Along the Going-To-The-Sun Road
by Joseph A. Sprince – Photography by Gerald B. Allen
The following map and chart lists Points of Interest and Shuttle Stops along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It includes a number of the popular trails which are accessible from the road. The mileages, show the distance of each point from West Glacier and St. Mary. Some of the mileages are estimates.
| Mileage from: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | West Glacier | St. Mary | Description | |
| Town of West Glacier | 0 | 50.1 | All services available in town outside of park. | |
| 1 | Apgar Village | 2.6 | 47.5 | Food, lodging, stores, gift shops, and visitor center. |
| 2 | Apgar Visitor Center | 2.6 | 47.5 | Offers visitor information and serves as the west side hub for the park’s free shuttle bus system. See links below for schedule and stops. |
| 3 | Apgar Campground | 2.6 | 47.5 | Largest campground in the park. No towed vehicles allowed. Popular base camp for exploring the west side of Glacier National Park. |
| 4 | Sprague Creek Campground | 9 | 41.1 | Popular campground for tenters. Adjacent to Lake McDonald – lakeside sites fill up early in the day. |
| 5 | Lake McDonald Lodge | 10.8 | 39.3 | On the shores of Lake McDonald, the classic lodge is reminiscent of a Swiss chalet with a hunting lodge atmosphere. Boat tours, horseback rides, and all services available here. The strenuous 6.4 mile trail to Sperry Chalet starts across the road from the lodge. |
| 6 | McDonald Creek Overlook | 12.8 | 37.3 | Early season visitors may see a thundering torrent on McDonald Creek, carrying trees and boulders. A half mile trail leads to boggy Johns Lake, with the possibility of seeing moose or waterfowl. |
| 7 | Avalanche Creek | 16.2 | 33.9 | The Trail of the Cedars Nature Trail (ADA accessible) winds 0.7 mile through a dense, old growth cedar-hemlock forest on a boardwalk. The Avalanche Lake Trail, two miles each way with a 500 foot elevation gain is one of the park’s most popular. The campground and picnic area is adjacent. Very popular area, parking can be difficult – please use the shuttle! |
| 8 | West Tunnel | 24 | 26.1 | The 192 foot tunnel was bored through the mountain in 1926. |
| 9 | The Loop | 24.6 | 25.5 | The only switchback on the Going-to-the-Sun Road affords a scenic view of Heaven’s Peak and an closeup view of the 2003 Trapper Fire. A short but strenuous, 4-mile hike to Granite Park Chalet begins here. |
| 10 | Bird Woman Falls Overlook | 26.8 | 23.3 | Across the valley, Bird Woman Falls cascades 492 feet down the slopes of Mt. Oberlin. |
| 11 | Weeping Wall | 28.7 | 21.4 | The long length of wall features a gushing waterfall in the spring, which reduces to a mere trickle in late summer and fall. |
| 12 | Big Bend | 29 | 21.1 | One of road’s most spectacular vista points with ample parking space. Views of Mt. Canon, Mt. Oberlin, Heaven’s Peak, and the Weeping Wall. |
| 13 | Triple Arches | 30.5 | 19.6 | Architectural and engineering marvels best seen by eastbound travelers. |
| 14 | Oberlin Bend | 31.7 | 18.4 | Just west of Logan Pass below cascading waterfalls of Mt. Oberlin. A short boardwalk offers astounding views of hanging valleys and the road as it winds across the landscape below the Garden Wall. Good place to see mountain goats. |
| 15 | Logan Pass | 32 | 18.1 | The Logan Pass Visitor Center sits on the Continental Divide at 6,646 feet. The area may still be snow-covered in June. The popular Hidden Lake and Highline trails begin here. |
| 16 | Lunch Creek | 32.6 | 17.5 | Surrounded by carpets of wildflowers in the summer, Lunch Creek flows down a natural rock staircase from the striking backdrop of Pollack Mountain. |
| 17 | East Tunnel | 33 | 17.1 | The East Side Tunnel was one of the road’s most difficult challenges. The 408-foot tunnel comes directly out of Piegan Mountain, with waterfalls cascading down the portal. |
| 18 | Siyeh Bend | 34.2 | 15.9 | Located at a prominent road bend, the Siyeh Bend Shuttle Stop marks the transition between the higher elevation sub-alpine vegetation and the forests of the east side. Good day hikes in this area. |
| 19 | Jackson Glacier Overlook | 36.1 | 14 | The best view of a glacier from anywhere on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. |
| 20 | Gunsight Pass Trailhead | 36.3 | 13.8 | Trail offers backpackers or physically-fit day hikers access to the Continental Divide, glaciers, subalpine lakes, the historic Sperry Chalet, and outstanding mountain vistas. |
| 21 | St. Mary Falls Shuttle Stop | 38.6 | 11.5 | Trailhead to St. Mary Falls, one of the most popular hikes in the park. Trail is a 2.4 mile round trip which can be extended to 3.6 miles by continuing to Virginia Falls. Easy walking on the valley floor. |
| 22 | Sunrift Gorge | 39.4 | 10.7 | A short 75 foot walk to a spectacular view of a water-carved gorge. |
| 23 | Wild Goose Island | 42.8 | 7.6 | One of the most frequently photographed spots in the park. Tiny Wild Goose Island offers a striking counter-point to the majestic peaks in the background. |
| 24 | Golden Staircase | 42.5 | 7.3 | Large pullout offers views of Saint Mary Lake as well as an opportunity to marvel at the skill of the builders of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. |
| 25 | Rising Sun | 43.8 | 6.3 | The prairies meet the mountains at Rising Sun. Spectacular sunrises sparkle across St. Mary Lake. Guided boat tours provide a perspective not available from the road. Also, campground, lodging, and services available. |
| 26 | Two Dog Flats | 48 | 2.1 | Native grassland community provides habitat for a number of species. Two Dog Flats supplies winter range for a large elk population. |
| 27 | St. Mary Campground | 48.8 | 1.3 | Largest campground on the east side of Glacier National Park, located approximately one half mile from the St. Mary visitor center. |
| 28 | St. Mary Visitor Center | 49.3 | 0.8 | Information desk, backcountry permits, auditorium with park films, interpretive programs, east side shuttle hub, and Glacier National Conservancy store. |
| Town of St. Mary | 50.1 | 0 | All services available in town outside of park. | |