Although the weather has not always been cooperating with outdoor activities, there are a few days left to take advantage of Glacier National Park’s fee-free days.
During the week of April 16-24, entrance fees to the park – and the additional 393 National Park sites – are being waved in observance of National Park Week. In January, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced 17 fee-free days. This week marks the longest free period of the year.
This is a great time to explore the park without summer crowds. Benefit from a quieter park as the first signs of spring and the annual migration of birds settle in the area.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is currently open for 12.5 miles of travel. Visitors can drive 11.5 miles from the West Entrance to Lake McDonald Lodge and one mile from the St. Mary Entrance to Foot of St. Mary Lake.
Additional fee-free days will be June 21, the first day of summer, Sept. 24, National Public Lands Day, and the weekend of Veterans Day, November 11-13. For more information or road conditions visit www.nps.gov/glacier.
How to get there: From downtown Kalispell, take East Idaho Street (U.S. Highway 2) east. Turn north on LaSalle Road (still Highway 2). Drive through Columbia Falls and Hungry Horse. Entrance to the park is on the left.