Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park: Address, Phone Number, Going-to-the-Sun Road Reviews: 5/5
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun Road
5
About
A spectacular and scenic 52-mile highway through Glacier National Park, which crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass in Montana.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
3,208 reviews
Excellent
2,779
Very good
297
Average
78
Poor
28
Terrible
27
haveboozewilltravel
California622 contributions
If you can obtain a $2 ticket online to drive the Going to the Sun Highway this summer from 6AM-5PM, your experience will greatly be enhanced with much less crowds and available parking. After 5PM the road is open to everyone and there are long lines at the east and west entrance to Glacier Nt. Park. Do not attempt to drive a motor home over Logan Pass as the road is too narrow!
Going to the Sun Highway may be North America's most spectacular drive so allow several hours to linger at the various pullouts, especially Logan Pass. Even before 5PM, the parking lot at Logan Pass may be full as well as the area around Avalanche campground. Early in the morning is your best bet. Do not forget to stop at Apgar at the west entrance, preferably early in the morning to see the magnificent view of Lake McDonald from the south end. Eddie's Cafe at Apgar is currently the only dine in restaurant open in the park itself and opens for breakfast at 7:30. It is a great way to start your day!
After seeing the sights along Going to the Sun Highway, don't miss spending at least a day in the Many Glacier area (road from Babb to Many Glacier is being worked on and is currently very dusty and rough with delays possible, but well worth the effort!) and Two Medicine Lake to see Running Eagle Falls and the lake itself. The Many Glacier area is probably the premiere hiking area in the park and a visit to the Many Glacier Hotel with its spectacular location is a must! Take the short hike from the hotel to Swiftcurrent Falls (no sign is posted).
Going to the Sun Highway may be North America's most spectacular drive so allow several hours to linger at the various pullouts, especially Logan Pass. Even before 5PM, the parking lot at Logan Pass may be full as well as the area around Avalanche campground. Early in the morning is your best bet. Do not forget to stop at Apgar at the west entrance, preferably early in the morning to see the magnificent view of Lake McDonald from the south end. Eddie's Cafe at Apgar is currently the only dine in restaurant open in the park itself and opens for breakfast at 7:30. It is a great way to start your day!
After seeing the sights along Going to the Sun Highway, don't miss spending at least a day in the Many Glacier area (road from Babb to Many Glacier is being worked on and is currently very dusty and rough with delays possible, but well worth the effort!) and Two Medicine Lake to see Running Eagle Falls and the lake itself. The Many Glacier area is probably the premiere hiking area in the park and a visit to the Many Glacier Hotel with its spectacular location is a must! Take the short hike from the hotel to Swiftcurrent Falls (no sign is posted).
Written July 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
coolwestsider
Milwaukee, WI35 contributions
Family
This is an experience of a lifetime to be in the crown jewel of US national parks (in my opinion). We did GNP as a third leg of our vacation after Grand Teton and Yellowstone. This engineering marvel of a road takes top honors as the epic experience. I had planned this vacation for a while and had done extensive preparation. Both NPS website and google search have been providing plenty of information that NPS was instituting a ticket system for going to the sun road, so I purchased the $2 entry ticket 60 days ahead. I had no problem and that worked out really well. As for this road itself, there is no word to describe it. We entered from the west entrance on Thursday. After driving past lake McDonald, the elevation starts picking up and the drive is not for the faint of hearts, however, every lookout that you could find parking at gives you an insane view of the park. After we passed The Loop which is the only switchback, we found a lookout area and picnicked. No other lunch has ever tasted better. We got to Logan Pass around 1 pm and as it’s mentioned plenty of times, the parking lot was full. We circled the a few times, couldn’t find parking and headed towards St Mary’s. We ended up doing the St Mary’s and Virginia Falls hike which in itself is one of the best and popular hikes off of this road. We really wanted to hike at least a park of the Highline Trail which starts at Logan Pass, so we returned on Saturday. We noticed a lot of cars leaving towards west entrance and the park relatively less full. After circling Logan pass parking lot couple of times, we found parking. It was around 2 pm. The Highline trail is epic and even my parents who are over 70 did about 1.5 mile on it. What an experience. Oh, we saw marmots and mountain goats on various parts of going to the sun road. We then drove down towards 2 medicine lake. Both St Mary and Two Medicine Lakes are stunning. Not enough to days to even cover a small portion of the park. So we will be coming back.
