Glacier National Park officials opened Going-to-the-Sun Road to vehicles over Logan Pass Wednesday night.

The Logan Pass Visitor Center is expected to be open Thursday morning, park spokeswoman Denise Germann said. The visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Restroom facilities and potable water will be available at the pass.

Large crowds are expected at the park this weekend. 

Visitors will discover a snow-covered landscape at Logan Pass, where winter weather can be encountered during the summer. Visitors are advised to be aware of snow walls along Sun Road. 

Standing or walking on snow along the road is strongly discouraged, and visitors should use extreme caution when crossing snow or snow bridges because of unseen holes that exist.

Many high-elevation trails are closed because of snow, including the popular Highline Trail from Logan Pass. Hiking from Hidden Lake Overlook to Hidden Lake is not recommended because of snow conditions.

The park’s free shuttle system will be in operation between the Apgar Visitor Center and the St. Mary Visitor Center. Shuttles operate seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the last shuttle departing from Logan Pass at 7 p.m.

Shuttles run about every 30 minutes on the west side of the park and about every 40 to 60 minutes east of Logan Pass.

Buses run by Sun Tours and the red buses run by Xanterra’s Glacier National Park Lodges will also be available.

Rehabilitation work on Sun Road is continuing this year with activity east of Logan Pass between Siyeh Bend and Rising Sun, and visitors should expect maximum traffic delays of 30 minutes on the east side of the park this summer. However, no delays are anticipated during the Fourth of July weekend.

Opening of the pass will mark the end of exclusive hiker-biker access on the road. There are restrictions on Sun Road, with bicycles prohibited between Apgar Campground and Sprague Creek Campground from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bicycles also are prohibited eastbound, or uphill, from Logan Creek to Logan Pass from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information on park access can be found on the park’s website at: http://www.nps.gov.glac/index.htm