Fire is a fact of life in Glacier National Park. On Aug. 11, a lightning storm sparked three small fires on the park’s west side. The following evening, a windstorm took the Howe Ridge Fire from a 5-acre fire to a massive inferno, forcing closures and evacuations.
Despite the closure on the west side, there’s still plenty to see in the Crown of the Continent. Here’s your guide to what’s open and closed in Glacier Park.
Be sure to visit this page throughout the summer for the latest on the park and visit FlatheadBeacon.com for the latest wildfire news.
Open
As of Sept. 17, the following areas, roads and trails are open
The Going-to-the-Sun Road from Apgar to St. Mary (No stopping between Lake McDonald and Avalanche)
Lake McDonald Lodge area (Lodge and other accommodations remain closed)
Many Glacier
Two Medicine
Apgar
Polebridge
Bowman Lake
Kintla Lake (Evacuation warning issued Aug. 19 from Bowman Lake Road to Kintla Lake)
St. Mary
Waterton Lakes National Park (Evacuation order lifted Aug. 27)
Avalanche Lake Trail
Granite Park Trail
Mt. Brown Trail
Sperry Trail
Closed
As of Sept. 17, the following areas, roads and trails are closed
Inside North Fork Road
Kelly’s Camp
Fish Creek Campground
Howe Lake Trail
Lincoln Lake Trail
Trout Lake Trail
Akokala Creek Trail
Numa Lookout Trail
Waterton River Backcountry Campground
Waterton Lake Trail
North Boundary Trail
For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm