Glacier's Sun Road opens to Lake McDonald Lodge

A portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road opened to vehicles on the west side of Glacier Park on Friday morning. Visitors can now drive as far as Lake McDonald Lodge.

The stretch of the scenic road had been closed due to construction. The road work will continue through September, which could lead to waits of up to 30 minutes in each direction to pass through the construction zone. Nightly closures will begin June 1 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. with opportunities for visitors to pass through at midnight, 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Glacier Park plow crews on Friday were working in the Weeping Wall and Big Bend area of the alpine section of the Sun Road.

The east side of the Sun Road is currently open to vehicles approximately 6 miles from St. Mary to Rising Sun. East side plows were at Siyeh Bend.


Hikers and bikers can travel on Going-to-the-Sun Road as far as posted closures. On Friday the closure was at The Loop on the west side due to avalanche danger.

The park’s free spring hiker/biker shuttle will provide weekend service from May 13 until June 25, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. running between Apgar Visitor Center, Lake McDonald Lodge, and Avalanche Creek. The shuttle operates on a first come-first served basis. Full shuttle operations begin July 1 or when Going-to-the-Sun Road opens all the way, whichever comes first.

North Lake McDonald Road is closed to public access including vehicles, hiking, or biking at the intersection with Going-to-the-Sun Road due to the Upper McDonald Creek Bridge replacement project. Parking at the intersection is also closed. Hikers will be unable to complete the Johns Lake Loop Trail and will need to turn around where trail closed signs are posted.

Due to bridge construction and road conditions, all roads in the North Fork area of the park are closed to vehicle traffic until May 25, 2023. The Inside North Fork Road will remain closed between Logging Creek and Fish Creek in 2023.

For more information about construction in the park, visit the construction page on the park website.

Many Glacier, Camas, Quarter Circle Bridge, Two Medicine and Chief Mountain roads are open for the season. The Chief Mountain Border Crossing remains closed until May 15. See Canada Border Services Agency website for details.

Vehicle reservations are required for all west side park entrances starting May 26, and all east side entrances starting July 1.

The Apgar Wilderness Permit office opened May 1. Two Medicine, St. Mary, and Many Glacier offices open May 26, and Polebridge opens May 27. The St. Mary and Polebridge permit offices are always accessible without a vehicle reservation. Apgar, Many Glacier and Two Medicine permit offices are inside the vehicle reservation areas. Once vehicle reservations go into effect for the season, these offices can be accessed without a reservation before 6 a.m. and after 3 p.m. Permits will also be available at the Waterton Lakes Visitor Centre in Alberta for trips originating from the Belly River, Waterton Townsite and Goat Haunt trailheads. Waterton Lakes Visitor Centre hours are currently 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Frontcountry campgrounds scheduled to open in May include the following:

• Apgar Campground: Advance camping reservations are required. • Fish Creek Campground: Opens May 26 and will require an advance camping reservation.

• Sprague Creek Campground: Opens May 26 and will require an advance camping reservation.

• St. Mary Campground: Currently open on a first come, first served basis. Beginning May 26 a camping reservation will be required.

• Bowman Lake Campground: Opens May 26 on a first come, first serve basis.

• Kintla Lake Campground: Opens May 26 on a first come, first serve basis.

• Cut Bank Campground: Opens May 31 to primitive camping on a first come, first serve basis.