Good (awesome) news: Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road is going to be open in its entirety through Sunday, October 4, 2015 (two weeks longer than originally planned).

A red bus cruises along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
A red bus cruises along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Why is this awesome? Longer access to the Going-to-the-Sun Road gives visitors (like you and me!) the option to explore this corridor’s hiking trails and to see fall foliage that hasn’t been accessible via car in recent years. Plus, we’ll get to see views like this…

Looking down into the Lake McDonald Valley from the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Looking down into the Lake McDonald Valley from the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Early morning fog + fall colors.
Early morning fog + fall colors.
Fall colors from a red bus tour
Fall colors from a red bus tour.

Also, if you do plan to visit Glacier National Park in September and October, here a few things to know…

-After October 4, hikers and bikers will have access to the east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road on weekends and evenings, weather permitting.
Glacier Guides and Montana Raft Company will be doing daily group/custom hikes until October 3, as well as rafting and fishing trips (as determined by water levels). Plus, Glacier Guides Lodge in West Glacier will be open until October 15.
Glacier Sun Tours offers regular tours and departs from East Glacier Park and St. Mary.
Red bus tours will be departing from the west side through October 18.
-OSO Smokehouse (located inside Historic Tamarack Lodge) is open every day through mid-September. After mid-September, they are open for dinner on Friday and Saturday, and for brunch on Sunday.
-Swan Mountain Outfitters is offering trail rides from the West Glacier corral through October 4.
The Crown of the Continent Discovery Center in West Glacier is open through October.
Great Northern Raft and Resort is open for lodging until October 15. They’ll also be offering fishing and rafting through the first week of October.
-Logan Pass is accessible from the west entrance through the third weekend in October, weather dependent.

So…who wants to meet me in the Crown of the Continent this October?

xo,
TT

August 27, 2015

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Comments

Leslie
will it open earlier though lol
Hiedi Vogele
We are planning to come to Glacier with a group of around 50 on September 30. I know of another group as well who are planning to come on the same day. All of us in the afternoon. Is there any likelihood that the white vans would be able to transport people to the top of Going to the Sun Road and back from the west side of the park? 406-266-9988 Thank you.
tiatroy
Hiedi, the park will not be running their free shuttle service on September 30. However, your group could charter red buses from Glacier National Park Lodges. http://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/red-bus-tours
Tom Petrillo
October 4th? Big deal. If the road is complete it should be open until October 18th or later like it was before construction. Local residents deserve more opportunity to enjoy the park without bumper to bumper traffic.
tiatroy
Hi Tom, Hopefully once all the construction is done we'll see earlier opening and later closing dates. :) Logan Pass will still be accessible from the west side until the third weekend in October (weather dependent).
Desiree
I'm glad you posted this!! I was considering going up the week of October 5th...staying on the west side. It sounds like I will just miss the whole pass being open but can I still access the logan pass visitor center and more importantly the hikes around that area (hidden lake nature trail...grinnel hike etc). Or are all of those going to be closed. Thank you!!
tiatroy
Desiree, yes you will still be able to access Logan Pass and some of the hikes around there. As snow tends to fall up high in Montana, be sure to check the trail status update before you go: http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm. Have a wonderful time!

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