Going-to-the-Sun Road

Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses Glacier National Park in Montana, climbing from the forests and lakes of the west side to Logan Pass on the Continental Divide and down to St. Mary on the east. It is one of the great engineering roads of the American West, cut into the side of the Garden Wall.

Waterfalls drip onto the road, mountain goats and bighorn sheep wander near the pass, and the views over glacier-carved valleys are among the best anywhere in North America.

Highlights

• Lake McDonald on the west side
• The Loop, the road's only hairpin, below Heavens Peak
• The Weeping Wall, where water pours onto the road in early summer
• Logan Pass on the Continental Divide
• St. Mary Lake and Wild Goose Island on the east side

Best time to ride

The full road is usually open from late June or early July to mid-October, depending on snow. In recent summers the park has required timed-entry vehicle reservations — check the National Park Service site before you go.

The road

Narrow, with low stone walls and long drop-offs. Construction delays and heavy summer traffic are common; large vehicles are restricted.

Riding tips

• Ride early in the morning for fewer cars and better wildlife sightings.
• There is no fuel inside the park on the road itself.
• Bring layers — it can be warm by the lake and near freezing at Logan Pass.