Located in the Glacier National Park, Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana is a very popular place to drive. Going-to-the-Sun Road is a scenic mountain road in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, in Glacier National Park in Montana.  The Sun Road, as it is sometimes abbreviated in National Park Service documents, is the only road that traverses the park, crossing the Continental Divide through Logan Pass at an elevation of 6,646 feet, which is the highest point on the road. The road took 11 years to build, with construction finishing in 1932.

In 2022, Glacier National Park will require all visitors to make a reservation to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road between May 27 and September 11, 2022. Reservations will also be required to enter the North Fork area via the Polebridge Ranger Station during the same dates. Reservations can be made via Recreation.gov starting March 2, 2022, at 8 AM MST and are available 120 days in advance.

There are some wonderful astronomy opportunities in the area considering how high up the road is and the beautiful location.

Length	49.71 miles
States	1 – Montana
Astronomy Sites	3

Astronomy

These are not the entire list of spots in the area, but just a sample of what are easily available.

Lake McDonald

With one of the best views on the entire road it is the hub of activity on the west side of Glacier National Park. Once occupied by massive glaciers that carved this area thousands of years ago, the valley is now filled with spectacular sights, hiking trails, diverse species of plants and animals, historic chalets, and the grand Lake McDonald Lodge. At 10 miles long and nearly 500 feet deep (152.4 m), Lake McDonald, the largest lake in the park. The lake is a great place to visit for Milky Way photography on its banks.

Hidden Lake Overlook

With a 2.7 mile roundtrip hike, this hike has a 540 feet elevation change and is a different place to go viewing the Milky Way. You should also expect extreme crowds, as this is one of the most popular hikes in Glacier National Park. Parking can also be an issue during the peak tourist season. The trail begins as a paved surface, but soon turns into a raised boardwalk after only a short distance.

Logan Pass 

Logan Pass is the highest elevation reachable by car in the park. It is extremely popular with visitors and the parking lot is generally full between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. Consider visiting this destination by using the free shuttles to avoid limited parking, or plan to visit early or late in the day if possible. Early morning light on the mountains provides excellent photographs and the chances to see wildlife are greater before the crowds arrive. Hiking two of the area’s most popular trails, the Hidden Lake trail and the Highline trail, is the perfect way to build an appetite for a late supper back at camp or your hotel. It is a great place to take Milky Way photography!

Camping/Lodging

There are 13 campgrounds in Glacier National Park and there are 5 located along the Going-to-the-Sun road.

Apgar Campground

Apgar campground is the largest campground in Glacier National Park. The campground itself is situated in trees and provides tent and RV campers with shade and some privacy. Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water. Showers are available in Loop A. There are 194 sites, with the current cost being $23. It is a short walk to Lake McDonald. Advanced reservations are required.

Sprague Creek Campground

Sprague Creek is a small campground located on the northeast shore of Lake McDonald, about 9 miles from the west entrance of the park. Vehicles can be heard driving by; however, tent campers however, will enjoy this campground as no towed units are allowed in Sprague Creek due to the nature of the road within the campground. There are 25 sites that are reservable, for $20 a night.

Avalanche Campground

Avalanche campground in located in one of the most popular sections of Glacier National Park west of the Continental Divide. Use Glacier’s free shuttle service at this campground to access other shuttle stops on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. There are 87 sites at the campground, all available 1st come, 1st serve, with only 50 sites will accommodate vehicle lengths up to 26 feet. A Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities are equipped with flush toilets and sinks with running water.

Rising Sun Campground

There are 84 campsites that are available on a first come, first serve basis. The campground is adjacent to the camp store. Campers at Rising Sun will enjoy beautiful sunrises in the morning with Red Eagle Mountain as a backdrop, and the campground serves as a convenient base camp to many day hikes located east of Logan Pass.

St. Mary Campground

St. Mary campground is the largest campground on the east side of Glacier National Park and is open year round. It is located approximately one half mile west of the park boundary, near the town of St. Mary. From May 27th through August 14th reservations are required. On August 15th the campground is First Come / First Serve. Activities such as interpretive programs, book sales, and shuttle service tours are located at the nearby St. Mary Visitor Center. There are 148 campsites, with the summer fee being $23.00 a night.

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