Sun Road opening delayed to next week

Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road won’t open to Logan Pass for vehicles on June 15 as originally anticipated.

If the weather holds, the road should open by the middle of next week, Park spokeswoman Denise Germann said Tuesday morning.

Plowing crews are currently digging out the Big Drift, which accumulates 100 to 150 feet of snow each winter just east of Logan Pass.

Park officials predicted in mid-May that the alpine highway would open June 15 if the weather held.

But heavy rains in the lower elevations and snow in the high country delayed snowplowing.

Germann said 10 inches of new snow fell at Logan Pass over the weekend and 35 inches fell since Memorial Day. On some days, plow crews have had to clear slides just to get off the road.

This week, it will be all hands on deck with the snow clearing effort. Trail crews and campground employees will help shovel snow and debris off the road, and plow crews will work through the weekend.

“It’s a priority for the Park,” Germann said.

This week’s weather is supposed to be better. There’s a chance of rain each day, but temperatures in valley locations should be in the 60s and 70s.