Grand Teton National Park to conduct high-visibility enforcement operations this summer

Grand Teton National Park law enforcement rangers will conduct a series of high-visibility enforcement (HVE) operations throughout the summer to promote safe driving behaviors and reduce serious traffic incidents in the park.

Enforcement efforts will primarily be near the park’s southern boundary and will include increased patrol presence and traffic stops. These traffic safety campaigns are focused on seatbelt use, speeding, and impaired driving. Patrols will focus on targeted areas during designated enforcement periods to increase visibility and encourage compliance with traffic laws.

Motor vehicle crashes and impaired driving remain some of the leading safety concerns in national parks. Park rangers encourage all visitors to help keep roads safe by driving responsibly. Remember to:

* Wear seatbelts at all times.

* Obey posted daytime and nighttime speed limits.

* Never drive impaired.

* Stay alert for wildlife, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

* Allow extra travel time during peak summer visitation.

* Stay patient in construction zones.

The upcoming patrol operations are funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in partnership with the National Park Service Traffic Safety Coalition.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Happy 4th of July!

On this day in 1930, sculptor Gutzon Borglum unveiled the 60-foot granite head of George Washington on Mount Rushmore. More info here.

Here’s a short newsreel from the George Washington unveiling:





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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• My new edition on hiking history is available on Amazon

New Montana license plate supports safe crossings for wildlife

Starting July 1, Montanans will be able to purchase a new specialty license plate that will raise funds and awareness for wildlife crossing structures on highways. These crossings help animals move safely over and under busy roads, reducing collisions and maintaining important movement and migration routes.

Based on expected sales, the plate could raise around $100,000 annually to support these efforts.

Crossing structures such as overpasses and underpasses, combined with fencing, can reduce vehicle collisions with deer, elk, moose and other wildlife by more than 90 percent. They provide safe passage across highways for Montana’s diverse wildlife and help save lives, while also avoiding millions of dollars in vehicle damage, medical bills and other costs.

The plate features artwork by Kylie Bute, a June 2025 graduate of Gallatin High School in Bozeman who won the Montana Big Game and Wildlife Highway Crossings License Plate Artwork Contest.  

“My passion for art has always been about telling stories, and this design is a way to spread awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and movement,” Bute said.  

Each sale of the new specialty plate will generate a $20 contribution to the Wildlife Highway Crossings and Accommodations Account, created by the 2025 Montana Legislature and administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to help fund wildlife connectivity and wildlife collision-reduction projects across the state. 

For more information on purchasing Montana license plates, go to the Montana Motor Vehicle Division website. 



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Glacier National Park flood update (7/1/26)

Glacier National Park posted this on their social media a few minutes ago:

As the rain subsides and rangers make safety assessments, many areas are re-opening across the park! Here’s what you should expect:

✅Open

▫️Going-To-The-Sun Road is open in its entirety.
▫️The Many Glacier road has been reopened, and the Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn are open for guest check-in and visitor services.
▫️Limited trails are open in Many Glacier:
🔹Swiftcurrent Lake Loop
🔹Trail to Grinnell Lake via Josephine South Shore (⚠️note that lake access is limited due to high water).
🔹Apikuni Falls (⚠️hikers are advised to stop at the end of the maintained trail. Do not attempt to climb the rocks to the base of the falls).

🚫Closures

▫️The Many Glacier Campground will remain closed until conditions are safe. It is projected to open July 2.
▫️Many Glacier public boating and AIS inspections are temporarily suspended due to unsafe conditions caused by submerged logs and debris.
▫️Commercial services offering boat tours and horseback trail rides are also suspended in the Many Glacier Valley.

🚨Safety reminder🚨

Visitors should be extra vigilant near water. Swift, cold streams and rivers, slick rocks, and slippery logs all present dangers. Never walk, play, or climb on slippery rocks and logs, especially around waterfalls. Visitors should expect rivers and streams to remain high and dangerous.

Photo 1 - Many Glacier Campground Amphitheater 6/29/26 - NPS/Andrew Friedgen

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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

Glacier National Park flood update

Update: The Going-to-the-Sun Road has fully reopened. Also, the Many Glacier Valley was expected to fully reopen this morning, while the Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn planned to reopen for guest check-in and visitor services. According to the park website: "The Many Glacier campground is closed due to flooding. It is projected to reopen July 2. Most trails in Many Glacier are closed, but there are limited hiking opportunities available." Stay up-to-date: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Glacier National Park posted this on their social media a few minutes ago:

The sun will come out tomorrow, but is Going-to-the-Sun Road going to open? We can’t say for sure. Before visiting Glacier National Park this week, please check out some of our frequently asked questions below.🌞

💧Reopening. As the rain subsides, the work of assessing the damage begins. With rainfall and flooding, rock falls and washouts may occur, creating dangerous conditions. Areas won’t open until safe.

💧Safety. High-flowing rivers have fast-moving currents, the potential for freezing temperatures, and dangerous debris and other hidden dangers. Always keep a safe distance from water. Even 6 inches of water can sweep a person off their feet and pull them downstream.

💧Crowding. Due to closures at Many Glacier Valley and the alpine sections of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier is experiencing high volumes of visitors in other areas of the park.

💧Expectations. Be sure to pack your patience! You can expect long entrance lines to open areas of the park, busier than usual visitor centers, and crowded trails.

💧Options. Visit our Nearby Attractions page for areas to explore outside the park at go.nps.gov/GlacierNearbyAttractions For the most updated information, visit go.nps.gov/glacconditions

📸: A flooded trail in Glacier National Park by NPS/Andrew Friedgen

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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier: