Going-to-the-Sun Road has reopened; Trails remained closed

Going-to-the-Sun Road has reopened following dangerous road conditions caused by snow and ice. The road closed at approximately 2 pm yesterday, between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook.

Due to hazardous conditions caused by snow, slush, and ice, the Hidden Lake Trail and the Highline Trail from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet are closed. The closures will remain in place until conditions improve.

The park will continually evaluate trail conditions to see when the closures can be lifted. Check the park website for updated trail status information. Visitors are encouraged to prepare for inclement weather if they plan to travel to the park this week.

Check the weather forecast and park road status before you visit, dress for varying degrees of weather, carry the ten essentials, and be on alert for potential hazards on roadways and trails.



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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:

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed due to winter weather!

Under the category of "way too early," Glacier National Park just announced that the Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook due to winter weather, snow, and icy conditions

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. today for areas above 5,000 feet. Up to six inches of snow are expected in the higher elevations of the park. For the latest weather forecasts, please click here.



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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:

National Parks Contributed Record High $55.6 Billion to U.S. economy, Supported 415,000 Jobs in 2023

This week, the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service released a new report that finds visitor spending in communities near national parks in 2023 resulted in a record high $55.6 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 415,400 jobs.

“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.”

The National Park Service report, 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income, and $55.6 billion in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs. Restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.

The latest report is informed by improved socioeconomic survey data enhancing the accuracy of spending estimates and helps the National Park Service learn more about park visitors.

Results from the visitor spending effects report series are available online via an interactive tool. Users can view year-by-year trend data and explore current year visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value-added, and economic output effects by sector for national, state and local economies.

The annual peer-reviewed economics report was prepared by economists from the National Park Service.



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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

Remains of Missing Mountaineer Found

The body of missing mountaineer Grant Marcuccio, a 32-year-old man from Whitefish, Montana, was found by Two Bear Air at approximately 2 pm on Sunday, August 25. Cause of death is still under investigation, but traumatic injuries and location of the body are indicative of a fall.

Two Bear Air spotted Marcuccio from the air. He was found one-third of a mile east of McPartland Peak below the ridgeline between Heavens Peak and McPartland Peak. The body was transported to the Apgar horse corrals where Two Bear Air met the Flathead County coroner.

Marcuccio was last seen by his hiking party on Sunday, August 18 at 1 pm. Marcuccio separated from his party to summit McPartland Peak alone and planned to rendezvous at a designated location. Rangers were alerted by the hiking party on Sunday evening that Marcuccio never made it to the rendezvous spot.

Two Bear Air and ground teams began searching on Monday, August 19. US Forest Service also flew over the area and dropped off ground searchers.

Glacier National Park officials would like to thank North Valley and Flathead County Search and Rescue, USFS, US Geological Survey, Flathead County Sheriff’s Department, Two Bear Air Rescue, NPS staff and members of the public who provided tips.

Glacier National Park staff would like to express their sincere condolences to the family and ask that the public respect their privacy.



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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

Swiftcurrent area of Glacier Park closes September 16 through mid-May 2026

Glacier National Park announces the details of the Many Glacier Valley, Swiftcurrent area closure, beginning on September 16 for road, parking, and pedestrian safety improvements and a water system replacement. The closure will be in place during the fall of 2024, all of 2025 and through mid-May 2026. The construction zone within the Many Glacier Valley will be closed to vehicles, bikes and foot traffic.

“Although this will cause disruption in activities in the Swiftcurrent area, the project brings much needed improvements,” says Dave Roemer, Superintendent for Glacier National Park. “This project will improve pedestrian safety in the Many Glacier Valley and replace an antiquated and failing water system in the Swiftcurrent area.”

All concession facilities in the Many Glacier area will finish out their regularly scheduled season and will close after September 15 for the 2024 season. This includes Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Glacier Park Boat Company and Swan Mountain Outfitters. Many Glacier Hotel will close after breakfast on September 16. Potable water will not be available to the public after concession facilities have closed for the season.

Sun Tours, Glacier Guides and Red Buses will continue to operate through September.

The Many Glacier Ranger Station will close early for the season. Wilderness permits will be issued by park staff from a trailer in the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot. The wilderness permit trailer will be open 7-days a week from 7:30 am - 4:30 pm through September 26. Permits will not be issued after 4 pm.

The AIS inspection station will close for the season and all waters in the Many Glacier Valley will be closed to boating starting September 16, 2024.

Many Glacier frontcountry campground will close for the season on September 15, 2024.

Access to all trails will begin at the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot, with maps and signs indicating detours around the construction zone. Entry may be temporarily restricted in areas of the park when vehicle reservations end on September 8. Many Glacier may become too congested for visitor safety and resource protection. Parking is limited to the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot after September 15.

In 2025, the Many Glacier Hotel, Swan Mountain Outfitters and Glacier Boat Company will operate as usual. Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Many Glacier Campground, and trailhead parking in the Swiftcurrent end of the valley will be closed the entire 2025 season.

Additional information regarding fall 2024 and 2025 season will be coming soon.



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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:

NPS completes environmental review for continued management of e-bikes in parks

The National Park Service (NPS) today released a programmatic environmental assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) reaffirming park superintendents’ authority to allow visitors to use electric bicycles (e-bikes) in national parks on a case-by-case basis, consistent with public safety and consideration of natural and cultural resources.

Last year, the NPS held an open comment period for members of the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to provide feedback on a programmatic environmental assessment (PEA). The review examined the potential national level impacts of e-bike use in national parks. With today’s FONSI, NPS reaffirms the existing 2020 rule that authorizes superintendents to allow e-bikes, where appropriate, on park roads, parking areas, and administrative roads and trails where traditional bicycles are also allowed. Public lands designated by Congress as “wilderness areas” remain off-limits to both traditional bicycles and e-bikes.

When determining if and where e-bikes might be allowed in the park, superintendents must take into consideration public health and safety, natural and cultural resource protection, and other management activities and objectives.

To determine whether e-bikes are allowed in a specific park, visit the park website or contact the park directly. You can find a specific park website and contact information at: Find a Park (nps.gov)

When managed appropriately, the use of e-bikes can enhance fun and healthy recreational opportunities for visitors to national parks and support active transportation options. E-bikes can have many benefits for parks and visitors including expanding access for those with physical limitations, supporting clean transportation and reducing vehicle congestion within parks, and providing healthy recreation opportunities. The 2020 rules ensures that NPS must manage this form of access and recreation, like others that occur in park areas, in a manner that protects park resources, values, and visitors.



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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

Search Underway for Missing Climber in Glacier National Park

Search efforts are underway in Glacier National Park for Grant Marcuccio, a 32-year-old man from Whitefish, Montana who has been missing since Sunday evening.

Marcuccio separated from his party while hiking from Heavens Peak to McPartland Peak. He was last seen heading toward McPartland. Marcuccio did not arrive to the rendezvous spot as planned. Rangers were alerted Sunday evening.

Rangers are searching for a 32-year-old Caucasian male with short brown hair, brown eyes, 6’, about 175 pounds. He may be wearing brown shorts, and a brown and white checkered shirt.

Two Bear Air began flights over the Heavens Peak area on Monday. Rangers and search teams conducted a search of the area yesterday. Two Bear Air again flew over the area yesterday. A helicopter from the Forest Service will assist with bringing search teams up to the area along with flying over the area to search for Marcuccio today.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the park tip line at 406-888-7077.

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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

Glacier National Park Invites Volunteers to 2024 Annual Hawk Watch Training

Glacier National Park will host volunteer training for its annual Hawk Watch Program on August 27 and September 23.

The training session on August 27 will run from noon to 5 pm in West Glacier. Trainings will provide an in-depth introduction to raptor ecology, identification, migration and teach volunteers how to conduct migration counts at both the Lake McDonald and Mount Brown Hawk Watch sites during the months of September and October.

Once trained, volunteers can hike to an observation point and count migrating raptors just below Mount Brown Lookout, alongside trained raptor migration counters. This is a hike of about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) one-way (about 9 miles (14.5 km) roundtrip) with an elevation gain of over 4,000 feet (1,220 m).

The September 23 training will be an in-the-field training day for volunteers interested in participating in the Lake McDonald Lodge Hawk Watch during the end of September through October. This field training will take place from noon to 4 pm in Jammer Joe’s parking lot adjacent to Lake McDonald Lodge.

To join the Hawk Watch Team, participants will learn from park biologists on how to identify and count migrating raptors. Park biologists will answer questions and share information about the integral role of raptors in our ecosystems, risks they face, and why Glacier started the Mount Brown Hawk Watch Program.

Volunteers interested in registering for either or both training days should email the Glacier Citizen Science Office, GLAC_citizen_science@nps.gov, for additional details.

Each year in the fall, golden eagles migrate from northern breeding grounds to warmer climates. One of the most important North American golden eagle migration routes passes directly through Glacier National Park. Large numbers of other raptors also use this migration corridor during the fall and spring months.

In the mid-1990s biologists documented nearly 2,000 golden eagles migrating past Mount Brown annually. Recent data from outside Glacier National Park indicate significant declines in golden eagle numbers. Due to this concern, the park initiated a Citizen Science Raptor Migration Project in 2011 to investigate possible locations for a Hawk Watch site.

Hawk Watch sites are part of an international effort to track long-term raptor population trends using systematic migrating raptor counts. Observers also record data on sex, age, color morph and behavior of raptors, as well as weather and environmental conditions. To see a map of Hawk Watch sites around the world go to www.hawkcount.org.

Funding for the Mount Brown Hawk Watch program is provided by the National Park Service, Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates, and Glacier National Park Conservancy. The Northwest Montana Lookout Association assisted with Mount Brown lookout refurbishments. For more information about the Mount Brown Hawk Watch program, contact park staff via email at GLAC_citizen_science@nps.gov or call (406) 888-7986.



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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:

Child hospitalized in black bear attack near Red Lodge

Around 10 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11, a subadult female black bear attacked and injured a three-year-old girl inside a tent at a private campground south of Red Lodge.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens and bear specialists responded to the incident. The bear was caught and euthanized the following day.

The child was transported to a medical facility in Billings. FWP staff set a trap at the campsite on Sunday night and worked with the campground owner to evacuate the campground by the morning of Aug. 12. Additional traps and snares were set when the campground was fully evacuated. The bear was captured on the afternoon of Aug. 12, and was shot and killed. FWP found unsecured attractants, including garbage, a cooler, and human food, around and inside the tent where the attack occurred.

The black bear involved in the incident had no history of conflicts. However, the bear had likely become food-conditioned and human-habituated after accessing unsecured attractants in the area. Evidence at the site matched the physical characteristics of the bear and FWP believes the bear killed was the bear involved in the attack.



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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

Jackson woman convicted for driving 127 MPH through Grand Teton and striking an elk

Earlier this week, Robin Thoenig, 58, of Jackson, Wyoming, was convicted of reckless driving, speeding, failing to notify authorities of a motor vehicle accident, and impermissibly removing a motor vehicle from the scene of an accident.

On May 10, at approximately 9:30 p.m. while visitors in Grand Teton National Park were gathered to view the aurora borealis, Thoenig was driving in Grand Teton National Park at speeds of up to 127 mph in areas where the speed limit is 45 mph. While doing so, Thoenig struck and killed an elk, then drove her vehicle several miles from the scene, left it near the Gros Ventre Campground and obtained a ride out of the park. Upon pleading guilty to the four charges, she was sentenced to three days of incarceration and ordered to pay a $750 community service payment, $1,000 in fines and $70 in mandatory court costs.

This crime was investigated by the National Park Service and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes.



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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

Trekking to Machu Picchu

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Machu Picchu? Ian Taylor Trekking, one of the longtime advertisers on our websites, offers five-day trips to this iconic destination in the Andes Mountains of southern Peru. As Ian's website mentions, the trip isn't for the faint of heart. Participants trek over several steep passes, and will reach a maximum elevation of 13,829 feet during this 26-mile trip. Ian recently posted a blog on his site, 5 Reasons to Pick the 5 Day Classic Trek to Machu Picchu, if you want more information. He also published this short video on YouTube:





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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

FWP releases 2023 wolf report

The wolf population in Montana remains healthy, according to the 2023 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wolf Report. Increased harvest during the 2023 wolf season has not yet resulted in an estimated decline to the statewide total. However, FWP biologists expect to see a moderate decline in wolf numbers next year resulting from the increased harvest in early 2024.

“We are committed to following the law to reduce wolf numbers to a sustainable level, which means ensuring Montana has a healthy state managed population,” said Quentin Kujala, FWP Chief of Conservation Policy. “The statewide wolf population estimate for calendar year 2023 is approximately 1,100 wolves, similar to 2022. However, we are seeing declines in the estimated number of wolves and wolf packs in Regions 3 and 4, which suggests the combination of hunting, trapping, and conflict management removals can effectively reduce wolf numbers.”

An example of this moderate decline is in FWP Region 3, where wolf population estimates have gradually declined from 214 in 2020, to 178 in 2023. Statewide, wolf harvest from Jan. 1 through March 15 was 176 wolves in 2024, compared to 144 over the same period in 2023. Both trends indicate a moderate decline in wolf numbers FWP biologists expect to be illustrated in the 2024 wolf report that will come out during the summer of 2025.

The estimated statewide wolf population for 2023 was 1,096, just one less than the 2022 estimated population and slightly below the 10-year average of 1,140 wolves but well above recovery thresholds. The number of wolf packs was 181, spread over 66,000 square miles. Total wolf harvest for the 2023-2024 wolf season was 286 wolves, which was an increase from 258 taken during the 2022-23 season.

Livestock conflicts, confirmed livestock losses and wolf removals were all down considerably in 2023, according to the report. Wildlife Services confirmed the loss of 32 livestock to wolves, including 23 cattle and eight sheep; one livestock guard dog was also killed by wolves. This total was lower than numbers from 2012 to 2022.

“Moving forward with proposed wolf regulations, we will continue to provide the Fish and Wildlife Commission with our best science and lessons learned from Montana wolf management to date,” Kujala said.

At the Aug. 16 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting, FWP will propose wolf and furbearer regulations for the 2024/2025 seasons. The proposed total wolf harvest quota is 334 wolves, up from 313 for the 2023 season.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will review and make a final decision on the proposed furbearer and wolf trapping and hunting seasons at its Aug. 16 meeting, except wolf trapping dates and where they will apply. Those will be decided by the commission at its October meeting.

The annual wolf report can be found on FWP’s 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

Stage I Fire Restrictions Going into Effect in NW Montana - includes Glacier National Park

Interagency fire managers are implementing Stage I Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:01am Saturday, August 3rd, 2024 across the Flathead National Forest, Kootenai National Forest, Glacier National Park, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation - Northwestern Land Office, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 1, Lincoln County, Flathead County, and Sanders County.

Each year, 80 to 90% of wildfires are human-caused, but we thank our communities for the effort to prevent fires so far this summer. Northwest Montana is currently experiencing drought conditions including extremely dry forest fuels; forecasts of temperatures above normal accompanied by low humidity, wind, and minimal precipitation; and competition for firefighting resources, as fires continue to burn across the State and the West. The intent of Fire Restrictions is to reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of very high to extreme fire danger by decreasing potential sources of ignition.

Restrictions include:

* Igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire including fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes.

* Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

Also:

* Never discard cigarettes, matches or smoking materials on the ground.

* Ensure trailer chains are properly secured to prevent dragging which can cause sparks.

* Avoid driving or parking your vehicle, ATV, or UTV on dry grass.



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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: