WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Officials at Glacier National Park report that the
alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road (Sun Road) will remain closed
for the season due to unsafe winter conditions. The Sun Road is currently
closed from Big Bend to Jackson Glacier Overlook due to weather. Beginning
8 a.m. tomorrow, October 24, the closure will move from Big Bend to the
Loop on the west side to allow park road crews to begin winterizing the
road. The alpine section will be open to hiking and bicycling as weather
and road conditions permit.


Superintendent Mick Holm commented, “While it is unfortunate that visitors
will no longer be able to reach Logan Pass by vehicle this season, our
primary concern is visitor and park personnel safety. The very icy
conditions in this alpine section forced us to re-evaluate the November 1
closing date.” He added, “It would take a week of above-freezing nighttime
temperatures to make the road passable. Further, our road crew must
winterize the road before conditions deteriorate further.”


Despite the alpine section’s closure, weather permitting, 37 miles of the
Sun Road will remain open for vehicle use in the fall. This includes 23.5
miles from the West Glacier entrance to the Loop on the west side and 13.5
miles from St. Mary to Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side.


Several photos of the current road conditions are available in the online
version of the press release. See:
http://www.nps.gov/glac/parknews/newsreleases.htm


For general information on Glacier National Park, please visit the park’s
home Web page at http://www.nps.gov/glac/ or call 406-888-7800.