Glacier Park Set to Make Attendance Record as Going-to-the-Sun Road Closes

A boom in attendance at Glacier National Park means that it will almost certainly have a record year by the time tourism season is over. Kara Grau from the Institute for Tourism and Recreation research, says the data coming into her office backs up what the National Park Service is reporting.

"We've had good weather, not very many fires," said Grau. "Conditions out there have just been really good. We do have surveyors all around the state and one of the surveyors located, sort of, in that northwestern montana vicinity did mention that she has talked to many more first time visitors to the state than she remembers doing in the past."

Grau says there is evidence that the whole state is having a good year too.

"It's not finalized yet, but just a quick cursory look at what we have had coming in, it does seem like numbers are going to be up for the state as opposed to what we had last year," Grau said.

National Park Service statistics show that July was an all-time record month for Glacier National Park, and more visitors came in August than in any year since 1983.

According to a press release from GNP issued September 9, the Going-to-the-Sun road is shut down.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is temporarily closed from Big Bend on the west side to Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side due to hazardous driving conditions, winter weather conditions.

Visitors can drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road approximately 28 miles from the West Entrance to Big Bend and 13.5 miles from the St. Mary Entrance to Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side of the park.

The higher elevations of Glacier National Park have winter weather conditions, including wind, snow, ice, and limited visibility. Winter weather conditions are anticipated to continue through Wednesday at the higher elevations.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road will remain closed between Big Bend and Jackson Glacier Overlook until conditions improve.