Plows started clearing snow from Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park on Wednesday, with hiking and biking opening up this weekend as far as Crystal Point just past The Loop.

Motorists can drive as far as Lake McDonald Lodge on the park’s west side.

Park spokesman Bill Hayden said Friday that those planning to walk or bicycle beyond the road gate need to be mindful of icy patches remaining on the road as well as bears waking up from their winter slumber.

“Bear spray is important to carry with them this time of year,” Hayden said. “The road is essentially a trail through a wild landscape, and it would not be uncommon to encounter a bear along that route.”

During regular weekday hours, crews are still working on the road and access isn’t guaranteed. 

Hayden said plowing is going faster than usual thanks to early melting at lower elevations, but a heavy wind event last November has left more trees strewn across the road than normal.

“So far in the lower elevations it’s been just a matter of inches in some places, and [up to six feet] in other places, primarily drifting areas,” he said.

Camas Road between Apgar and the North Fork Road is now open to vehicles after crews cleared gravel and a layer of fresh snow off the road.

Fish Creek Road will remain closed until ice melts off the surface.

At Many Glacier, Hayden said, construction crews were able to head up Friday to begin working on a perennial problem stretch of road. Part of the road is located on top of a glacial moraine, where loose soils cause the road to slump over time.

Online: 

Updated road status can be found by visiting www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm