Glacier National Park News Release
For Immediate Release
Melissa Wilson 406 888-7895
NEWS08-12
Spring Plowing in Glacier National Park
WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Officials at Glacier National Park report that park
road crews have begun spring plowing. While plowing of the Going-to-the-Sun
Road (Sun Road) beyond Lake McDonald Lodge begins on April 1, park crews are
currently plowing the Chief Mountain Road. Weather permitting, the plowing
of other park areas, such as Many Glacier and Two Medicine, will begin in
early April.
“With plowing underway, this is a good opportunity to remind the public that
the Sun Road is under rehabilitation. Visitors should only expect to drive
as far as Avalanche and Jackson Glacier Overlook this spring. Weather
permitting, this year, the entire Sun Road will open to vehicular traffic on
Friday, June 13, which follows the guidelines of the Sun Road’s Final
Environmental Impact Statement,” Acting Superintendent Stephanie Dubois
noted.
Dubois continued, “There will still be great recreational opportunities in
Glacier this spring. Visitors can hike or bike beyond vehicle closures, with
the exact distance dependant upon plowing crews and construction
contractors.” Signs will indicate when closures for hikers/bikers are in
effect and caution should be exercised. Visitors are also reminded that when
park roads are closed to vehicle use, pets are prohibited on them.
On the Sun Road’s west side, the segment from Lake McDonald Lodge to
Avalanche is traditionally free of ice and open to vehicles by late April.
On the east side, there will likely be two separate segment openings- first,
the segment from the St. Mary campground to Rising Sun, and subsequently
from Rising Sun to Jackson Glacier Overlook. Other park roads, or segments
of them, including the Chief Mountain Road, will open to vehicle traffic
when conditions allow for safe travel. However, as Many Glacier provides
critical winter range for wildlife, the Many Glacier Road does not open to
vehicles until the third weekend of April each year to reduce stress on
wildlife. Therefore, weather permitting, the Many Glacier Road will open on
April 19. Park campgrounds are also plowed as necessary to meet their
scheduled opening dates.
“Despite the road rehabilitation, our park road crews still must work in the
same arduous conditions as in past years to ensure that, weather permitting,
we are prepared for June 13. Safety remains our top priority and we will
again utilize avalanche forecasting technicians to help monitor conditions
through avalanche zones,” Dubois commented.
She added, “We are fortunate to have a talented and dedicated road plowing
crew here at Glacier. The effort that it takes to prepare park roads for the
summer season is amazing. We wish that everyone could have an opportunity to
witness the crew’s hard work. However, with contractors likely on the road,
and with the potential for avalanches, we are unable to hold a public “Show
Me Day” this year. Photos of the plowing effort will be posted regularly to
the park’s Web site.”
Several park roads, including the Camas Road and Cut Bank Road, are not
plowed, but rather are allowed to melt out, with vehicles allowed on them
only once the roads have dried. The Inside North Fork Road is also allowed
to melt. Once free of snow and ice, the road will be assessed to determine
its suitability for vehicular traffic. If the road is safe, it will open.
However, if its condition deteriorated over the winter, the road will remain
closed until repairs can be made, which will likely not occur this summer.
Visitors should always be alert for snowplows and other heavy equipment on
park roads as well as areas of ice and/or slush, avalanche zones and/or
fallen rock. Additionally, spring snowstorms can cause hazardous driving
conditions and/or temporary road closures. Visitors should also be aware of
wildlife on the roads. Please report any bear or mountain lion activity or
sighting, regardless of the location, to a park ranger.
Current road conditions are available by calling 511, the Montana Department
of Transportation Traveler Information System. If your phone does not
support 511, call 1-800-226-7623. Both numbers are toll-free.
Select “Glacier Park Tourist Information” from the main menu to hear
Glacier’s road report.
Information on current road conditions is also available on the park’s road
status Web site
http://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm. This page is
updated as conditions change. Travelers may also call park headquarters at
406-888-7800 for current road and weather conditions.
- NPS -
