How Long To Drive Going To The Sun Road?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Without stopping, it takes approximately 2 hours to drive the full 50 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Logan Pass is the highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road at 6,646 feet (2,026 m). Logan Pass is 32 miles (51.5 km) from the west entrance and 18 miles (29 km) from the east entrance.

Has anyone died driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road?

In nearly 25 years, there have been just two deaths on the road . In 2014, a 14-year old girl was killed, and her family was injured by falling rocks while driving in their car.

Is Going-to-the-Sun Road worth it?

It was worth it, though – in fact, I love this hike so much, I wrote a whole post on how to hike to Avalanche Lake. The Loop: The Loop is a hairpin turn where the road starts slowly climbing up through the mountains (and is one of the main reasons why vehicles longer than 21” would be dangerous to drive on the road).

Where does Going-to-the-Sun Road begin and end?

One of the most scenic roads in America, Montana's Going-to-the-Sun Road stretches from one end of National Park to the other , covering more than 50 miles as it winds past lakes, glaciers, forests and mountains.

Is Going-to-the-Sun Road Open 2021?

WEST GLACIER — Going-to-the-Sun Road officially opened this morning for the 2021 summer season . The road may now be accessed by motorized vehicles all the way through from both the West Glacier and St. Mary entrances.

When did Going-to-the-Sun Road Open 2021?

Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road now fully open

An entry reservation ticket in addition to an entrance pass is required for access to Going-to-the-Sun Road via Camas Road, West Glacier and St. Mary entrances between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily through Sept. 6, 2021 .

How scary is driving Going-to-the-Sun Road?

Yes, the road is that scary . I drove it, and was fine, but if you don't like narrow roads with steep drop-offs – then it is going to be heart pounding. Go east to west to be on the inside on the worst areas. There is a lot of traffic, so it might be easiest to take the Red Bus (Jammers) tours.

Has anyone ever died in Glacier National Park?

A Virginia hiker who was reported missing for over four days in Montana's Glacier National Park was found dead Sunday afternoon , according to authorities. Jennifer Coleman, a 34-year-old woman from Richmond, Virginia, went on a solo hike in the national park and never returned, according to the National Park Service.

What is the best month to visit Glacier National Park?

For most people, late June through mid-September is the best time to visit Glacier, because they want to drive the Going to the Sun Road, raft and fish the rivers, hike the trails, visit the backcountry Chalets, and explore several areas of the park, on both sides of the Continental Divide.

Why is Going-to-the-Sun Road closed?

The section of the road between Lake McDonald Lodge and Foot of St. Mary Lake is closed due to the weather . The seasonal closure on the upper portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is in effect. Spring plowing has begun.

Is Going-to-the-Sun Road two way?

There are multiple ways to travel:

Take the free Glacier Shuttle System that runs two-way service between Apgar Visitor Center and St. Mary Visitor Center . Book a tour with commentary with either park concessionaire, Sun Tours or historic Red Buses.

How long does it take to drive through Glacier National Park?

Without stopping, it takes approximately 2 hours to drive the full 50 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Logan Pass is the highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road at 6,646 feet (2,026 m).

How far is the Going-to-the-Sun Road open?

12.5/50 12.5 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road are open for travel.

Can you walk Going-to-the-Sun Road?

Hidden Lake Lookout is an easily accessible hiking trail on Going To The Sun Road . From the Logan Pass Visitors Center, you can take a 3-mile round trip walk to a viewpoint that overlooks Bearhat Mountain and Hidden Lake directly below.

Can I enter Going-to-the-Sun Road before 6am?

For the Going-to-the-Sun Road, vehicle reservations are required from 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. , while in the North Fork reservations are needed from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. One way to see the park is to get up with the birds.

How many days do you need in Glacier National Park?

How Many Days Do You Need in Glacier National Park? Ideally, plan on spending at least two to three days in Glacier National Park. This gives you enough time to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike one or two trails, and visit the Many Glacier or Two Medicine areas.

How early can you enter Glacier National Park?

Glacier National Park is open 24 hours a day 365 days of the year . An entrance fee is required, even when the entrance stations are not staffed.

Can you drive up to glacier Point?

To Get There

When open, you can drive to Glacier Point by traveling on the Wawona Road (the continuation of Highway 41 within the park) —either north from Wawona or south from Yosemite Valley. After traveling about 13 miles, turn on to the Glacier Point Road at the Chinquapin intersection.

Can you get to Lake McDonald Without Going-to-the-Sun Road?

Nope. Entry tickets are only needed to access the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor at the West Glacier, Camas Road and St. Mary entrances, as well as the North Fork (Polebridge).

What do you do when you go to the Sun Road closed?

  1. Go For A Drive! When the Going-to-the-Sun road is closed, know that there are other beautiful drives. ...
  2. Go For A Hike! There are fantastic long and short hikes that explore the park's outskirts. ...
  3. Go Rafting! ...
  4. Go Biking! ...
  5. Go Fishing!

How do you drive Going-to-the-Sun Road?

You can enter the road through the St. Mary or East entrance or the more popular west entrance by the Apgar visitor center (this is also a good place to stop to ask about the road status – to make sure it is open) where you drive by the Lake McDonald lodge before coming to the beginning of the Going to the Sun road.

How long does it take to bike Going-to-the-Sun Road?

Overall, it takes a reasonably fit person about 4 hours to bike from Lake McDonald Lodge to Logan Pass.

Are there bears in Glacier National Park?

As you're probably already aware, Glacier National Park is bear country, and is home to both black bears and grizzly bears . For those wishing to venture into Glacier's backcountry, one of the first questions that comes to mind is how to have a safe trip while hiking with bears.

What is dragon's tail at Glacier National Park?

The Dragon's Tail is a steep, off-trail climbing route southwest of Reynolds Mountain . It's not far from Logan Pass, which is popular with visitors and the highest elevation in the park that can be reached by car. The terrain is very rugged and drops off on either side of the ridge, a park service spokeswoman told CNN.

How many grizzly deaths does a glacier have?

As for Glacier National Park, there have been only 10 bear-related fatalities in the history of the park (all since 1967 when two young women were killed the same August night during what was subsequently called the Night of the Grizzlies, and prompted major changes to park bear policy).

What was the cause of Jennifer Coleman's death?

Although a death certificate stating the exact cause and manner of Coleman's death still hadn't been completed by the Glacier County Sheriff's Office as of Sept. 13, when the Beacon went to print, an official who assisted with the recovery effort said the woman likely died from trauma due to a fall .

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.