Still hoping to cruise the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park from end to end this year? Better get on it, then, as a good portion of the road will close to vehicle traffic for the winter beginning November first.
     At 8 a.m. on that day barriers will prevent autos from traveling the section of road between "the Loop" on the west side of Logan Pass and Siyeh Bend on the east side. However, cyclists and hikers still will be allowed on that stretch until winter's snows closes it down.
    Not long after the auto traffic is halted on the first, park crews will begin removing barriers along the higher stretches of the road to protect them from avalanches.
    “Road crews must remove metal-backed log and concrete Jersey barrier guardrails at 15 locations in this alpine section because they cannot withstand the impact forces of winter avalanches," says Glacier Superintendent Mick Holm. "The guardrails are removed with loaders and other equipment that require both lanes of the Sun Road. Crews will also remove signs, exhibits, and trash cans; install snow poles; and conduct final culvert/drain cleaning.”
    Despite the closure, you still can travel 39 miles of the Going-to-the-Sun Road this fall -- 23.5 miles from West Glacier to the Loop and 15.5 miles from St. Mary to Siyeh Bend.
    For updates on Glacier's road conditions, visit this site.