Going to the Sun Road - An Oppositelock Review

"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44) 07/20/2016 at 17:52 • Filed to: None

3

15

So on the Canada/Freedom Day weekend the fiance and I took a trip from East Glacier to West Glacier Montana on the Going to the Sun road!

Entrance to the park!

Our trip begins in our current home of Lethbridge, AB. We take the road south to the land of cheap fuel and firearms. Felt strange not taking our usual turn to Waterton Lakes National Park but a new adventure awaits! The drive to St. Mary’s which is the entrance to Glacier National Park is a pretty uneventful one as its crops and fence posts (saw a Coyote though!)

But we enter the park and are off. For any big fans of The Shining you will recognise the first part of the road we drove as it is the opening scene. A fire burned through this area last summer which left a pretty cool contrast to the mostly green landscape.

Last years burn along with the fresh green from a recent thunderstorm

After a quick couple of stops by St. Mary’s lake and the very picturesque Wild Goose Island we start up to the top of Logan’s Pass. The road is windy and well paved but the amount of traffic makes it a slow go but there’s always something purdy to look at.

St. Mary Lake along with Wild Goose Island

At the top of Logan’s Pass there is a parking lot with a gift shop and washroom. Lots of snow up there still as the road was only opened for the year the weekend before our trip. Threw some snow at each other, got a souvenir, and ate lunch up here. Saw a few people skiing and tobogganing which looked like a lot of fun and will be on the list for the next time around.

Snow ball fights in July! Top of Logan’s Pass

The road narrows pretty tight at the top, many places pick up trucks have to take turns going with sheer rock faces on either side of the road. Be thankful you are on the inside of the road since its nothing but oblivion on the other side of the road. The descent on the other side of the pass is a big mess of switchbacks, waterfalls and rocky peaks. Some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen.

Almost at the top!

Runoff!

The rest of the road is a tree’d in area with a few stop offs and runs along the edge of Lake MacDonald. There are a few turnouts along the creek with some cool water features. There is a bus service that will run you around the park with a guide and let you see the sights a little easier with no roof. You can see one in the pictures below.

Red Bus service that runs from one end of the park to the other

Then you arrive in West Glacier which is sort of a resort town with go-karts, mini-golf, zip lines and water slides. We stopped in Whitefish for supper and headed back to Canada to camp at a friend spot and enjoy the Canada Day fireworks. The next day we decided to head back the same way we came and view everything from the other side of the road. Its a lot freakier being on the outside but cool to see stuff you may have missed on the way down. Watching someone drive under a waterfall only to realise there back windows are open is something that will forever make me smile.

JP Musial of /Drive did the same road not long after me and it looks like it might be making into /Drive at some point so stay tuned!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Lumpy44 is a freelance and very amateur rally writer/traveller based in the Great White North. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below or deep Google search until you find the actual person.

For Sweden > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 07/20/2016 at 17:58

0

Road To The Sun

_

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > For Sweden 07/20/2016 at 18:03

0

Edit: Replied to wrong person . . . .

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > For Sweden 07/20/2016 at 18:04

0

huhuhuhuuh

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 07/20/2016 at 18:04

0

I drove the Going - to - the - Sun road later that week in the opposite direction in my M3. I hit the road early in the morning before it got busy so I was able to carry some speed through the pass.

Easily the most butt-clenchingly beautiful road I’ve ever driven.

For Sweden > Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) 07/20/2016 at 18:04

0

...are you sure?

For Sweden > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 07/20/2016 at 18:05

0

^

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) 07/20/2016 at 18:06

0

I fix I fix. That last sentence is spot on though!

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > For Sweden 07/20/2016 at 18:07

1

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 07/20/2016 at 18:07

1

The west side would make a great hill-climb track.

HammerheadFistpunch > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 07/20/2016 at 18:20

1

We did it when the road was under construction and there was no shoulder anywhere on the road...it was a little interesting. Also, one of my favorite pictures ever was taken at the top

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 07/20/2016 at 18:50

1

Did it in one of the red buses a few years back, really great experience. Really want to go back and drive it myself..

therotaryisdeadlonglivetherotary > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 07/20/2016 at 21:05

0

Lethbridge? Me too. Sounds like a fun trip. First time I've found someone from oppo that lives in the same city as me. Also, Lethbridge =/ the great white north. There is barely winter here

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > therotaryisdeadlonglivetherotary 07/21/2016 at 10:07

0

I am from the mountains in BC originally so that’s more where that comes from. Since its Lethbridge I could change it to Great Brown North.

There is another Opponaut from Lethbridge named Bacon Sandwich is Tastey. Should all get together sometime!

therotaryisdeadlonglivetherotary > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 07/21/2016 at 20:46

0

Me too. Or rather, I’m from the central interior, and now live in Lethbridge. Currently carless, though my RX-7 sits at my parents place in Prince George and will hopefully make it to Claresholm, my wife’s parent’s place, this summer. Do have a motorbike though.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 07/28/2016 at 13:26

0

Glad you enjoyed our little slice of heaven. We stay off Going to the Sun road after it opens to cars, too crazy. My favorite place is Two Medicine lake on the east side. I’m also a fan of swift current lake and the many day hikes from Many Glacier (Parmagin Tunnel, Grinell Glacier). This is me at the top of Logan pass before it was opened to cars.