Full length of Sun Road opens to cyclists, hikers this weekend
Cyclists make their way through the West Tunnel on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Jeremy Weber/Daily Inter Lake)
For the first time this summer, Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road will be open in its entirety to hikers and bikers this weekend.
When work crews finish Friday afternoon, hikers and bikers will be able to reach Logan Pass, but park officials do not expect the road to be open to vehicle traffic any earlier than July 13 as crews continue to clear snow from the visitor center, clear rock debris from the roadway and install the road’s more than 500 guardrails.
On Friday, July 1, both east and west side crews punched through the Big Drift a lane and a half wide down to the road surface, which is solid ice. This is usually the last and biggest challenge the road crews face when clearing the road.
On Monday, June 27, the Big Drift was reported to have a 40 feet deep section of snow.
Plows have finished for the season, however road crews are still preparing Going-to-the-Sun Road. Road crews typically work Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Avalanche hazard along the road is low, but slides are still possible, officials warned. Visitors should remain vigilant for hazards such as falling debris, including rockfall, wildlife, administrative traffic, bicycle traffic, and more.
Visitors crossing barriers could face up to a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail.