Glacier National Park in Montana closed the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road because of rain. The closure extends from Avalanche Creek on the west to Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east, covering the entire ridgeline road, including Logan Pass. The park closed it proactively on the evening of September 6 because of flood and heavy-rain forecasts. Rain began that night, with strong thunderstorms forecast to continue through Tuesday. The National Weather Service office in Missoula expected 1 to 2 inches of rain in the area and 2 to 4 inches along the Continental Divide and in the park’s mountain terrain.
Areas Affected
A Flood Watch was in effect from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday morning for the West Glacier area, the Flathead Valley, and the Mission Valley. The heaviest rain was forecast from Monday into early Tuesday. The park warned visitors to expect detours, delays, and limited access because of fast-moving water, debris, and saturated soil. Walking and bicycling are also prohibited beyond the alpine-road closure points.
Conditions were also unsettled on the east side. The National Weather Service office in Great Falls maintained a Flood Watch through noon Tuesday for the East Glacier Park area, the southern Rocky Mountain Front, and Pondera, Teton, Toole, and Liberty counties. Excessive runoff could flood creeks and low-lying areas; rural gravel and dirt roads could become muddy and difficult to travel; and rockfalls and mudslides were possible in the mountains. This is especially important for campers using unpaved access roads toward St. Mary and Two Medicine.
The shuttle did not operate on September 7, and regular shuttle service concluded its 2026 season that day. Once the road reopens, visitors heading to Logan Pass will need to drive themselves. The park also posted an advisory that smoke from nearby wildfires could worsen air quality.
What RV Travelers Need to Know
RV travelers heading to Glacier that week were advised to check road conditions on the park website before departing and sign up for road alerts by texting GNPROADS to 333111. Even when there are no closures, Going-to-the-Sun Road has limits of 21 feet in vehicle length, 8 feet in width, and 10 feet in height. Larger RVs are better off using US-2 over Marias Pass to travel between the east and west sides.
Gravel roads can remain soft for several days after rain ends. To avoid getting wheels stuck while towing a heavy trailer or fifth wheel onto an unpaved campground access road, it is wise to confirm whether a site has paved access before choosing it. The rule against crossing a road with flowing water still applies. The forecast called for temperatures to return to the 70s and 80s from Wednesday through Friday, but noted that another cold air mass could bring mountain snow the following weekend. When packing, it is worth remembering that Glacier in September can see both flooding and snow in the same week.
Photo: NPS / Tim Rains / Original photo. Public domain.