Highway to the Sun

[el camino kid]

Who's been there? Which direction is the best? Where's the best place to stay, at each end? What's the best time of year to do it?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[jack]

We went into it on the St Mary's,(east end) and came out at West Glacier about 2 hrs. later Several lengthy construction delays. This was early Sept. and there is a really cool looking lodge/resort just before the entrance at St. Mary's. We stayed in Whitefish Mt., but Kalispell looked like a more interesting town and is right next to Whitefish. Make sure you have your cold weather gear, as it gets cold quickly as you gain altitude in the park.

Hope this helps.

Jack.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

I did it west to East first week of August. Beautiful weather. Traffic from construction. Great road and views -- but the actual road I caged with my brother and his fiance. The best views of the road and park were from a helicopter. If you have the couple hundred for a flight it is well worth it and IMHO should be a bucket list item. The best way to go is if you mooch on your relatives like I did and have them pay for the housing. If they toss in a free helicopter ride too, buy them a Christmas gift. YMMV. :yahoo:

 

[midlifeuturn]

A couple of suggestions-

Check the park web site to see if the road is open all the way through and what, if any, road construction is going on.

I suggest West to East:

The West side is much slower and if there is construction it will be easier to gauge how much time you have for the loop once you clear the summit.

You can stay around Whitefish and easily do the park loop in one day with plenty of time to stop. You could stay at the lodge in St. Mary if you choose to spend a lot more time in the park. When you make the loop I suggest taking the road (H49) from Kiowa to East Glacier. It's a great "twisty" road, good scenary, and cuts a few miles off the straighter stretch.

This is a very nice loop and it's going to be one of the first rides next year as soon as the going to the sun road is open all the way through.

 

[Silent]

I've done Going To The Sun Highway from both directions on different occasions on the FJR. Last time I was there, there was a ton of road construction. Even with the construction, I think I'd rather be heading up hill rather than down hill. You use your brakes a lot less going up Regardless of which direction you go, it promises to be beautiful B)

 

[BFehklar]

We stayed in East Glacier Park and rode it east to west in early Aug - pretty much the same story as everyone else, construction, traffic (scourge of the earth campers & motorhomes), etc.

There are a range of accommodations in East Glacier Park from low cost "rustic" cabins to higher end lodges. Some really great "home cooked" style restaurants too - the "Whistle Stop" restaurant has great food!

I really enjoyed looping back to East Glacier Park via Hwy 2, nice low traveled road with good sweepers and then some nice twistys at the east end. A really great road!

 

[greywolf]

It's a phenomenal road , did it a few years ago , the wind on the far side of the summit was fierce but the scenery was spectacular.

I stayed at a group of Cabins about 10 miles from the entrance , reasonable , clean and they even had a trout pond out front.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

....Some really great "home cooked" style restaurants too - the "Whistle Stop" restaurant has great food!....

Gunny

 

[el camino kid]

Excellent information! Thank you, all...I'll make good use of it!~

Paul

 

[Yamma Jamma]

I did it in early July. From East to West. As far as the constructions delays. It didn't bother me where I stopped on that road or for how long..it was beautiful and a joy to be there. The stops just gave me an additional chance to walk about and take pics.

In july...going towards Great Falls we went through a snow blanketed canyon. Kinda hairy. I would only suggest a bike in summer.

Chief Joseph highway is magnificent also.

Jamma

 

[zip]

My Dad was a seasonal ranger at St. Mary, and the park is a spectacular place. I've been several times, though never on a motorcycle.

As advised, I would call the park and find out when the road is open - correctly called by a previous poster "Going to the Sun." Go late enough in the year that there's little freezing left, and I'd recommend rising early and going in the morning, before most of the rest of the campers roll off their RV foam beds.

The lakeside lodges in the park are not to be missed, either. Each of them is rustically spectacular.

If you're already that far, you should also seriously consider going up to the village of Waterton and the Prince of Wales Lodge - one of my favorite places anywhere. (Don't stay at the Lodge, but visit.) Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump is also worth the drive. Fascinating story.

Jealous! Enjoy the trip!

 

[blakebird]

If you're already that far, you should also seriously consider going up to the village of Waterton and the Prince of Wales Lodge

Waterton Lakes rocks.

Take a picture out the back window of the Prince of Wales

and watch for...

coming mom!

 

[MT home]

I recommend West to East because once you start the main part of the climb, the majority of the turnoffs will be on your right, and you do not have to turn across traffic. There are not that many places to pull over on the west side of Logan Pass, but the ones that do exist are on the right (once you pass the horseshoe bend). If you have never been there before, you will want to stop and look at the views/take photos/be awed. If you have an issue with heights and no or low guard rails, choose the east to west direction, which will put you on the mountain side of the road in the most exposed portions.

Don't expect to be going faster than the posted speed limits on the west side of the Going to the Sun road due to traffic. The east side is not as OMG spectacular, but still pretty damn good. If you want to ride fast, do it outside of national parks - there are too many people, too many vehicles, and too much wildlife in the park to go much over the low speed limits.

The other commenters are correct about road construction and traffic delays - look at the Park Service website for info. 2010 is the centennial of GNP, by the way.

Timing is an issue for riding the Going to the Sun road. There is no way to accurately predict when the road will be cleared of snow and open the whole way, other than sometime in June. Do not plan on riding it in May - it is highly unlikely that the whole road will be open by the end of May. I've seen snow in July and August on Logan Pass (the top of the Going to the Sun road) - I've even skied on Logan Pass on fresh snow in August. This year, I had rain in early July (July 6 and 13) in Glacier and in St. Mary, and spitting snow [nothing serious, however] on Labor Day just outside St. Mary. I've also ridden in September in other years when it was beautiful. Mid-June to sometime in September is the window of the pass probably being open; July and August are the safest bets for it being passable.

If you are going to be on a bicycle, note that the shorter climb is east to west, and that bicycles are prohibited on the west side of the pass from 11:00 am to 3 or 4 pm, due to traffic.

As noted by others, Waterton Park in Canada is very scenic, but you will need a passport to cross the border. The Beartooth Highway, from Red Lodge, Mont, to Cooke City, Mont. (via Wyoming) is also spectacular.

It is not mere accident of birth that I live half way between Glacier and Yellowstone parks.

 

[JamesW]

If you're already that far, you should also seriously consider going up to the village of Waterton and the Prince of Wales Lodge

That picture out the back window is great. That table is the one I sit at and enjoy an evening brew whenever I am at Waterton. Lots to savor.

Waterton Lakes rocks.

Take a picture out the back window of the Prince of Wales

and watch for...

coming mom!

 

[sportsguy]

...and this highway would be in which STATE?

 

[escapefjrtist]

...and this highway would be in which STATE?

Montana...didn't you have to study geography or something before they let you cross the border?

--G

 

[sportsguy]

Ah, actually, being Canadian and moving here I was told to unlearn geography to better fit in. Sadly, there was nothing memorable about Montana. Completely horrid state to drive through. Zero to see of interest as I recall from our road trip in June.

*I jest, of course. Montana actually exceeded my already high expectations for natural beauty.