Spanning 53 miles across Glacier National Park in Montana, Going-to-the-Sun Road is one drive every nature-lover, engineering buff, and/or thrill-seeker should make. Carved through some of the most stunning landscapes in America, the road is as historic as it is beautiful, being one of the first NPS projects borne from America’s then-newfound love with the car. Today, road trippers still enjoy Going-to-the-Sun’s unparalleled views, hair-raising curves, and access to Glacier National Park’s most stunning spots.
In the fall of 1932, Going-to-the-Sun road was completed, costing well over two million dollars and blowing through half a million pounds of explosives. In July of the following year, the incredible new road was officially opened for public use. Today, the road has become one of the most iconic drives in the country, drawing thousands of vehicles each year, even though snowbanks that can reach as high as 80 feet can make the road impassible during the winter months. Begin your journey in West Glacier...
If you're looking for a home base for your Glacier National Park adventures, Glacier Under Canvas is absolutely amazing. You can stay in a teepee or large canvas tent and get the full "glamping" (that's "glam camping") experience. It's one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the park.
The largest lake in Glacier National Park, Going-to-the-Sun Road skirts Lake McDonald’s south shoreline and brings you right by Lake McDonald Lodge, one of the most stunning National Park lodges in the country. Opened in 1914, its Swiss Chalet styling transports you to a different time and place.
If you’re headed to Glacier National Park in June and July, you may luck out and experience the “Weeping Wall” along a stretch of Going-to-the-Sun Road about 3 miles west of Logan Pass. Thanks to workers blasting away rock during the road’s construction, several spring-fed waterways gush water after the snow melts. It’s a photographer’s dream.
Just outside Glacier National Park's West Entrance, there's the Glacier Outdoor Center, where you can choose from different activities to do in the park, like whitewater rafting, fly fishing, and horseback riding. They can also help you find a cabin to stay in!
The hike to Avalanche Lake, a thoroughly serene oasis, starts at the Trail of the Cedars trailhead, just about 5 miles from Lake McDonald Lodge. The Trail of the Cedars is also a wheelchair-accessible trail. The trail loop begins and ends right on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
If you visit Mount Grinnell at sunrise, a combination of the effects from the sedimentary rock and the sun’s intense glow helps to create an incredible natural wonder that needs to be seen to be believed: the entire mountain glows bright orange.
Cracker Lake is located right at the head of a canyon, and it's worth visiting because the water is the most brilliant hue of opaque turquoise, which comes from rock flour silt that originates from the Siyeh Glacier.
If you're not a seasoned hiker, the hike to Grinnell Lake can be a bit challenging. But it's worth it: the views are insane. If you're not up for the four mile hike, book the Many Glacier boat tour. Also, don't drink the water, because visitors who have have complained of intestinal parasites. In general, it's probably a good idea to not make a habit of drinking lake water from an ancient glacier.
There's an overlook off Going-to-the-Sun Road, but if you can get closer, you can get an even better idea of how tall and pretty Bird Woman Falls are. The bridge looks like something from a storybook!
With all of those glaciers and lakes and rivers, there are tons of waterfalls to be found in Glacier National Park, like the lovely St. Mary Falls. Many hikers complain that they've turned around when they reached Baring Falls because they think it's St. Mary Falls, so make sure to keep going down the trail because disappointed to miss out on St. Mary Falls: they really are amazing.
You may recognize Saint Mary Lake from when Forrest Gump tells Jenny about running by it… “It was so clear, Jenny. It looks like there were two skies, one on top of the other.”
When you're hungry, Two Sisters Cafe is known for their bison steaks, huckleberry pie and hand-crafted ice cream. They're also a fully licensed bar. Try the huckleberry margarita, hucktini, or huckleberry beer. They're kind of crazy for the tasty local berry here!
The St. Mary Lodge has a perfect location right on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. So, whether it's your home base or your last stop during your Glacier National Park adventure, you won't be disappointed.
Going-to-the-Sun Road isn’t open year-round due to the tremendous amount of snowfall the area receives each year coupled with the extreme difficulty of plowing the road, but if you’re headed to Glacier National Park between mid-June and September, all or most of the road should be open for you to enjoy.
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