Sun Road plows at Oberlin Bend

Glacier National Park plowing crews are closing in on Logan Pass from both the west and east sides of Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The west-side crew has reached Oberlin Bend about one mile from Logan Pass while east-side plows are half a mile from the Big Drift just east of Logan Pass.

Plowing progress is a month ahead of last year in Glacier, portending possible earlier-than-normal motorist access to Logan Pass from the west side.

The full length of Going-to-the-Sun Road won’t open until June 19 at the earliest because of construction on the east side of Logan Pass.

The road on the west side is currently open to vehicles as far as Avalanche Creek, where visitors can park at the campground and hike up the road or on the popular Trail of the Cedars.

Vehicle access will not open beyond Avalanche until Logan Pass is open.

Hiking and bicycling access is open past the west-site vehicle closure, but is restricted to Logan Creek during regular work hours Monday through Friday.

After hours and on weekends, non-vehicle access is unrestricted up the west side of Sun Road.

On the east side, the road crew had cleared snow up to Lunch Creek on Thursday, putting it within half a mile of the Big Drift, the final obstacle to clearing Sun Road.

Hikers and bikers may travel up the road from the east entrance and use St. Mary Campground when crews are not working, but there is no vehicular access until at least June 4 due to road construction.

Those venturing past vehicle closures should stay alert for possible icy patches on the road.

The Inside North Fork Road is partially open, with closures at Logging Creek Ranger Station and Fish Creek, with primitive camping allowed at the Bowman Lake and Kintla Lake Campgrounds.

Camas, Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and Chief Mountain roads are open to vehicle traffic.

Updated road status can be found by visiting www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm.