Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
Top 10 Scenic Mountain Drives
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| Seek the sun (Tom Swenson) |
Some call Going-to-the-Sun Road a don't-look-down kind of drive. Just pull off when you do, and you'll be fine. Believe you me, there are plenty of reasons to stop the car, such as wildflower meadows, alpine vistas, and abundant wildlife.
Going-to-the-Sun Road splits the northern and southern halves of Glacier National Park in two and crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (6,646 feet); make a pit stop here and check out the blazing alpine wildflower bloom, which usually peaks in July.
For another killer photo op, wait for the road to emerge from the forest about a mile after Jackson Glacier. As you round the hairpin turn, pull off—remember, safety first—and take in 10,014-foot Mount Siyeh; the peak is flanked by Going-to-the-Sun Mountain (9,642') on the right, and Cataract (8,180') and Piegan Mountains (9,220') on the left.
Just as prairie and mountain converge in the park, multiple habitats come together within Glacier—which makes for a diversity of flora and fauna you won't otherwise find in this region. Glacier hosts some 264 species of birds and 60 species of mammals. Keep your eyes peeled for mountain goats, bighorn sheep, grizzlies, and black bears, just to name a few.
Just the Facts
Route: St. Mary to Apgar through Glacier National Park.
Length: 50 miles (two hours)
Season: Early June to mid-October.
Take note: Park admission fee.
