{"id":15345,"date":"2026-06-30T21:17:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=15345"},"modified":"2026-06-30T21:17:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:17:52","slug":"closures-evacuations-and-travel-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=15345","title":{"rendered":"Closures, Evacuations, and Travel Advice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>A prolonged, historic rainstorm has triggered evacuations at Many Glacier Hotel and shut down massive sections of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Here is how to navigate the closures and salvage your trip.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\">Paradise Meadow along Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park at sunset.<!-- --> (Photo: Krista Taylor\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Published June 30, 2026 03:11PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Heavy flooding in Glacier National Park prompted officials to evacuate visitors and close areas across the park beginning in late June. Now, the National Park Service (NPS) is asking the public to avoid specific areas of the park due to rising floodwaters and the potential for rockslides.<\/p>\n<p>On June 28, park officials closed Going-to-the-Sun Road, the park\u2019s iconic 50-mile scenic highway bisecting the park, until further notice due to heavy rain and debris. In the northeastern part of the Montana park, officials have closed the entire Many Glacier Valley area, including the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Many Glacier Campground\u2014which together can host hundreds of people on any given day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe park urges visitors to practice responsible visitation during this weather event. Flooded areas should never be crossed, and all posted closures must be followed. Travelers should check current conditions before arriving and remain flexible with plans as weather and access may change quickly,\u201d wrote the National Park Service in a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/glac\/learn\/news\/glacier-national-park-announces-multiple-temporary-closures-due-to-flooding.htm\">statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Anthony Nelson, executive director of the park-partnering nonprofit <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/glacierinstitute.org\/\">Glacier Institute<\/a>, told\u00a0<em>Outside <\/em>that officials haven\u2019t announced when the closures will be lifted, and that the extent of the flooding damage is not known at this time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is a lot of water,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely a downer when Going to the Sun Road is closed, and you\u2019ve planned your entire trip around the drive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Heavy rainfall swept through northern Montana on June 28, prompting dozens of additional trail closures. At the time this story was published, the NPS has closed access to hikers and cyclists\u00a0beyond any road closures, and park staff tells visitors to avoid all closure points. Heavy rain in steep terrain could cause rockslides, and water from small streams can rise quickly.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"fp-remove\" style=\"border:none;overflow-y:hidden;background-color:white;min-width:320px;max-width:420px;width:100%;height:420px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gaiagps.com\/public\/hXeKr2v2e3GpU3QFSnJwrmTx\/?embed=True\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Where to Go With Closures in Place<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re planning a visit to the park, Nelson advises stopping at lesser-known trails, which are also home to wildlife that showcases the picturesque Rocky Mountain landscape.<\/p>\n<p>Nelson recommends visitors check out Firebrand Pass on the south side of the park. The six-mile-long trail begins south of East Glacier Park Village and threads through aspen groves and willow thickets before merging onto the Continental Divide Trail.<\/p>\n<p>Another favorite of Nelson\u2019s is to drive along the southern side of the park and head through St. Mary\u2019s on the east entrance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRight now you can get into the Jackson Glacier Overlook, and there are plenty of great wildlife opportunities to see over there,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cThere is also a lesser-known trail outside of the St. Mary entrance called the Beaver Pond Loop. This is a 3.3-mile trail where you can see bears and moose; nobody knows it\u2019s there. That\u2019s a pro tip.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If viewing Rocky Mountain goats is high on the agenda, Nelson recommends the Goat Lick Overlook, a natural mineral seep where goats guzzle naturally formed salt.<\/p>\n<h2>Stay Aware and Listen to Warnings<\/h2>\n<p>No matter where your trip takes you, Nelson says that visitors need to keep their eyes peeled and stay alert.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClosures can happen quickly, and it can sometimes be easy to miss the signage. Be on the lookout for closures, stay aware, and take it seriously. As we\u2019ve seen, flash flooding is a huge deal, and you can find yourself in a dangerous situation quickly if you don\u2019t follow posted guidelines and warnings,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Take extra precautions around water, and think twice before jumping into fast-moving streams and rivers. Also, carry bear spray\u2014and know how to use it, Nelson said.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities say they will continue to evaluate and reopen areas when conditions improve.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVisitors are advised to expect disruptions from rain, including dangerous or impossible travel conditions. Backcountry hikers may have difficulty navigating high elevation trails and should take steps to prevent hypothermia,\u201d wrote NPS in a statement.<\/p>\n<h2>Current Closures<\/h2>\n<p>As of June 30, the NPS <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/glac\/planyourvisit\/road-trail-campground-status.htm\">closed parts of the following areas<\/a> due to flooding:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ptarmigan\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ptarmigan Cutoff<\/li>\n<li>Ptarmigan Falls, motel parking lot to the junction above Ptarmigan Falls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Swiftcurrent<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Swiftcurrent horse trail cutoff and horse loading spur trail<\/li>\n<li>Swiftcurrent Pass, Swiftcurrent Motel Cutoff Trail and to Granite Park Chalet<\/li>\n<li>Swiftcurrent Lake Loop, around the Swiftcurrent Lake and Grinnell Glacier Trailhead to Swiftcurrent Lake Junction<\/li>\n<li>Swiftcurrent Pass, campstore parking lot to Swiftcurrent Pass and Redrock Falls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Piegan Pass<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Piegan Pass Cutoff<\/li>\n<li>Piegan Pass, from the hotel to Featherplume Falls Junction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Red Gap Pass<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trailhead to foot of Poia Lake<\/li>\n<li>Sherburne Cutoff, Red Gap Pass Trail to Sherburne Ranger Station<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cracker Lake<\/strong>, trailhead to\u00a0Cracker Lake Campground<\/p>\n<p><strong>Saddle Horse Corral<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>South Shore Josephine Lake<\/strong>, hotel to Oastler Shelter and\u00a0Josephine Walk<\/p>\n<p><strong>Grinnell Lake, <\/strong>Horse Trail and Foot Trail,\u00a0Oastler Shelter to Grinnell Lake<\/p>\n<p><strong>Running Eagle Falls<\/strong>, Two Medicine Road to Running Eagle Falls<\/p>\n<p><strong>Iceberg Trail<\/strong>, Iceberg Lake Trailhead spur trail<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><span hidden=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-adventure\/environment\/glacier-national-park-flooding-closures\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A prolonged, historic rainstorm has triggered evacuations at Many Glacier Hotel and shut down massive sections of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Here is how to navigate the closures and salvage your trip. Paradise Meadow along Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park at sunset. (Photo: Krista Taylor\/Getty Images) Published June 30, 2026 03:11PM Heavy flooding<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wild-living"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15345"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15345\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}