Up to this point, it had been a surprisingly eventful day to say the least; from having been evacuated from a massive forest fire in Waterton Lakes National Park to happening upon the unexpectedly awesome region of Glacier National Park called Many Glacier. Even so, driving the infamous “Going-to-the-Sun” road was supposed to be one of the highlights of my Northern Rocky Mountains trip.
The Saint Mary Visitor Center:
As I arrived to the Saint Mary Visitor Center on the east side of Glacier park, I was hoping against hope that the forest fires would have been controlled and the through-route of the “Going to the Sun” road would be reopened.
That would not be the case today.
Not only that, a Park Ranger told me she had just heard from the Waterton Lakes Visitor Centre in Canada that the Prince of Wales Hotel (where I had just been at earlier in the day) was in serious danger of being lost to the forest fire.
The Saint Mary Visitor Center
The Saint Mary Visitor Center Panels of the East and North Sides of the Park:
There were a series of panels in the entranceway to the visitor center. Here are the panels to the areas I’d visit on the East and North sides of the Glacier National Park.
I had just come from here…
I’d be heading here…
By doing this.
Right now I was here…
And later tonight I’d end up here. Got all that?
Driving the “Going-to-the-Sun” Road:
Well, there it was in black and white. The “Going to the Sun” road was in fact closed due to smoke and fire.
Confirmed: Closed
It was still possible to drive up almost to the halfway point at Logan Pass. So that was the plan. I had heard this part of the road way some of the most famous and had some of the most dramatic sections of roadway. Even through the smoky haze, “Going-to-the-Sun” did not disappoint.
Wild Goose Island Lookout:
The first must-see stop along the way is the Wild Goose Island Lookout.
Wild Goose Island through the forest fire smoke
Sun Point:
One of the most iconic views in Glacier National Park
The Sun Point Nature Trail:
There is a very short Natural Trail hike most notable for one of the most iconic views of Glacier National Park. The trail takes you from the parking lot to a metal podium that marks the famous surrounding landmarks.
Continuing on past Sun Point, the road narrows and starts getting very steep quickly. The drop-offs and tunnels make for some white-knuckle driving and awesome views.
The Logan Pass, The Continental Divide, And The End Of The Road:
Road closed
Ranger road-block
The Logan Pass Visitor Center:
View from the parking lot
Big-horn sheep skull
Stuffed marmot
The Hidden Lake Nature Trail:
Behind the Visitor Center there is a nature trail that also leads to the longer Hidden Lake Trail hike.
The Hidden Lake nature trail
Park Rangers spotting mountain goats
Final Impressions On Driving the “Going-to-the-Sun” Road:
Driving the “Going-to-the-Sun” road was a bittersweet experience for me. Although I was really looking forward to driving the entire road through the park, I was lucky that I got to make it as far as Logan Pass. The beauty of Glacier National Park still shown through even when surrounded by smoke and haze.
As with Waterton Lakes National Park, the crucial issue here is the forest fires brought on by man-made climate change. National Parks and their wildlife ecosystems cannot be protected without fighting climate change.
I was thwarted in completing the drive this time, but I’ll be returning soon to Glacier National Park to finish this apex National Park drive beginning to end.
Cheers!
End of the road
