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Avalanches Delay Sun Road Plows While Other Glacier Roads Open

Many Glacier and Chief Mountain roads open for summer in Glacier National Park

By Beacon Staff
Plow operations on Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Courtesy National Park Service

While avalanche activity is delaying plow crews on Going-to-the-Sun Road, vehicles can now travel the Many Glacier and Chief Mountain roads in Glacier National Park.

The National Park Service announced Friday that the two roadways are cleared of snow and open for summer. Vehicles can now travel Camas Road, Many Glacier, Chief Mountain, Two Medicine and for 17 miles on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Visitors can drive 11.5 miles from the West Entrance to Lake McDonald Lodge, and 5.5 miles from the St. Mary Entrance to Rising Sun.

The Inside North Fork Road is currently closed at Doverspike Meadow, Bowman Lake Road, Polebridge South Gate and Fish Creek due to the weather.

There are no hiker/biker restrictions on the west side, but travel past The Loop is not advised due to high avalanche danger.

The east side also does not have hiker/biker restrictions, but travel is not advised past Jackson Glacier Overlook due to high avalanche danger.

Plow crews are approaching Big Bend but did not work on April 21 due to a new large avalanche in Haystack Creek. Plowing is not planned to resume until April 26 to let avalanche activity subside as predicted rain could create more slides, NPS officials say. Avalanche concerns are preventing the Hudson Bay plowing operations beyond Siyeh Bend, and they are working in Many Glacier to repair slumps and potholes and grading and drainage maintenance on Cutbank Road, according to the NPS.