Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park

About this drive

Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, Montana, is one of the great mountain drives of the American West — a 50-mile road that crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (6,646 feet) while hugging cliff faces, squeezing through rock cuts, and passing within sight of glaciers that have been retreating steadily since the late nineteenth century. The road was completed in 1932 after 11 years of construction and is now a National Historic Landmark in its own right. The western approach from Apgar climbs alongside Lake McDonald — the largest lake in the park — through dense forest before the road begins its cliff-face ascent. The Garden Wall section, just before Logan Pass, is the most exposed: a narrow shelf road carved into the cliff with sheer drops to the valley below and mountain goats frequently visible on the rocks above. Logan Pass itself is a high alpine meadow full of wildflowers and grizzly bears from July through September. Vehicle size restrictions apply — vehicles over 21 feet long or over 8 feet wide cannot drive the road, excluding most RVs. The road is only fully open mid-July through mid-October. Shuttle buses run the full length for those who prefer not to drive the exposure sections; the shuttles are reliable and free with the park entry fee.

Stops along the way

• 📸 Logan Pass · Scenic Viewpoint

  The Continental Divide crossing, with the park's main alpine visitor center.