We are planning a trip to Glacier National Park arriving on June 21, staying near the West entrance to the park. Does that seem like a bad time ? People have told me there is still snow at higher elevations and the Road to the Sun will probably be closed.
Also, is it best to stay in the park or in the town of West Glacier? Just thinking about parking and getting dinner, etc. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks much.
There is no set date for the Going-to-the-Sun Road to open each year - it depends on how long plowing and maintenance take. Typically it opens in late June. So there is a chance the road will be open during your trip, but you probably won't know much in advance if it will be open or closed.
Before the GTTSR fully opens, you can still access the east side of the park by taking Hwy 2 around the southern border of GNP. You can also drive some distance up the west and east sides of the road, but you'll miss out on the alpine portion. The roads to Many Glacier and Two Medicine will be open by then.
Hiking trails can also be limited in June and early July due to snow - particularly on higher elevation trails. There are still plenty of lower elevation trails that are clear at that time of year for you to enjoy.
I personally prefer to stay inside the park, but West Glacier is right outside the entry gate and is very convenient. You might consider splitting your time between lodging on the west side and the east side - that will reduce drive times and make it easier to see the scenic east side of the park, especially if the GTTSR is not fully open.
Make sure you check out the details for ticketed entry this year for the GTTSR corridor (final details are yet to be posted) - staying inside the park at Apgar, Lake McDonald, or Rising Sun would get you access to the GTTSR without a separate ticket: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrticketedentry.htm
The information you gave is very helpful. Thanks so much.
Historically going to the sun road opens after plowing us done around June 20. This coukd vary based on spring snow levels they plow.
The road will open in segments till they are done.
The park shuttle bus doesn’t start till July 1 so getting a park entry pass is critical. If you stay in a lodge in going to the s7n road you will get road access the day before and after your stay with the hotel reservation.
Evrn with the park roads open. The high elevation logan pass area likely still has snow on trails. Lower elevation areas should be fine.
For glacier you need to do a stay on the east side of the park. It’s 2 hrs one way between east and west. East side does not have the amount of lodging the west side does.
East side lodging
East glacier lodge
Many glacier and swiftcurrent lodge in many gkacier area
Rising sun inside park ( get road access)
St nary outside the park
There are some hotels in browning in the Blackfeet reservation
There are some small places in st nary and Babb
There are camping and RV places. Kia has some lhotel room type places.
There isn’t a large town for vrbo/ Airbnb stuff.
