Through the end of August, Glacier National Park logged more than 2.5 million visits. In mid-September, the park was on pace to beat its all-time record of 3,305,512 visits, set in 2017. Seven weeks later, the road that drew most of those visitors is closed to cars above Avalanche Creek. It now belongs to whoever is willing to pedal or walk it.
On Oct. 19, park officials announced that Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed to vehicles between Avalanche Creek on the west side and Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east. As the Flathead Beacon reported, the road stays closed to cars until next summer. This year, vehicles didn't get through until June 22. For anyone who lives in West Glacier, Apgar, or a few miles down Highway 2 in Coram, the weeks between that closure and real snow are the quietest the road gets all year.
On the west side, how far you can go depends on a construction schedule as well as the weather.
Where the cars stop and the riding starts
You can still drive from the West Entrance to the Avalanche Creek closure. The park keeps the West Entrance and Apgar area plowed and maintained through the winter. Past the gate, the National Park Service's bicycling page lists distances and elevation gain from the Avalanche Creek closure:
| From the Avalanche Creek closure to | Distance | Elevation gain |
|---|---|---|
| West Tunnel | 7.2 mi | 811 ft |
| The Loop | 7.8 mi | 881 ft |
| Big Bend | 12.5 mi | 2,326 ft |
| Logan Pass | 15.5 mi | 3,208 ft |
Most of the elevation is above The Loop. Getting from Avalanche to The Loop gains 881 feet over almost eight miles, a steady grade that a fit rider or a patient walker can handle on a cold afternoon. Going on from The Loop to Logan Pass adds another 2,300-plus feet in under eight miles.
The week splits at The Loop
This fall, The Loop is more than a halfway point. It's where the park has placed its west-side hiker/biker closure for ongoing construction. According to the Beacon, hikers and bikers can't go past The Loop on the west side, or Siyeh Bend on the east, while crews are working. The park's own wording, quoted in the same story: "The Road Crew Closure is in place while crews are working, usually Monday-Thursday until 4 p.m. Visitors are prohibited from going past the hiker/biker closures."
So the road works on a weekly rhythm:
- Monday through Thursday, before 4 p.m.: The Loop is as far as you go. That's still 7.8 miles of car-free road from Avalanche, with Upper McDonald Creek beside you most of the way.
- Monday through Thursday, after 4 p.m.: The crew restriction is lifted, but in late October there isn't much daylight left after 4 for a climb.
- Friday through Sunday: This is when riding past The Loop is realistic, if conditions up high allow it.
Passing a closure carries real consequences. The park warns that violators "could face up to a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail."
The Loop matters for a second reason. The park's bicycling guidance says that "generally, avalanches do not pose a significant threat to areas below The Loop," and it notes that cyclists have been caught between avalanches on the road in past years. That guidance is written for the spring season, but the terrain is the same. The 7.8 miles below The Loop are the lower-risk part of the road. Above it, as snow builds, the road gets more serious every week.
The fall season has no fixed end date. Once snow covers the upper road, the riding is over until spring plowing.
The rules that come with a road closed to cars
Once a road is closed to vehicles, the park treats it differently, and a few rules catch people by surprise.
Dogs stay home. The park's pets page says pets aren't allowed on roads closed to vehicle traffic, because those roads are treated as backcountry trails. On roads that are still open, pets have to be on a leash no longer than six feet. The stretch above Avalanche is closed to vehicles, so it's closed to dogs too.
E-bikes have a limit. E-bikes are allowed if the motor is under 750 watts and only assists while you pedal. The park also charges an entrance fee for bicycles.
Lights after sunset. In low visibility and between sunset and sunrise, a bike needs a white light or reflector on the front and a red one on the back. The park also suggests bringing a headlamp for early-morning or evening rides. A ride that starts after the 4 p.m. crew restriction lifts on a weekday will probably end in the dark.
Dress for the ride down. The park's spring guidance describes riders who climb in shorts and need hats, gloves, and coats for the descent, and says rangers regularly respond to cyclists with hypothermia. A late-October descent from The Loop is colder than a June one.
Wildlife. The park reminds riders to carry bear spray, never leave food unattended in panniers or packs, and stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals.
For conditions on any given morning, the park's text alerts are faster than the website. Text GNPROADS, GNPTRAILS, or GNPCGS to 333111 for road, trail, and campground updates, or check the current conditions page.
What's open at the bottom of the road
The services that supported summer crowds have mostly closed for the season. After its last weekend hours on Oct. 25, the Apgar Visitor Center closed on Oct. 26, and it reopens on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Dec. 19. Its restrooms stay open through the winter. Loop B of Apgar Campground is open for primitive camping, with no running water. Beginning Nov. 1, overnight trips into the backcountry require a winter wilderness permit.
For food after a ride, Highway 2 in Coram is the nearest reliable stop. The Discover Coram directory, updated in early October, lists:
- Stonefly Lounge, 10154 Hwy 2 East. Fall and winter hours are 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sundays, and happy hour runs from 4 to 6 p.m. daily. The kitchen makes 5-inch savory pies from scratch. The building has been a bar since 1944, when it opened as Angell's Tavern during construction of Hungry Horse Dam.
- Glacier Distilling Company, 10237 Hwy 2 E, about seven miles from the West Entrance. Open daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Spirits include Bearproof huckleberry whiskey and Logan Pass American Single Malt, and dogs are welcome on the patio, which helps if yours had to stay home.
- Park Provisions Glacier, 10126 Hwy 2 E. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with dinner Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. It also sells take-and-bake meals like lasagna and Swedish meatballs.
On a Friday, Park Provisions' dinner service and a ride past The Loop fit into the same afternoon.
When snow takes over
Once snow buries the road, the routes change. The park lists cross-country ski and snowshoe routes on its lower terrain, from a three-mile loop near Lower McDonald Creek to a nearly 12-mile trip to the Avalanche Picnic Area. Those trails aren't marked, so the park recommends carrying a map. The route to Avalanche follows the same corridor you can ride now. Starting in January, rangers lead two-hour guided snowshoe walks on Saturdays and Sundays.
Until then, the bike season depends on two things. Monday through Thursday, the crew closure keeps you below The Loop. Friday through Sunday, the weather decides, until the first heavy snow ends riding for the year.
If you're weighing a place within riding distance of the Avalanche Creek gate, Alida Tinch would be glad to talk through property near West Glacier and the park. Let's Connect.
