WESTERN MONTANA TRAVEL INFORMATION: KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Western Montana Travel Information: Know Before You Go

RECREATE RESPONSIBLY

• Leave no trace. Help us preserve our wild places by packing out everything you pack in. That includes things that may not be on your radar, like fruit rinds and cherry pits.
• Tread lightly. While recreating, especially motorized recreation, it’s important to minimize your impacts on the outdoors. Learn how to “Tread Lightly!” here and read the T.R.E.A.D. principles here.
• Practice wildland fire safety. Please do your part to ensure that your actions involving fire are responsible. Campfires must be extinguished completely. Click here for Western Montana wildland fire updates.
• Respect animals while wildlife watching. This helps keep both wildlife and you safe. Stay the recommended distance away from all wildlife, and do not feed them or put yourself or others in danger trying to get that perfect selfie with a mountain goat.
• Help protect our waters. When you fish and boat Montana's waterways, it's important to follow steps to ensure you don't contribute to the introduction of invasive species—they're a real threat to Montana's waterways. Read more about mandatory watercraft inspections, Clean. Drain. Dry. protocols, and protecting our waters.
• Be respectful, patient and kind. We expect residents and visitors to be mutually respectful of each other. Also, our parks and rec personnel, essential workers and small business owners deserve to be treated with kindness, patience and understanding now more than ever.
• Take the Tourism Pledge.

VISITING GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

• The 2023 vehicle reservation system for Glacier National Park has been released. Additional reservations will be required. Read more here.
• The park is open year-round and recreational opportunities can be found during all seasons. 
• The west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road will be closed to all activities due to construction through May 15, 2023, from the four-way intersection at Apgar to Logan Pass.
• There is NO recreation access on the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road this winter. The road is closed for construction. Please recreate responsibly by adhering to road closure signage. Visitors may park at the Apgar Visitor Center and choose their adventure from there. 
• The east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed to vehicles for the winter 2023 season. Activities permitted in the park during winter will be accessible on the east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road only.
• Primitive camping is available year-round at Apgar and St. Mary Campgrounds.
• Park concessioners operating lodging, restaurants, boat rentals, horseback rides and bus tours have closed for the season.
• Apgar Visitor Center is closed for the winter 2023 season. Restrooms, information Wi-Fi and potable water are available at Apgar Visitor Center plaza 24 hours a day.
• Depending on the community level of COVID-19, masks may be required when entering federal buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
• Buy your park entrance pass in advance at recreation.gov/sitepass/74280.

TRAVEL ON TRIBAL LANDS

Please be aware of when you are traveling on tribal lands. It’s important to be mindful and respectful of a tribe’s unique culture, history and traditions. It’s also important to “know before you go” in terms of recreation permits and policies that may be different from Montana law. Read more about respectful travel on Tribal Lands here.

Recreation + Permits: When recreating on tribal lands, note that tribal conservation and fishing permits are required. Some areas are restricted to tribal use (enrolled tribal members) only; please be respectful.

• Recreation and permit information for the Blackfeet Reservation
• Recreation and permit information for the Flathead Reservation

COVID-19: Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead by checking tribal resources on the websites below for the latest information on possible COVID-19 restrictions.

• Blackfeet Indian Reservation
• Flathead Indian Reservation

TRAVEL FROM CANADA

Visitors are allowed to enter the United States from Canada at land and ferry ports of entry if they are fully vaccinated. Please read more on our International Border Crossings page.

RESOURCES

For more traveler information and prevention tips, we encourage you to seek the most current information from the following sources:

• SafetyFirstMT.com
• RecreateResponsiblyMT.com
• Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
• Montana Coronavirus Task Force
• CDC: Know Your COVID-19 Community Level
• CDC International and National Travel Alerts

PARTNER INFORMATION & TRAVEL UPDATES

• Glacier National Park
• Montana Department of Transportation - Travel Conditions/Alerts, Closures and Incidents
• Montana Department of Commerce - Office of Tourism and Business Development

TRAVEL SAFELY

• Although the state of Montana does not require masks, there may also be tribe-specific orders on American Indian reservations. Individual businesses throughout the region may require and enforce mask wearing in indoor public spaces—please respect their right to do so.
• We have all gone to great lengths to help control the spread of COVID-19, and it remains imperative that we continue to follow CDC guidelines.
• Stay up-to-date on travel regulations and the COVID-19 situation using reliable sources like the Centers for Disease Control, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, federal regulations and community-specific webpages.
• Plan ahead to ensure businesses and attractions are open; staffing shortages may affect business hours.
• Continue to monitor the situation and adjust plans accordingly.
• Always be prepared by having a back-up plan in place.