Going-to-the-Sun Road

United States historic place

Going-to-the-Sun Road

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

U.S. National Historic Landmark

The road is often cut into steep rock

Location in Montana

Show map of Montana

Going-to-the-Sun Road (the United States)

Show map of the United States

Location| Glacier National Park, Flathead and Glacier counties, Montana, U.S.
Nearest city| West Glacier, Montana
Coordinates| 48°41′42″N 113°49′01″W﻿ / ﻿48.695°N 113.817°W﻿ / 48.695; -113.817
Built| 1921–1932; dedicated 1933
Architect| National Park Service; Bureau of Public Roads
NRHP reference No.| 83001070
Significant dates
Added to NRHP| June 16, 1983[1]
Designated NHL| February 18, 1997[2]

Going-to-the-Sun Road is a scenic mountain road in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, in Glacier National Park in Montana. The Sun Road, as it is sometimes abbreviated in National Park Service documents, is the only road that traverses the park, crossing the Continental Divide through Logan Pass at an elevation of 6,646 feet (2,026 m), which is the highest point on the road.[3] Construction began in 1921 and was completed in 1932 with formal dedication in the following summer on July 15, 1933.[4][5] Prior to the construction of the road, visitors would need to spend several days traveling through the central part of the park, an area which can now be traversed within a few hours, excluding any stops for sightseeing or construction.

The road is the first to have been registered in all of the following categories: National Historic Place,[6] National Historic Landmark[2] and Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.[7] The road is approximately 50 miles (80 km) long and spans the width of the park between the east and west entrance stations.[3] The National Historic Landmark Nomination records a slightly shorter distance of 48.7 miles which is measured from the first main intersection just outside the park's west entrance to Divide Creek in St. Mary, Montana on the east side of the park.[3]

## Name

[edit]

The road is named after Going-to-the-Sun Mountain which dominates the eastbound view beyond Logan Pass. One Native American legend concerns the deity Sour Spirit who came down from the Sun to teach the Blackfeet the basics of hunting. While returning to the Sun, an image of Sour Spirit was placed on the mountain as an inspiration for the Blackfeet. Another story has suggested that a late-19th-century Euro-American explorer provided the mountain's name and the legend.[3]

## Design

[edit]

Road map (click map to enlarge)

Going-to-the-Sun Road, also known as Glacier Route 1 Road, is notable as one of the first National Park Service projects specifically intended to accommodate the automobile-borne tourist. The road was first conceived by superintendent George Goodwin in 1917, who became the chief engineer of the Park Service the following year.[8] As chief engineer, the new road became Goodwin's primary project, and construction began in 1921.

As the project proceeded, Goodwin lost influence with National Park Service director Stephen Mather, who favored landscape architect Thomas Chalmers Vint's alternative routing of the upper portion of the road along the Garden Wall escarpment. Vint's alignment reduced both switchbacks and the road's visual impact, at increased cost.[9] With Goodwin's resignation, Vint's proposal became the preferred alignment. The entire project was finally opened from end to end in 1933, at a cost of $2.5 million.[10]

The western terminus of the road is at U.S. Route 2 in West Glacier, Montana. The eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 89 in St. Mary.

The two-lane Going-to-the-Sun Road is quite narrow and winding, with hairpin turns, especially west of Logan Pass. Consequently, vehicle lengths over the highest portions of the roadway are limited to no longer than 21 feet (6.4 m) and no wider than 8 feet (2.4 m) between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun picnic areas which are located many miles below Logan Pass, on the west and east sides of the pass, respectively. Vehicles over 10 feet (3.0 m) in height may not have sufficient clearance due to rock overhangs when driving west between Logan Pass and the hairpin turn called the Loop.[3] The speed limits are 45 mph (72 km/h) in the lower elevations and 25 mph (40 km/h) in the steeper and winding alpine sections.[3]

## Repairs

[edit]

Plowing not yet finished as of June 21

The road is one of the most difficult roads in North America to snowplow in the spring. Up to 80 feet (24 m) of snow can lie on top of Logan Pass, and more just east of the pass where the deepest snowfield has long been called the Big Drift. The road takes about ten weeks to plow, even with equipment that can move 4,000 tons of snow in an hour. The snowplow crew can clear as little as 500 feet (150 m) of the road per day. On the east side of the Continental Divide, there are few guardrails due to heavy snows and the resultant late-winter avalanches that have destroyed protective barriers. The road is generally open from early June to mid October, with its latest opening on July 13, 2022, marking the record for the latest opening since the inaugural date of July 15, 1933.[4]

A restoration project by the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration has been repairing road damage from many avalanches and rock slides over the years.[11] The repairs, which started in the 1980s and continue to the present day when weather permits, include fixing retaining walls, replacing the original pavement with reinforced concrete, and work on tunnels, bridges, culverts and overlooks.[12][13]

## Buses

[edit]

Red Jammer bus (2006)

