Glacier closes Logan Pass for the season

Glacier National Park has closed Logan Pass for the season.

Snow had already closed it on Oct. 9, but it reopened from the east side last week.

The road typically closes in mid-October so crews can winterize the road. They have to take down dozens of removable guardrails before winter sets in for good.

The Park Service announced Sunday it would close for the season. On the east side the road is open to Jackson Glacier Overlook currently and Avalanche Creek on the west side to vehicle traffic.

The hiker/biker closure on the west side is at the Loop when crews are working and Big Bend otherwise, though that could all change by Friday, as colder air is expected with rain and snow across the region. The weather over the past week has been mild, with sunny days in the 60s and frosty clear nights.

The Sun Road is open to Avalanche typically through mid-December and then closes to Lake McDonald Lodge after that. People can ski and walk the closed portion of the road in the winter, but horses and bicycles are prohibited.

This year the road opened to vehicles over the pass on June 22.

Glacier is on pace to see more than 3 million visitors. It had about 2.8 million after August. September numbers have not been released.