sunrift Gorge, Sun Point, Rising Sun and the St. Mary Visitor Center.
You can find more information about shuttle stops on the park website. At times when Flathead or Glacier county COVID-19 community levels are high, face masks will be required on shuttles.
Available Services at Logan Pass
Services at Logan Pass include restroom facilities and potable water. Visitor information services will be provided at the Logan Pass Visitor Center from 9 am to 7 pm daily starting July 14.
The Glacier National Park Conservancy bookstore will be operating inside of the Logan Pass Visitor Center, with access at the upper level. Although the visitor center entrances will have construction beginning July 14, visitors will still be able to access the inside of the building.
At times when county COVID-19 transmissions are high, face masks will be required in all federal buildings. This includes visitor centers, hotels and restaurants.
Going-to-the-Sun Road Construction to Be Aware Of
There will be some major work zones on the Going-to-the-Sun Road this summer. Visitors will not be able to access Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West Entrance before 6 am due to night-time construction along Lake McDonald.
There will be nightly closures between 10 pm and 6 am, from the foot of Lake McDonald to just west of the Sprague Creek Campground. Vehicles will have one opportunity at midnight to be piloted through the nightly closures. During the day, traffic lights will control a single lane through the construction area.
Construction crews are also installing a new vault toilet at Big Bend that is scheduled to be complete by the end of July. Until construction is complete, Big Bend will have less parking available. Visitors need to be on the lookout for work zones, slow down, and give the construction workers a wide berth.
Going-to-the-Sun Road Is Open: How to Visit Safely
While driving along the road, particularly through the Rim Rock area (approximately one mile west of Logan Pass) visitors should be aware of potential rockfall and should not slow down or stop in this section. Rocks and other debris continue to fall throughout the summer, requiring daily clean up.
Vehicles and vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet, and/or wider than 8 feet, are prohibited on Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Campground and Rising Sun.
Vehicles over 10 feet in height may have difficulty driving west from Logan Pass due to rock overhangs.
The Highline Trail and Hidden Lake Trail from Logan Pass, Oberlin Climbing Route, and a portion of the Grinnell Trail remains closed due to hazardous snow conditions and emerging vegetation.
For up-to-date information on trail conditions and clearing activities, visit the park’s trail status webpage.
Bicyclists are reminded that bicycle safety restrictions on Going-to-the-Sun-Road are in effect, and remain in effect through Labor Day, September 5. Bicycles are prohibited in certain areas between 11 am and 4 pm.
Information on bicycle restrictions may be found in the park newspaper available at park entrance stations, or online on the park’s bicycle information webpage.
Visitors are encouraged to limit vehicle idling to no more than two minutes in Glacier in parking lots, at scenic viewpoints and trailheads, and while stopped in traffic lines and road construction to benefit the health of both the public and the park resources.
Visitors should not throw food waste, including apple cores, orange peels, sunflower seeds, unwanted drinks (coffee, tea, soda) etc., out car windows while waiting in lines.
This attracts wildlife to the roadways which increases wildlife fatalities. Discard garbage in bear-proof garbage cans.