Expect nighttime closures this spring and summer along Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park / NPS

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. A number of units within the National Park System are opening their roads, or in some cases, delaying openings.

Yellowstone National Park

Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2022, select roads in Yellowstone National Park will open to the public for the season, weather permitting. On Saturday, April 16, entrance fees will be waived in celebration of National Park Week.

Roads open to the public April 15

• West Entrance to Old Faithful
• Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful (via Norris)
• Norris to Canyon Village
• North Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs to Northeast Entrance (open year-round)  

Valley Forge National Historical Park

This spring, Valley Forge National Historical Park will be repaving a number of popular roads and parking lots in three phases. Work begins on April 18, 2022.

“While this sort of work causes short-term inconvenience for both visitors and park staff, the end result is smoother, safer roadways for years to come.” says Jennifer McMenamin, Facilities and Maintenance Manager for Valley Forge. “Paving work can only take place in warmer months, and we phased it so that we will affect visitors less.”

When the work is complete, three miles of the park’s most popular roads will be smooth, re-lined, and pothole-free. This will increase safety for drivers and pedestrians alike. Newly striped parking lots will increase efficiency and reduce the confusion of park visitors searching for a space.

The work phases are scheduled throughout the spring. Please check the park website for the most current list of closures associated with this project.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that the Clingmans Dome Road season opening will be delayed until at least Monday, April 11 due to predicted winter weather. Up to seven inches of snow could occur at Clingmans Dome and other high elevation locations across the park beginning Friday, April 8 through Saturday, April 9. Weather depending, the park plans to open Clingmans Dome Road on Monday, April 11, if conditions allow. 

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

At Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, beginning on Tuesday, April 12 the Giant Forest Museum and adjacent parking lot will close weekly Tuesday through Thursday, for an estimated four weeks, through Thursday, May 5. A construction project is underway to install two new restrooms and repave a portion of the parking lot. A temporary closure of this area will allow for more efficient work and reduce overall visitor impacts.
 
In order to maintain access to the popular Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow areas, the road to these areas will open temporarily during this four-week period, seven days a week. Vehicle access to Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow will need to close after this construction project is completed to allow for additional hazard tree removal work. This road is scheduled to reopen for the season on May 25. Visitors are reminded that some trail warnings and closures are still in effect due to impacts from the KNP Complex Fire.
 
Winter weather is forecasted beginning on Monday and tire chains or cables could be required. The Generals Highway and park roads are subject to closure at any time in the event of inclement weather, rock or debris fall, or other hazardous conditions. These risks are heightened by fire impacts along the roadway. For the most current road conditions call the parks’ information line at (559) 565-3341, press 1, and then press 1 again. Details of what is open and closed can be found online at go.nps.gov/SEKIconditions. 

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park announces that the Lake McDonald utilities construction project is set to begin June 1 at 10 pm. The long-awaited project will replace seven miles of sewer force main, electrical, and telephone lines from Apgar to the Lake McDonald Lodge along Going-to-the-Sun Road. It will also replace the lift station at the lodge to reduce the threat of sewage overflow.  

“Although there will be some inconvenience this summer, in the long-term the project will be a great benefit,” says Kate Hammond, acting Superintendent for Glacier National Park. “This project is long overdue, and our staff has worked hard to secure the funding to replace antiquated and out-of-date equipment, which in turn will protect park resources.” 

Construction will begin on June 1, 2022 at 10 pm. Spring and summer work will be done at night from 10 pm to 6 am, with a nighttime closure in place along Going-to-the-Sun Road from the south end of the lake near Apgar Campground to Sprague Creek Campground.  At midnight each evening, there will be a window when vehicles will be piloted through construction.