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Park plows move above The Loop

by Chris Peterson Hungry Horse News
| May 4, 2018 6:40 PM

Glacier National Park plows are down to pavement about 26 miles from the west entrance at Alder Trail on the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Pioneering progress is beyond that just below Road Camp.

Alder Trail is a little more than 2 miles above The Loop.

When plows aren’t working, hikers and bikers are allowed to travel the road, though in the higher terrain the park cautions that there is avalanche danger, particularly later in the day when the sun hits the mountains. When plows are working, hiker-biker access is to Logan Creek.

Snow depths have been running about 15 feet in the higher terrain.

On the east side, crews spent the week re-clearing Two Medicine Road and working in Many Glacier. Two Medicine near the lake saw heavy snow at the end of April. Drifts in Two Medicine are 15 feet or more.

On the east side, the Sun Road is open to Rising Sun for vehicle use. On the west side, it’s open to Lake McDonald Lodge. The Camas Road is now open.

Secondary roads on the east side remain closed as the park is working on turning on utilities and letting the snow melt.

The Inside North Fork Road is closed to vehicles, as well. There was still snow about halfway up the Bowman Lake Road. Lower elevations don’t have snow, but are soggy, though suitable for mountain biking.