Is Glacier Open Year-Round? Weather, Hours, and Closures

Seeing Glacier National Park in person is an exciting experience, but it’s important to plan your trip with the weather in mind. You may be wondering if Glacier is open year-round, what the weather will be like, or what will be open while you’re there.

Glacier is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. However, only the stretch of road from the West Entrance to the Lake McDonald Lodge stays open year-round.

If the roads are open, you can enter and exit the park as you please, even if the entrance stations aren’t open and collecting fees.

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My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I have explored Glacier National Park at many different times of the year, and I can’t wait to help you plan your trip!

I’ve got a ton of information for you about visiting Glacier year-round, including the hours, closures, and weather you can expect while you vacation in this breathtaking national park. Let’s get started!

Is Glacier National Park Open Year-Round?

Glacier is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. This means that if you want to hike a trail at sunrise, you will be able to get in, and if you want to stargaze at 2 a.m., you’ll be able to get out. Open roads are not gated.

But it doesn’t mean that all of the activities and points of interest will be open for you at all times.

For example:

• The park’s visitor centers close during the off-season.
• The entrance stations are not always staffed.
• Most campgrounds and lodges are not open year-round.
• Most roads close to vehicles during the winter. It’s also common for the roads through the park to temporarily close due to weather or construction during other seasons of the year.
• Trails may be closed due to construction or unsafe conditions.

Closures of this nature are common year-round, so let’s discuss what may be closed even if the park itself is open.

Operating Hours for Glacier National Park

Glacier Visitor Center Hours

You’ll find three visitor centers in Glacier National Park. If you’re in one of the park’s most popular areas, chances are there are park rangers nearby to answer your questions. However, these visitor centers are not open year-round.

The Apgar Visitor Center is the main visitor center on the park’s west side. It is open daily from mid-May to mid-October, usually from about 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. During the shoulder season (April and October), it is open on weekends only. During the winter, the building is closed, but restrooms and drinking water are available.

The St. Mary Visitor Center is the main visitor center on the park’s east side. It is open daily from the end of May to the beginning of October, usually from about 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Logan Pass Visitor Center is located at Logan Pass, the high point of the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. This visitor center is only open when the Going-to-the-Sun Road is open all the way to Logan Pass (typically from July – September). You’ll find park rangers here daily from about 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Ranger programs run primarily during the summer months, but you’ll find some seasonal offerings (such as ranger-led snowshoe hikes) during the off-season.

Glacier Entrance Station Hours

Glacier National Park has five entrance stations — Camas Creek, West, Two Medicine, St. Mary, and Many Glacier. The West and St. Mary Entrances are open year-round. The Camas Creek, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier entrances are open from about May through October as the weather permits.

Entrance station hours vary and are not published. These stations will almost always be staffed early in the morning until late at night during the summer, with shorter hours during the spring, fall, and winter.

If an entrance station is staffed, you will be required to pay the park entrance fee before exploring Glacier’s main trails and viewpoints.

If the entrance station is not staffed, you can drive on through (as long as the road is open).

Common Closures in Glacier National Park

Glacier Lodging Closures

Glacier has thirteen campgrounds! To choose which campground will best serve your needs, read all about camping in Glacier. The Apgar and St. Mary Campgrounds stay open year-round. All other campgrounds are typically open from May or June to September or October.

Campground reservations can be made 6 months in advance at 8 a.m. MST.

You’ll find seven lodges in the park, and they are typically open from June through September. None of the lodges in Glacier are open year-round.

Reservations for the in-park lodges open up on the 1st of the month, 13 months in advance. So, if you are hoping to travel to the park in July 2024, you’ll need to make reservations on July 1st, 2023, at 12:01 a.m.

Common Road Closures in Glacier

The most popular activities in Glacier are found along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which is only fully open from about July until October. If you’re hoping to see all of the can’t-miss spots, be sure to plan your trip during those months.

You can expect the main roads through the park to close down on the third Monday in October. Be aware that the park roads will also often temporarily close after large snowstorms, which can happen as early as September. These temporary closures typically last a day or two at most, weather permitting. Check the current conditions in the park here.

The roads between the West Entrance and the Lake McDonald Lodge (11 miles) and St. Mary to just beyond the St. Mary Campground (1 mile) are the only roads open to vehicles during the winter. If you plan to see Glacier during the winter months, West Glacier or Columbia Falls are the perfect places to base your trip.

The remaining park roads start opening back up in May on a limited basis, with all roads typically being open by July.

Common Trail Closures in Glacier

Most trails in the park open and close on the same schedule as the roads, so if the road is open, the trail should be open as well. However, even though the Going-to-the-Sun Road opens to Logan Pass by the beginning of July, the Highline Trail is often closed until mid-July due to snow.

Snowy or muddy trails are common in early summer as the snow thaws out. If you plan on hiking into the mountains (like the popular Highline, Grinnell Glacier, or Hidden Lake Overlook Trails), expect to encounter snow well into the summer (mid-late July).

Bear-related trail closures are common on the east side of the park, especially in the Many Glacier area.

Temporary trail closures may happen due to construction projects or unsafe conditions, so check the current conditions in Glacier before you go.

What is the Weather Like in Glacier?

Even though you can visit Glacier year-round, you’ll find some pretty dramatic temperature swings in this park! You can find amazing things to see and do in Glacier at any time, but because the park roads range anywhere from 3,000 feet to 6,600 feet above sea level, the weather varies drastically between seasons and locations within the park.

Take a look at the average highs and lows (in degrees Fahrenheit) and snow levels (in inches) at Glacier National Park:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg High (F)	31	35	43	54	65	72	80	79	67	53	37	29
Avg Low (F)	18	19	25	31	38	44	49	47	39	32	26	18
Avg Snow (“)	39.6	22.5	14.5	3.5	0.4	0.2	0	0	0.1	2	17.2	37.5
Avg Rain (“)	3.4	2.4	1.9	1.8	2.6	3.3	1.8	1.6	2.1	2.3	3.1	3.3

Winter Weather in Glacier

Glacier will start accumulating snow as early as September and it will continue into May. This is when you’re most likely to hit those common closures listed above, but most of the snow falls from November through March.

Daytime temperatures will often be at or below freezing, and with the wind chill, it will often feel even colder. Nighttime temperatures can easily be in the single digits. The temperatures listed above are for the West Glacier area, so expect it to be 10-15 degrees colder if you make your way deeper into the mountains.

Big snowstorms are common, and it’s normal to have a storm come through and dump a bunch of new snow in a small amount of time.

Pack your warm winter boots, coats, and gloves. You can snowshoe or cross-country ski some of the park trails and roads, but otherwise, Glacier is a sleepy place in the winter.

Spring Weather in Glacier

Glacier doesn’t have much of a traditional spring, with snow often still falling in May. Trails can be icy, snowy, or muddy this time of year as the snow begins to melt away in the lower elevations. The higher elevation areas are still closed and covered in snow!

The temperatures can be quite comfortable during the day near Apgar and Lake McDonald. The Going-to-the-Sun Road may be open to Avalanche during the late Spring, opening up a few more activity options to enjoy on a sunny May day.

Summer Weather in Glacier

Summer is the high season in the park, which means that everything is typically open. It’s extremely crowded and busy at this time, but you’ll get the warmest weather for exploring!

Even summer in Glacier can be a little unpredictable, though most days you’ll have comfortable temperatures in the 70s or low 80s and lots of sunshine. Big thunderstorms like to roll in during the afternoon hours, so try to get your longest/highest elevation trails done in the morning if you can.

Summer is wildfire season in Glacier.  You may find air to be smoky from nearby fires, areas may be closed, or fire restrictions may be in place.

Autumn Weather in Glacier

Autumn in Glacier is short but lovely. A visit during September or early October brings cooler temperatures, bluebird skies, perfect hiking weather, and crisp mountain air. Weather-related closures can happen anytime during these months but typically only last a few hours or days.

You will start seeing some beautiful changing leaves in the higher elevations in September and the lower elevations in October, including the western larch that turns a vibrant yellow this time of year.

So now you may be asking yourself, when is the best time to visit Glacier?

Now that you know you can visit Glacier year-round, click next to see my specific recommendations for the best times to visit Glacier.

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