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Lake McDonald Lodge At Glacier National Park To End Season Early Again

Published Date

August 17, 2018
A"Super Scooper" plane gains a bellyful of water to dump on the Howe Ridge Fire at Glacier National Park/NPS

A"Super Scooper" plane gains a bellyful of water to dump on the Howe Ridge Fire at Glacier National Park/NPS

For the second straight year, the Lake McDonald Lodge at Glacier National Park is closing early for the season due to a wildfire. Also closing for the season is the Motel Lake McDonald.

It was a year ago when the lodge closed early due to the Sprague wildfire, which destroyed the Sperry Chalet high in the backcountry above Lake McDonald. On Friday, the park sent out a brief release stating simply that the two lodgings were closing early. While the release did not give a reason, the website for Glacier National Park Lodges said "the growth of the Howe Ridge Fire in the park has forced closures of Lake McDonald Lodge and surrounding areas." 

Questions about adjustments to reservations for Lake McDonald Lodge should be directed to 855-733-4522. Reservation holders for Motel Lake McDonald should contact 1-844868-7474 for adjustments.

Guided horseback rides and boat tour operations in the Lake McDonald Lodge area have been suspended until further notice, the park also announced. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is currently open from St. Mary to Logan Pass, but temporarily closed from Apgar to Logan Pass due to Howe Ridge Fire activity. That temporary closure includes the Lake McDonald Lodge Complex.

Commercial visitor services in most areas of the park remain open, including Apgar Village, Two Medicine, St. Mary, and Many Glacier.  

The Howe Ridge Fire, sparked a week ago by lightning, covered an estimated 3,500 acres Friday with no containment reported. Fire managers expected the primary growth would occur along the northwest edge of the fire, towards Rogers Lake, and southward to Lake McDonald. Potential growth from a spot fire on the northern side of the fire is somewhat limited by sparse fuel change and avalanche chute, though winds could cause individual tree torching, the daily fire briefing said. 

"Super Scooper" planes were dipping into Lake McDonald to gain a bellyful of water to dump on the fire.

Evacuation orders remained in place Friday for the North Lake McDonald road (private residences and the Lake McDonald Ranger Station), Lake McDonald Lodge area (all businesses, employees, and private residences), private residences along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Sprague Creek & Avalanche Campgrounds. 

Meanwhile, the Whale Butte Fire on the Flathead National Forest outside the park prompted the Park Service to issue an evacuation warning for landowners and visitors for all park areas north of the Bowman Lake Road junction with the Inside North Fork Road.  

No new backcountry overnight permit itineraries will be issued for parties entering or exiting at the Kintla trailhead. Day use trails and the Kintla Lake Campground remain open at this time.

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