Written July 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mel52088
Woodville, WI152 contributions
Family
Always a beautiful experience. Get the GSPY app in advance and spend $8 to download an audio tour and learn about what you’re looking at and where some worthwhile pull-offs are located. Don’t rush through. Give yourself ample time to enjoy the landscape and engineering feat of the road.
We were camping in St Mary’s, so we automatically had a GTTS pass. I enjoy the pass system. The parks are becoming overrun and causing issues. Next time we visit, we might do the shuttle so we can enjoy stops along the road without dealing with parking, which is still difficult to find even with limited access.
We were camping in St Mary’s, so we automatically had a GTTS pass. I enjoy the pass system. The parks are becoming overrun and causing issues. Next time we visit, we might do the shuttle so we can enjoy stops along the road without dealing with parking, which is still difficult to find even with limited access.
Written August 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Michael M
Silver Spring, MD19 contributions
Family
What an unfortunate trip! We traveled across the country to Glacier for my daughter's graduation trip only to be denied entry. Despite having a park pass, the Going to the Sun Road tickets sold out within seconds each day. I spent most of the trip getting up before 8am trying to get them, to no avail. So, we drive an hour and a half up a gravel road to at least see Bowman Lake, only to be told the parking "just filled up" and were turned away. We spent a boatload of money to see nothing. I get why they are doing this, but there has to be a better way!
Written June 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joan F
3 contributions
You need a permit to visit the park and you can either get it months in advance or try to get it the day before at 7:00 AM PST, which is difficult. We did get passes, and the first day we went to the East entrance. It was very busy and on weekends the shuttle runs, but it doesn't run as often as they say and it may be full, so you may wait an hour to go. June 27, part of the Road to the Sun was closed, you couldn't pass the Logan's pass, so people couldn't drive the whole park. The second day, we drove 2 ½ hours from Whitefish to go to the West entrance. At 9:30 AM no one was there to check our pass and the trails that early weren't busy. My recommendation, IF Logan's pass is still closed and you don't have a pass, you may want to try going at 6:45 AM to the West Gate (St. Mary's) and you could get in. The waterfall hike was beautiful. Don't forget your Bear Spray.
Written June 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
rockcole
Doylestown, PA557 contributions
We have been to most of the National Parks and as far as scenery this Park is by far the prettiest. You drive along the going-to the-sun road. It is single lane each way but plenty of opportunities to park. It took us three hours and worth every minute.
We entered at the East Gate and ran into a problem. They are limiting the number of cars - you need a reservation. It was 9 AM and the ranger said generally reservations open up around 11. ???
Fortunately the ranger at the entrance booth mentioned that reservations were required unless you have a National Park Senior Pass! We do!!Thank You!!!!!
We entered at the East Gate and ran into a problem. They are limiting the number of cars - you need a reservation. It was 9 AM and the ranger said generally reservations open up around 11. ???
Fortunately the ranger at the entrance booth mentioned that reservations were required unless you have a National Park Senior Pass! We do!!Thank You!!!!!
Written September 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gayle F
Williamsburg,189 contributions
Family
From 6 in the morning until 4 In the afternoon you need a reservation to enter the park. Either a reservation for the car or a reservation a shuttle bus. Or staying in in lodging in the park. Otherwise you CANNOT.and I repeat CANNOT enter the park. Before 6 and after 4 is allowed, but from 10 at night to 6 in the morning there is road construction and part of the road is closed.
We came in at 4 and drove entire road. YEAH!!!!!! Loved the mountains and the trees and the waterfalls. I am so glad we got to drive though the park.
We came in at 4 and drove entire road. YEAH!!!!!! Loved the mountains and the trees and the waterfalls. I am so glad we got to drive though the park.
