Glacier NP in October?

[ousoonermet]

I am considering registering for a work-related conference in Kalispell Oct 13-15. Is this too late in the season to do a day of photography in Glacier NP? Are the roads in the park generally still accessable that time of year, and if so...I would assume the fall colors would be gone...right?

Todd

[PBeeee]

The reconstruction on Going to the Sun means that it is closing in sometime in September each year to allow crews to work without traffic. It is still open to foot and bike traffic as long as it does not interfere with construction. It remains open year round to the head of Lake McDonald, I was just up there the other day. In early October, it is hard to predict what else may be open but Camas Road (excellent area for fall wildlife) probably will be and the outside North Fork Road is open year round too. Your dates may or may not be early enough for the roads to Bowman or Kintla Lakes to be closed or for that matter the inside North Fork Road. I looked and I was shooting fall colors as late as October 24th this year and I only quit because of knee surgery. I think the Sun Highway had been closed for several weeks by then so they may have kept it open later because of the late spring start for 2008. Hard to predict 2009. The other day there was both snow removal and construction equipment around so they are thinking about starting something. Fall colors around Hungry Horse Resevoir on your way to Glacier from Kalispell are pretty good too. Lots of larch turning yellow on the hillsides. Glacier has an excellent website. Be sure to check it out.

[ousoonermet]

Thanks for the information PBeeee, that helps a lot!!

Todd

[Mike55]

I am considering registering for a work-related conference in Kalispell Oct 13-15. Is this too late in the season to do a day of photography in Glacier NP? Are the roads in the park generally still accessable that time of year, and if so...I would assume the fall colors would be gone...right?

Todd


Not too late at all. In fact I was camping in the park at Two Medicine and Many Glacier at that timelast year. Snow, rain, cold...all good.

As far as the fall colors, here's what it was October 4th at 5,000 feet in 2008:

http://camerablognetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/fallglacier.jpg