Logan Pass projected to open May 22
Entire Going-to-the-Sun Road will be open for vehicle traffic
May 19, 2005
Glacier National Park officials announced Thursday that the Logan Pass section of the Going-to-the-Sun (Sun) Road is projected to open for the season by mid-day on Sunday, May 22, weather and road conditions permitting. With the opening of the alpine section of the road across Logan Pass, visitors will be able to travel the entire 50-mile National Historic Landmark road across the Glacier National Park between St. Mary and West Glacier.
Parking and restroom facilities will be available. The Logan Pass Visitor Center will be open for limited hours during the initial weeks of operation. All trails in the Logan pass area are currently covered by snow. The Highline Trail will be temporarily closed from Logan Pass to Haystack Butte due to safety concerns.
Officials caution that winter conditions may also exist elsewhere along the Sun Road where snow, slush, ice and/or rock may be encountered on the roadway. Snow and rock fall may be a safety issue; therefore, travelers should be aware that other short traffic delays and/or short-term closures may occur as a result of rockslides from extreme weather changes, from snow banks collapsing on the roadway, or other unforeseen events. Should this occur, every effort is made to clear and re-open the affected section of road as quickly as conditions allow. Once opened to vehicle use for the season, all park roads are accessible 24 hours a day, unless conditions require temporary closures from inclement road and/ or weather conditions, say park officials.
During the 2005 season, historic rock wall repairs may cause traffic delays on portions of the Sun Road. Travelers may expect short delays at several locations on the upper roadway west of Logan Pass, for a total of no more than 30 minutes.
This year’s projected opening is earlier than the average opening date for Logan Pass of June 8. The earliest Logan Pass opening occurred on May 16, 1987. The latest opening of the entire Going-to-the-Sun Road, on record, was July 10, 1943. In recent years, the latest opening of Logan Pass occurred on June 28, 2002, after a record eight feet of snow fell between May 22 and June 10.
For further information on road and weather conditions, and visitor services in Glacier National Park, visit the park’s website http://www.nps.gov/glac/home.htm or http://data2.itc.nps.gov/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm or call park headquarters at 406-888-7800.
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