Written July 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
lahanson
Lake Benton, MN398 contributions
This road has an amazing view, but it's a lot of driving to see it all. And if you want to stop and see things you have to keep your eyes peeled for parking spots. And then of course starting in 2021 you will need ticket to drive the road. Some tickets are released 60 days in advance and then some are released 2 days in advance. Those tickets are hard to get. They are released at 8 AM mountain time each day and they are gone by 8:01 AM. And really if you aren't staying in the park or have some other reservation in the park that is the only way to get in.
Written August 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
michellehouse
Evansville, IN262 contributions
I know people have complained about the new ticketed system but I was able to get a pass 60 days before my travel date without any problems. We got to the West Entrance about 8AM and the road was already fairly busy. I'm assuming that ticket entry has made morning crowds a little worse with people trying to get in before 6AM without a ticket. But we were able to drive West to East and able to stop at just about all the pull outs. Avalanche Lake and Logan Pass were full no matter how what time of day we passed by (we only tried Logan Pass once on the way East and again on the way West). We stopped at Sun Point (got there about 8:45-9) and the parking lot was empty. We hiked the 3 falls trail (about 5ish miles out and back) with minimal other hikers on the way out (much busier on the way back). We picnicked after our hike at Sun Point before finishing at the East Visitor's Center where the kids turned in Jr Ranger books. We drove back West (we were staying in Whitefish) and stopped at a pull out by Lake Mcdonald and let the kids burn off steam by splashing around in the lake.
Written August 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Scuba instructor
San Diego, CA12 contributions
Couples
Glacier National Park is one of the most beatiful parks in the USA, but they now have a strange process to limit entry. Now they require a 2 dollar ticket that you can only get online two days in advance and they sell out in a matter of minutes. There is no way to plan a trip if you are from out of state. The workers at the park were interviewed on the news saying other roads in the park were open if you don't have the ticket, but this is simply not true. We went around different areas and we were turned away. We were told to come back after 5 pm or before 6 am. There was such a line at 5 pm, that I don't see how this can be good for the park. So much for our annual pass!
Written May 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
mntclmbr
Centralia, WA9 contributions
Does anyone have experience riding a mountain bike up there going to the sun road vs. a road bike?
Katherine H
Birmingham, AL
We have campground reservations for our whole stay inside glacier this July/August. Do we ALSO have to get reservations to drive on the road or is that somehow included? Any other tips for campers?
It rivals the amalfi coast in Italy? Please explain.
jetsly
Minneapolis, MN1,240 contributions
Driving is very challenging on both roads, but ocean and mountain vistas are not interchangeable.
7641959
Columbus, OH2 contributions
Hi I would like to book a guided tour with driver to road to the sun for Friday or SUnday or Monday this week.
Marty my cell is 419-685-1818 for 2 people
The Places Where We Go Podcast
Simi Valley, CA944 contributions
We would recommend the Red Bus Tours (google for web link as pasting URLs are not allowed on Trip Advisor answers)
7641959
Columbus, OH2 contributions
Hi I would like to book a guided tour with driver to road to the sun for Friday or SUnday or Monday this week.
Marty my cell is 419-685-1818 for 2 people
MaryEllenM27
Kalispell, MT17,048 contributions
Privately owned guided tours are not allowed within Glacier or any National Park.
You can book Red Bus or Sun Tours...they have routes that include the Sun Road. Both those companies are concessionaires that are allowed to conduct those tours within park boundaries.
Red Bus has in the past booked private tours for smaller groups or weddings etc. They do not allow us to post live links on this function...so access Red Bus tours by using Duck Duck Go or Google. Type in Glacier National park red-bus-tours and the link will appear.
Or type in Glacier Sun interpretive tours.
You could even contact Glacier Guides and see if they have any plans to conduct auto tours over the Going to the Sun Road this year. In the past they have only conducted hiking and biking tours...but you never know.
Good luck on this. Hopefully there will be space on the tours so close to your visit.
griffins at the beach
Satellite Beach, FL306 contributions
best route from Tetons to Whitefish. Planning to stop along the way. Is it reasonable to stop and tour Lewis and Clark Caverns?
