Glacier National Park is a watery mess right now

Widespread flooding in Glacier National Park has triggered evacuations and closures. As of Monday afternoon, all of Many Glacier Valley, which includes the Many Glacier Hotel, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Many Glacier Campground, is closed to “ensure public safety due to flooding,” according to Glacier National Park alerts.

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And just days after Glacier National Park’s iconic mountain thoroughfare, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, opened for the summer, its most majestic corridor has closed again due to a summer storm that’s also flooding trails and a campground.

The 50-mile road, which connects the west and east sides of the park, opened fully on June 22. But on Sunday, Glacier National Park announced a temporary closure of the road’s alpine stretches from Avalanche Creek to the Jackson Glacier Overlook due to “heavy rain and possible snowfall.” 

“Temperatures could drop quickly,” a park news release said. “Heavy rain in steep terrain may lead to possible rockslides, and rapid water rises from small streams.”

The National Weather Service has predicted heavy rain and runoff through Tuesday. Mountains could receive 1 to 3 inches of rain, which can trigger rockslides, debris flows and rapid rises of small streams and creeks. 

The Going-to-the-Sun Road closure was later widened to on the east side to Rising Sun due to “heavy rain and debris” according to the park’s website. Many trails are currently closed due to flooding, including the Swiftcurrent Lake Loop, Ptarmigan Cutoff, Swiftcurrent Pass and Iceberg Trail. 

It’s rare, but not unprecedented, for the Going-to-the-Sun Road to temporarily close after opening for the summer. Summer weather in Glacier National Park is unpredictable, and the road winds through sheer cliffs known for avalanches and rockfall before crossing the continental divide at Logan Pass. Last year, the road was closed for three days in late June for heavy rain and predicted snowfall. The mountainous section of the road also closed briefly in August 2024. 

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Visitors still exploring lower-elevation areas in the park should be mindful of cold, wet conditions. “Expect disruptions from rain, including dangerous or impossible travel conditions,” the Sunday news release said. “Backcountry hikers may have difficulty navigating high elevation trails and should take steps to prevent hypothermia.”

Park officials will re-evaluate whether it’s safe to reopen the road when conditions improve.