Sun Road closes because of snow

Glacier National Park officials temporarily closed the upper portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road 8 a.m. Friday, Sept.17.

The road closed between Big Bend on the west side and Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side due to snow accumulation and the resulting unsafe road conditions.

Conditions are constantly being monitored and the closed section of Sun Road will be re-opened as soon as it is safe to do so.

Drivers can currently access 29 miles of the Sun Road from the west entrance, and 13 miles from the St. Mary entrance.

This will be the final weekend of 2010 to drive the entire length of the

Sun Road, weather permitting. Starting Monday, Sept. 20, west side fall motor vehicle access will be restricted at Avalanche.

Logan Pass will remain accessible for motor vehicle traffic from the east side, weather permitting, until the pass is closed for the season to all vehicle traffic

on Monday, Oct. 18.

Hikers are advised that after this weekend (beginning Sept. 20), no vehicles will be allowed to access the Loop or Packer's Roost trailheads.

Current road status is available at: http://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm. Road conditions for Glacier National Park are available by calling 511, the Montana Department of Transportation Traveler Information System. If a phone does not support 511, call 800-226-7623. Both numbers are toll-free. Select "Glacier Park Tourist Information" (option # 5) from the menu.