MaryEllenM27
Kalispell, MT17,048 contributions
If you have the time you can enjoy the L & C Caverns if they are open. When is your trip?
The best and actually the most scenic is to make your way north to the I-90...follow it all the way to just past Missoula then take the 93 north from there to Whitefish. The section of the I-90 from the Bozeman area all the way to the Idaho Border is considered the most beautiful freeway route in America.
Depending on how you leave the Tetons, the really pretty route is the 287 from West Yellowstone...or use the Idaho 87 instead heading north up through eastern Idaho to connect with the 287. Ennis is a nice place to stop on the way. Then L & C Caverns...then hit the I-90 from there.
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I would not advise using the 287 to Helena and then the 141 and 83. It looks like a shorter cut across to Bigfork...but that road is not as scenic, has more 2 lane and the 83 section is known to locals as "dead deer alley". So many deer are hit that they often have to send up a special truck to collect the bodies. Hitting a deer can ruin a vacation.
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If you spend a lot of time at the Caverns it's possible you may wan to overnight in Missoula at the end of the day before completing the drive to Whitefish. The 93 is a gorgeous drive too...you go up through the Mission Mountain valley and then along the west side of the huge Flathead Lake.
Do you enjoy botique breweries? At Lakeside along the east side of Flathead Lake you could visit the Tamarack Brewery and grill. Beer optional...food is great too. You will enjoy Whitefish!
EmilyKallen716
Indianapolis, IN6 contributions
We are coming to Whitefish for Under the Big Sky festival in July. We will be at the park for a full day on July 15th. Looking for advise on how get the most ‘bang for our time’. Definitely want to do hiking( maybe Grinnell Glacier or Iceberg Lake ) drive part of GTTSR, etc. We’ve never been to the park so just want to use our time wisely and order of activities. Thanks so much for any insight.
MaryEllenM27
Kalispell, MT17,048 contributions
There are some problems you will face with your goals...having only 1 full day. Its a very long drive of over 2 hour 45 minutes normally without stops between West Glacier and Many Glacier Valley. This year, there is a 40 minute construction delay getting into MG valley from Babb and then again on the way back out. Plus if you do not have hotel or boat tour tickets for the exact day....IF they close the road for crowding or lack of parking you will not be allowed in...maybe for hours.
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The 2 hikes you list may not be melted out yet...sometimes the trails are muddy or snowy until end July even into August. If the Grinnell was melted, it takes 8 hours with the help of the 2 lake boat tours or hiker shuttles in the morning.
Iceberg Lake the same. It lies in the shadow of a 3.000' cliff that keeps the ice frozen longer before the thick chunks break off and begin to float...normally by late July or August. It's also a 10 mile hike RT with over 1,700' elevation gain.
Try to concentrate your day along the Going to the Sun Road and take some of the famous hikes along it. Hidden lake Overlook, the Highline or the St Mary/Virginia Falls on the east side of the GTTSR corridor.
***BUT, this year you also must obtain a ticketed entry to go onto the GTTSR. You cannot just drive in and expect to do that. You must do that on line before you come.
Please...there are many things you need to know to make this a nice day for you. Go to the Glacier forum page and ask a question there. We can really help you more and give you clickable links to pages you need to see.
When you get to the forum page there is also a list of Top Questions on the top right side of the page. Those are current and are excellent sources of information for you to look at.
Glacier looks small but it takes time to drive through and then time to do anything. Plus Covid and the timed tickets for the GTTSR complicate things for a last minute visit.
Ask your questions on the forum page we can help you more. We cannot even give clickable links on the part of the TA.
Ohb7
Tampa, FL42 contributions
My friend and I are thinking about visiting the park in late April-early May. I know it’s not the ideal time, but it’s the only time we could do it. What will the park be like in early season? What sort of things could we do? I would love any advice or tips for visiting during spring!
MaryEllenM27
Kalispell, MT17,048 contributions
ACTUALLY, Going to the Sun Road is very unlikely to fully open until mid to late June...even into early July...depending entirely on the kind of Winter Snows we get each year. It takes months to clear the road, re-install safety barriers, repair avalanche damage or clear huge rock-falls.
