Concession and partner operators will develop specific guidelines for workforce protection, consistent with facility opening. Glacier National Park is open 24 hours a day and you can enter at any time and it is open on most holidays. During the park closure, the park superintendent has worked closely with the Montana state governor’s office to determine the proper timing for reopening based on COVID-19 conditions in Montana. Date of experience: September 2020. Glacier National Park is closed until further notice because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Waterton Lakes National Park and Goat Haunt Area Waterton Lakes National Park has suspended all operations until at least May 31. Avalanche. Order A Free Travel Guide Sign Up For Our Newsletter Connect With Glacier Country. NOTE: The reservations office is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, and will close at 12:00 p.m. on the day prior to each of these holidays. The NPS has identified certain facilities that will need to operate during Phase 1, including public restrooms. Visitors will be encouraged to wear appropriate facial covering when entering buildings to protect themselves and others. Flathead Valley. Hoping for lower crowds and cooler weather. Keep in mind that if you plan on taking the Going-to-the-Sun Road as your way to get through the park, then it typically closes in October and doesn’t reopen again until late June or … Limiting public/visitor interface during Phases 1 and 2. Sun Tours provides interpretive guided bus tours through Glacier National Park, sharing the Blackfeet Tribe perspective and history in the park. Select “Glacier Park Tourist Information” from the main menu to hear Glacier… COVID-19 Precautions in Effect How will the pandemic affect my visit? Public access to some roads and limited trails will be permitted. Visitor Centers and Restrooms The park will continue to work closely with the State of Montana and the Blackfeet Nation to reopen when conditions allow. It is unknown when the park will transition into Phase 3. This Glacier National Park Entrance is open 24 hours a day all year around. The park will continue to assess operations and anticipated services based on the latest public health guidance. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and specialized cleaning and sanitizing equipment will be used to improve cleaning efficiency and staff safety. Shared bathroom configurations will be reviewed by public health officials and will determine what actions will be taken to reduce exposure risks. Relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. 2018 was June 23. Of course, in the winter, the weather will dictate when many facilities will be open. In general, the park’s reopening will follow three flexible phases. Based on conversations with the governor’s office, tribal partners, and local county health departments, the park superintendent expects that the reopening of the park will occur during Phase 2 of the State of Montana’s plan, Reopening the Big Sky Phased Approach. Glacier Park Lodge is the perfect place to unplug and immerse yourself in Glacier National Park. Some facilities and events will be closed or canceled. Follow local, state, and national health guidance. As circumstances continue to change and we modify our operations as necessary, we thank you for your patience and cooperation. Waterton Lakes National Park and Goat Haunt Area Visitors can use trails and boardwalks that are accessible from open park roads. While the timing of the park’s temporary closure occurred during the shoulder season, the economic stress and impacts associated with the closure are continuing to grow substantially as the summer months approach. Sneeze or cough into a tissue, or the inside of your elbow. Develop consistent operating plans (NPS and partners) that focus on safe reopening actions. News from Glacier National Park Currently, 11.5 miles of the Going-to-the-Sun Road are open for travel. Providing maximum flexibility for park positions eligible for telework. We anticipate that all the entrances on the east side of the park will be open and available for the public. From Glacier National Park's website: Campsites at Fish Creek and St. Mary are reservable no more than 6 months in advance through Recreation.gov.. You can click on the campground under "Secure a Campground" and it will take you to the Recreation.gov's reservation link for that specific campground. Phase 1 would allow vehicle access to some of the park roads with no services other than restrooms. Previously, this was not your right. There are 7 Glacier National Park entrances total: West Glacier, Saint Mary, Camas Creek, Polebridge, Two Medicine, Many Glacier… Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park. Aquatic invasive species inspection stations will be operational in Apgar. From a 5 star to a 4 star in 2020... but ONLY because of the extreme congestion and occasional complete closures on the road. Petsitter, I would choose early September...all trails will be open, fall colors, smoke clearing, days getting cooler and crowds diminishing. Glacier Park Inc. offers a hiker’s shuttle on the east side of the park between St. Mary Visitor Center and Many Glacier Hotel. The NPS will operate a range of public restrooms throughout the park and is developing the safest methods and time frames for cleaning and disinfecting (following CDC and NPS guidance). Going-to-the-Sun Road and Visitor Transportation Service The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to open the east entrance to Glacier National Park for the 2021 season. The best time to visit Glacier National Park is in July and August. Glacier has been closed to visitors since March 27, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (60 KB pdf) Law enforcement, emergency medical service, and fire personnel will be in place when the road systems open. Glacier Park Lodge is the original lodge constructed by the Great Northern Railway in 1913 and for the last 100 years, it has been the first stop for visitors traveling to Glacier by Amtrak train. In 2020, the infamous Covid-edict restricted year, Going to the Sun Road was the ONLY road open in Glacier. Glacier National Park Lodges will gradually open all five lodges across the park. The detection of community spread within the park will trigger the closure of facilities and potentially affected geographic areas. It gives you access to the Going-To-The-Sun Road from the west side of Glacier Park. Additional staffing will focus on visitor/ wildlife interface and other services as needed. It is uncertain if conditions will allow the Visitor Transportation Service (shuttles) to operate. Subsequently, services will begin at different times in Phase 2. The hiker-biker shuttle will not operate. Once open, the park will attract large numbers of visitors from outside the area to our local communities. Public indoor facilities will not open until proper risk assessments have been conducted and mitigation measures have been developed and implemented (e.g., protective barriers, facial coverings, metering visitors, increased cleaning frequency, signage with CDC and local health guidelines). Previously, carrying a gun into a National Park was the equivalent of carrying a gun onto the White House lawn (Federal Land). The roads into Cut Bank, and Two Medicine remain closed to vehicle traffic for the winter, but access by foot, skiing and snowshoeing is available past the gates as is typical of normal winter seasons. Restrooms will open. Glacier National Park is instituting ticketed entry for the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor from May 28 to September 6, 2021. The Many Glacier Area is also a great opportunity to see more of the glaciers that this park is known for, as well as some really cool wildlife such as Grizzly's and Moose. Additional coordination with the Blackfeet Nation will determine access from the Blackfeet Reservation. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a hiker's paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude. A range of mitigation measures both indoor and outdoor will be implemented throughout the park to protect both visitors and employees. However, the park may not be able to actively manage visitation in high-use areas and will depend on the public to adhere to CDC and local health guidelines. Come prepared. High-use areas will be signed and monitored. 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