The following are a few of the pertinent points early season visitors should consider:
In general, the park’s reopening will follow three flexible phases. Phase 1 would allow vehicle access to some of the park roads with no services other than restrooms. In Phase 2, some visitor services and facilities would open if they can be staffed and operated safely. If conditions allow, the opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass would happen during Phase 2. Elements in Phase 3 will not be implemented until the park and its partners have had time to evaluate the impacts from opening operations and facilities outlined in Phases 1 and 2 and it is deemed safe to open additional services and facilities. Phase 3 will require additional staffing for the National Park Service (NPS) and park partners, which means associated risks will need to be assessed.
Implementation Timing:
During the park closure, the park superintendent has worked closely with the Montana state governor’s office to determine the proper timing for reopening based on COVID-19 conditions in Montana. As an iconic unit of the national park system, Glacier serves a worldwide audience. Once open, the park will attract large numbers of visitors from outside the area to our local communities.
At present, Montana has a 14-day quarantine restriction for out-of-state travelers until June 1. The Blackfeet Nation has an ordinance in place through May 31 that restricts non-essential travel on the Blackfeet Reservation including the borders and roads accessing Glacier National Park from the Blackfeet Reservation. The park will continue to work closely with the State of Montana and the Blackfeet Nation to reopen when conditions allow.
Other Info:
* Visitors will be advised to prepare for limited food services, lodging, and activities prior to traveling.
* Visitors can use trails and boardwalks that are accessible from open park roads during phase 1. High-use areas will be signed and monitored. However, the park may not be able to actively manage visitation in high-use areas and will depend on the public to adhere to CDC and local health guidelines.
In addition to following the park on social media, visiting Glacier's official website is the best way to stay updated with the latest information. Two webpages in particular will help you stay informed about the latest park information:
The Glacier National Park Reopening Plan page: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/openingplan.htm
and the Glacier National Park Status Update page: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/openingplan.htm
With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout the park, hiking is the absolute best way to see Glacier National Park. In fact, the park offers a wide variety of outstanding hikes that take-in the best scenery Glacier has to offer. If you do plan to visit Glacier this year, please note that our hiking website also offers a wide variety of accommodation listings and other things to do to help with all your trip planning.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
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