Going to the Sun Road

Driving the Going to the Sun Road is considered one of the best national park experiences and rightfully so. As the road climbs up the mountains you can see almost every type of terrain – from glacial lakes and forests in the lower elevations to alpine tundra in the higher elevations. The drive takes you on a paved two-lane highway that seems like it is carved into the mountains. The road is pretty narrow and you need to be careful when driving it. Going to the Sun Road runs across the Glacier National Park from east to west. The road is only 50 miles but driving it offers some of the best views of the Glacier National Park.

There are many scenic viewpoints along the road that you can’t miss. Watch out for wildlife – it is easy to spot bears and longhorn sheep if you bring some binoculars. Pullouts can be found along the drive if you want to stop for photos and take in the views. Glacier National Park's scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road had one of its latest seasonal openings on record Wednesday. Park officials said late winter weather and continued avalanche danger hampered crews from clearing the road sooner. The alpine highway also opened on July 13 in 2011 due to a late snowpack and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The only later date was when the road first opened to the public on July 15, 1933. While Going to the Sun Road is now open for the 2022 season, most visitors will need vehicle reservations to travel along the famed roadway during peak hours this summer.

Distance: 80km

Duration: 2 hours

Things to do:

• Stop to dip your toes in the clear cold waters of Lake McDonald where you can see the rocks all the way to the bottom.
• Go hiking at Logan Pass. The Hidden Lake overlook trail is an easy three-mile round trip hike along meadows and beautiful boulders on a boarded walk