GOING TO THE SUN ROAD, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

What to Expect

Glacier National Park in Montana protects some of the most visually stunning mountain terrain anywhere, with giant mountain peaks, above tree-line alpine terrain and glacier fed lakes feeding alpine to valley length waterfalls.

The earliest National Park managers felt it was important to create a driving route that would cross the Park between West and East and climb over the Continental Divide. The road they created would be purely for sightseeing.  Then starts the story about stubborn engineers, hard working labourers and many skeptics.

Though the drive is only 50 miles, expect to spend most of a full day taking in the mountain views, alpine flower filled meadows and waterfalls.  While the views are numerous, the pullouts aren’t.  We’ll give you plenty of notice so both the driver and passengers can relax and feel comfortable about what’s ahead.

If you appreciate National Park lodges, then you’ll enjoy a visit to Lake McDonald Lodge, a National Historic Landmark.

And we climb, in many places the road is carved right out of the mountain side.  But there is only one switchback located at “The Loop“. You’ll find out why.

The engineering marvels along the drive like Triple Arches and the Tunnels are visually impressive.  So are the stories of the “powder monkeys” tasked with hanging off the cliffs by rope,  drilling holes and stuffing them with dynamite.

If you are touring early in the season, you might get a free car wash at the Weeping Wall, as the snow melt showers over the road.  You can’t fully credit the outstanding scenery at Big Bend with views to Mt Oberlin in words.  Have your camera ready, you’re going to be taking a lot of photos today.

Most will want to capture the milestone of the highest point along the route, and perhaps warm up inside at the Logan Pass Visitor Centre.  Here, we’ll explore the different versions around the name “Going to the Sun Road”.

The valleys and alpine terrain are also ideal environments for a variety of wildlife and animals sightings are common.

The tour can be driven in either direction, between West Glacier and St Mary.  And it’s just so good, you may want to turn around and do it again in the other direction.  We have some different commentary on the return trip, while still pointing out the major sites.

What You’ll See

Some of the highlights along the route include;

Prepare for the Tour

Good to Know Before You Go

• • Driving distance is 50 miles/ 80 km and will take you ~ 1.5hrs each way.  It’s entirely reasonable to turn around and drive back in a single day.  We’ll provide different commentary on the return route, while still pointing out the main sites.
  • As there are limited facilities inside the Park, we recommend that you gas up and also pack food & drinks for the day.

Where the Tour Starts

• • The tour officially starts from either from its west side, at West Glacier, or from the east entrance at St Mary.