Glacier National Park is, without a doubt, Montana’s crown jewel. Admittedly, it’s also very dangerous. And the park happens to be where you’ll find Going-to-the-Sun Road, the windiest road in the state (which is saying a lot). If you’re planning a trip to Glacier in the coming year and you’ve never taken this road, give it a try… but if you’re a nervous driver or scared of heights, you may want to sit in the passenger seat.
Going-to-the-Sun Road is an absolutely spectacular 50-mile, two-lane highway that winds its way through Glacier National Park.
Trevor Bexon / Flickr More specifically, it spans the width of the park, crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, which is 6,646 feet high.
Construction on the highway began in 1921 and was finished in 1932, with a formal dedication the following year.
lns1122 / Flickr This is the only road that has ever spanned the park, so Montanans were pretty excited to see it completed.
Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses practically every kind of terrain, from large glacial lakes and cedar forests in the lower valleys to alpine tundra at the top of the pass.
Pat (Cletch) Williams / Flickr For this reason, it is considered one of America’s most scenic drives.
The highway is a registered National Historic Place, National Historic Landmark, and Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Harshil Shah / Flickr So when you cruise down this highway, you’re driving down a living piece of Montana history.
This road is incredibly beautiful, but it’s only open seasonally – and for good reason.
daveynin / Flickr Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the toughest roads in North America to snowplow in the spring. It is not uncommon for 80 feet of snow to pile on top of Logan Pass in the winter. It often takes about 10 weeks to plow, even with equipment capable of moving 4,000 tons of snow in an hour.
Needless to say, driving on this road is not for the faint of heart.
ealancas / Flickr Luckily, there are plenty of places to pull over and enjoy the views and calm your nerves. And if you’d rather leave the driving to someone else entirely, you can book a Red Bus Tour and enjoy a chartered ride by a professional while you relax.
Going-to-the-Sun Road is an amazing part of the park, and we’re lucky to have it.
Jeremy Bronson / Flickr But if you attempt it, be aware that it’s windy and somewhat narrow, and plan accordingly.
Have you driven down Going-to-the-Sun Road? If not, add it to your Montana bucket list — but don’t be afraid to be a passenger on the trip.
Trevor Bexon / Flickr
More specifically, it spans the width of the park, crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, which is 6,646 feet high.
lns1122 / Flickr
This is the only road that has ever spanned the park, so Montanans were pretty excited to see it completed.
Pat (Cletch) Williams / Flickr
For this reason, it is considered one of America’s most scenic drives.
Harshil Shah / Flickr
So when you cruise down this highway, you’re driving down a living piece of Montana history.
daveynin / Flickr
Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the toughest roads in North America to snowplow in the spring. It is not uncommon for 80 feet of snow to pile on top of Logan Pass in the winter. It often takes about 10 weeks to plow, even with equipment capable of moving 4,000 tons of snow in an hour.
ealancas / Flickr
Luckily, there are plenty of places to pull over and enjoy the views and calm your nerves. And if you’d rather leave the driving to someone else entirely, you can book a Red Bus Tour and enjoy a chartered ride by a professional while you relax.
Jeremy Bronson / Flickr
But if you attempt it, be aware that it’s windy and somewhat narrow, and plan accordingly.
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Address: Going-to-the-Sun Rd, Montana, USA