Sometimes the avalanches and rock falls are significant. Plows encounter trees, shrubs and even huge boulders hidden within the snows they have to clear from the road.
Freeze/thaw and Spring rains also cause rock to crack, fall away and then down onto the road after the snow has been cleared. One summer, 3 cars were stranded for hours and hours between gigantic boulders on either side of them. No one was hurt that time but it took hours to blast the rocks into pieces that could be moved off of the road and down the side into the canyon below.
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Sometimes in late Spring the Sun Road will be accessible part way to Logan Pass Summit from either side of the park earlier in the Spring/Summer but you still cannot cross over the pass for complete access because of more snow to be cleared at the top. For example cars and bikes have access for as far as its safe and then must turn around. The final thing to clear is the Big Drift just down from and heading east from Logan Pass.
So what you CAN do is enjoy the Lake McDonald Valley and the GTTSR for as far as its open. Its gorgeous in late Spring and Early Summer. You can rent water craft/paddleboards to use on Lake McDonald or take rafting trips on the river from West Glacier.
You can drive to Avalanche, which is north of Lake McDonald Lodge and hike the Trail of the Cedars/Avalanche Lake...its rated a moderate hike and will fill about 4 or 5 hours time...more if you stop at the lake for a picnic or just to sit and enjoy the scenery.
You can drive to historic Polebridge and Bowman Lake which is slightly NE of Apgar/West Glacier. The Polebridge Mercantile is famous for its great off the grid bakery. Scenery along the drive heading up there is so pretty early in the season because of the remaining snow on the mountaintops across the river valley below.
You can also spend some time in the Flathead Valley which is nearby to the west. Whitefish, Bigfork and the huge Flathead Lake are wonderful in Spring before Glacier becomes fully accessible.
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Double check before finalizing plans...we may still be affected by the Covid edicts this year again. You may not know it...but the entire EAST side of the park was closed all of last year because of Covid and the closures it caused for all lodgings, shops, tours, Red Buses, free shuttles and lake cruises.
DO Make reservations though...in case things return to near normal. Keep checking back on the Glacier Forum for updates.
Longislandgirl6370
St. Johns, FL6 contributions
We have a trip planned for last week in May 2021. What will be opened in the park? Can we access any part of GTTSR? Logan’s pass? Etc? Can’t change travel plans! Trying to plan our 3 days in the park :)
arh0070
Lafayette, LA217 contributions
It was very crowded in August this Covid year .Had to get up really early to find a parking spot at Logans pass .The hikes were really nice ,everyone was respectful ,saw quite a bit of wildlife .Weather in May might be a challenge ,it snows into the summer sometimes .Logans pass is at high elevation and very narrow so its going to depend very much on the weather that week .
mcaero4
Fort Worth, TX
How crowded was the going to the sun road? Did you have to wait long to get into the park? What time did you arrive? Was there parking? How many hours did it take to drive the road and back? We are going in 2 weeks. Thanks
aaronbaros
Little Falls, MN125 contributions
Sun road was busy but manageable I would say.
Frequently Asked Questions about Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Hotels near Going-to-the-Sun Road:
- (5.78 mi) Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins
- (6.22 mi) Many Glacier Hotel
- (9.77 mi) Lake McDonald Lodge
- (6.22 mi) Many Glacier Lodge
- (3.45 mi) Granite Park Chalet
- Restaurants near Going-to-the-Sun Road:
- (6.21 mi) Many Glacier Hotel
- (9.79 mi) Russell's Fireside Dining Room at Lake McDonald Lodge
- (6.25 mi) Ptarmigan Dining Room
- (5.87 mi) 'Nell’s
- (9.68 mi) Jammer Joe's Grill and Pizzeria
- Attractions near Going-to-the-Sun Road:
- (2.38 mi) Hidden Lake
- (3.24 mi) Grinnell Glacier
- (2.32 mi) Logan Pass
- (5.09 mi) Avalanche Lake
- (6.21 mi) Iceberg Lake Trail