Tularemia Detected in Glacier National Park’s Many Glacier Valley

Park officials have confirmed that two dead snowshoe hares were found in Glacier National Park’s Many Glacier Valley tested positive for tularemia, a rare but serious bacterial disease.

The first hare was found on Sept. 26, 2026, in the National Park Service Many Glacier staff housing area. The second was found on Sept. 30, 2026, along the trail to the Swiftcurrent Falls viewing area.

Tularemia occurs naturally and can affect wildlife, pets and humans. The disease is most commonly transmitted through bites from infected ticks or flies, and can cause wildlife illness and death, especially in small mammals. Tularemia infections in humans are rare but can cause serious illness. Humans and pets can contract tularemia through contact with infected animals, contaminated food or water, tick bites, or inhalation of bacteria released into the air from disturbed carcasses of infected animals. Person-to-person transmission is rare.

To reduce the risk of tularemia infection, visitors should take the following precautions:

* Use insect repellent regularly and check yourself, children and pets for ticks after spending time outdoors. Learn more about tick prevention.

* Wash hands thoroughly and often.

* Keep a safe distance from wildlife and do not touch wildlife carcasses.

* Drink only water that has been treated or boiled.

* Avoid activities, such as mowing or weed trimming, that could disturb sick or dead animals and release bacteria into the air.

In humans, tularemia can cause symptoms, including fever, chills, joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, dry cough, chest pain, skin ulcers or sores at the site of a tick bite, and swollen lymph nodes. Anyone who develops these symptoms within two weeks of visiting the area should seek medical attention and tell their healthcare provider about possible exposure to tularemia. The disease can be treated with antibiotics, early diagnosis and treatment are important.

Visitors who find dead animals in the park should not touch or disturb them and should report their location to park staff as soon as possible.

For more information, visit the National Park Service’s tularemia webpage.


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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:

Temporary Closure in Alpine Sections of Going-to-the-Sun Road

With temperatures drastically lowering, Glacier National Park is expecting rain and possible snowfall this weekend. Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, a temporary road closure in the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road will be implemented. The closure will extend from Avalanche to Jackson Glacier Overlook.

According to the National Weather Service forecast, winter weather may extend through Sunday, Oct. 11, with rain, snow, and gusting wind expected in higher elevations of the park.

The closure area of Going-to-the-Sun Road may change as needed for visitor and staff safety. Glacier National Park will evaluate and re-open the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road when conditions improve.

Visitors are reminded that weather conditions can change quickly, and park travelers should always be prepared for inclement weather. Check the park website for the most up to date information. Visitors can also sign up for Glacier National Park notifications to receive road status updates by texting GNPROADS to 333111.



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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

Construction Work on US Highway 26/89/191 near Moran to begin in October

Grand Teton National Park and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are taking both short- and long-term action to address accelerating erosion along the confluence of the Snake River and Buffalo Fork near U.S. Highway 26/89/191 at Moran Junction.

The highway is a critical year-round transportation link, carrying approximately 900,000 vehicles annually between Jackson, Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, and communities throughout Wyoming. Erosion along the Snake River has brought the river channel increasingly closer to the highway, creating a significant risk to the road and the regional transportation network.

“Protecting this highway is about more than protecting a road,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “This is an essential transportation route for residents, visitors, businesses and communities throughout the region. We need to address the immediate threat while also developing a long-term solution that protects the highway and restores a healthy river corridor.”

FHWA’s Western Federal Lands Highway Division will complete emergency roadwork during the fall 2026 low-flow period. The project is intended to slow riverbank erosion and protect the highway ahead of spring 2027 runoff.

Construction is expected to take approximately 12 weeks, with most work occurring between October and December. The schedule will depend on river flows, weather and site access. During construction, the road will be reduced to one lane. Traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic lights and flaggers. Travelers should expect delays of up to 20 minutes.

Grand Teton National Park and FHWA are also working together to identify a long-term solution that addresses river erosion, protects the highway and improves the ecological health of the Snake River corridor.

Additional information about construction activities, traffic impacts and the long-term project will be shared on the park website.



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Rising more than 7000 feet above Jackson Hole, the majestic mountains of Grand Teton National Park provide one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. With more than 240 miles of trails meandering throughout this park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Grand Teton 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 Grand Teton:

Tips for using a Satellite SOS

Glacier National Park posted this on their social media a couple weeks ago. If you have a satellite-enabled smartphone, you may want to read this before heading out on your next backcountry adventure:

Satellite SOS Can Save Your Life. The Glacier National Park dispatch team is here to help you know how to use it before you need it!

Satellite-enabled smartphones have become an important safety tool for visitors during real emergencies. But an SOS activation is exactly that: an emergency activation.🚨

In Glacier, approximately 50–70% of phone-generated SOS and crash alerts are ultimately determined to be accidental or non-emergencies. Every activation must still be evaluated. If dispatchers cannot confirm your safety, many personnel, from law enforcement to search-and-rescue resources, may need to respond. Some tips:

😵‍💫Know what can trigger Emergency SOS, Crash Detection, and other emergency functions on your device. Keep your phone secured so you don’t accidentally trigger an emergency activation.

📱Practice before your trip. Some smartphones allow you to practice connecting to a satellite to see how the system works without contacting emergency services. Practice ahead of time so you won't be learning the process during an actual emergency.

🆘Read the screen carefully. Make sure the information you select accurately describes what is happening. If you accidentally activate SOS, don't just turn off your phone. Stay connected and tell the emergency responder that the activation was accidental. Closing the loop can prevent an unnecessary emergency response.

🛰️You can also check in with family on supported phones by sending messages via satellite. This is separate from Emergency SOS.

If you really do need help — use SOS. Provide accurate information, remain available for follow-up questions, and follow the instructions on your device.

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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

Meet America's first extreme hiker

The following is an excerpt from Ramble On: A History of Hiking:

In all likelihood, Norwich, Vermont native Alden Partridge is America’s first avid hiker. Although he’s probably best known as the fifth superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he also established a series of private military academies. According

to A History of Norwich, Vermont, Captain Partridge was also “a noted pedestrian, on several occasions walking sixty miles a day, and once pacing off seventy miles within that limit.” As an example of his endurance, strength and tenacity, in 1818 he undertook an extended excursion that included ascents of both Mt. Mansfield and the Camel’s Hump, the highest and third-highest peaks in Vermont. The entire trip, which covered roughly 200 miles, was made within a week, much of it in cold, drenching rain that involved tough, challenging bushwhacks up both mountains. In 1830, at the age of 45, Captain Partridge trekked to Massachusetts and back, a roundtrip hike that covered roughly 300 miles and ended with a grueling 64-mile march on the last day. During his fairly long life, the indefatigable military instructor recorded numerous extended treks across the Northeast, as well as ascents of several prominent peaks, including Mt. Washington, Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Equinox, Mt. Ascutney, Killington Peak, Grand Monadnock and Mt. Moosilauke. In an article published on the Norwich University website, journalist and historian Mark Bushnell proclaimed Partridge to be “the first extreme hiker.” According to Bushnell, Partridge also “wrote widely circulated newspaper columns about his wilderness treks and in so doing helped popularize the sport of hiking.”

Learn more about Alden Partridge and the other pioneers of hiking in Ramble On: A History of Hiking.



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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.