A fleet of vintage 1930s red buses, modernized in 2001 and called Red Jammers, or simply "Reds", continue the tradition of offering guided tours along the road.[14] The original bus drivers became affectionately known as "Gear Jammers", or simply "Jammers", since they had to jam the manual gearbox into low to safely negotiate the steepest road sections.[14] Thirty-three of the original buses were rebuilt with flexible-fuel engines, which operate mainly on propane, but can use gasoline, and with automatic transmissions, making the Jammer name archaic.[15][16] Modern-style shuttle buses for shorter trips and Blackfeet tour buses operate on the road as well.[17]

## References in popular culture

[edit]

Saint Mary Lake from road

Going-to-the-Sun Road is shown in the opening credits of the 1980 film The Shining, as aerial flybys of Wild Goose Island and the protagonist's car traveling along the north shore of Saint Mary Lake, through the East Side tunnel and onward, going to a mountain resort hotel for his job interview as a winter caretaker.[18][better source needed] The road is also featured at night at the climax of the sequel adaptation, Doctor Sleep, when Danny Torrance returns to the Overlook Hotel with Abra to confront the antagonist Rose The Hat.

The road is also seen briefly in the 1994 film Forrest Gump. As Forrest reminisces with Jenny he remembers running across the U.S. and remarks, "Like that mountain lake. It was so clear, Jenny. It looked like there were two skies, one on top of the other." The shots in the background are Going-to-the-Sun Road and Saint Mary Lake.[19]

The road is the subject of the song "Going-to-the-Sun Road" by Fleet Foxes, featured on their 2020 album Shore.

## See also

[edit]

Clements Mountain and the East Side tunnel

Major points of interest along the road from west-to-east include:

* Lake McDonald
* Trail of the Cedars
* Heavens Peak
* Bird Woman Falls
* Garden Wall / Weeping Wall
* Logan Pass
* Clements Mountain
* Mount Jackson / Glacier
* Going-to-the-Sun Mountain
* Rising Sun Auto Camp
* Saint Mary Lake

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
2. ^ a b "Going-to-the-Sun Road". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
3. ^ a b c d e f "Going-to-the-Sun Road FAQs". National Park Service. October 19, 2009. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
4. ^ a b Scott, Tristan (April 7, 2011). "Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road to open July 13, 2nd latest ever". Missoulian. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
5. ^ "Session due on Sun Road improvement". Spokesman-Review. July 18, 1967. p. 6.
6. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form". National Park Service. June 16, 1983. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
7. ^ "Top 10 Things...#2". National Park Service. January 9, 2016. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
8. ^ Carr, p. 160.
9. ^ Carr, p. 171.
10. ^ Carr, p. 186.
11. ^ "Going-to-the-Sun Road Project". Federal Highway Administration. October 16, 2015. Archived from the original on October 27, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
12. ^ "Top 10 Things...#3-7". National Park Service. January 9, 2016. Archived from the original on December 28, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
13. ^ "Road Construction and Infrastructure Project Work". Glacier National Park. Archived from the original on September 29, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
14. ^ a b "On the Road Again: Glacier National Park's Red Buses" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 17, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
15. ^ Wille, Chris (May 5, 2002). "Classic jammers slowly returning to Glacier". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. H4.
16. ^ Siano, Joseph (September 1, 2002). "Parks take steps to clean air". Sunday Star-News. Wilmington, North Carolina. New York Times News Service. p. 9D.
17. ^ "Plan Your Visit-Getting Around". National Park Service. January 9, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
18. ^ "The Shining (1980) - IMDb".
19. ^ "Montanakids | Forrest Gump".

Carr, Ethan (1998). Wilderness by Design: Landscape Architecture & the National Park Service. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-6383-X.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Spokesman-Review article (Spokane, Washington)
* Eugene Register-Guard article (Eugene, Oregon)
* Ocala Star-Banner article (Ocala, Florida)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Going-to-the-Sun Road

* Glacier National Park official website
* Going-to-the-Sun-Road Information and Transit System
* Current road status Archived December 24, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
* Going-to-the-Sun Road: A Model of Landscape Engineering
* Visit Montana - Going-to-the-Sun Road Archived October 4, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
* Great Falls Tribune: Glacier National Park centennial timeline Archived October 6, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
* Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) documentation, filed under West Glacier, Flathead County, MT:
* HAER No. MT-67, "Going-to-the-Sun Road", 88 photos, 18 measured drawings, 59 data pages, 7 photo caption pages
* HAER No. MT-67-A, "Going-to-the-Sun Road System Bridges", 1 measured drawing
* HAER No. MT-67-B, "Going-to-the-Sun Road System Culverts", 2 measured drawings
* HAER No. MT-67-C, "Going-to-the-Sun Road System Details", 1 measured drawing
* HAER No. MT-68, "Belton Bridge, Spanning Middle Fork of Flathead River", 1 photo, 9 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-69, "Common Drainage Culvert", 5 data pages
* HAER No. MT-70, "Sprague Creek Culvert", 1 photo, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-71, "Snyder Creek Culvert", 1 photo, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-72, "Horse Trail Underpass", 1 photo, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-73, "Avalanche Creek Bridge", 1 photo, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-74, "Creek Culvert", 5 data pages
* HAER No. MT-75, "Logan Creek Bridge", 1 photo, 1 measured drawing, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-76, "West Side Tunnel", 3 photos, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-77, "Granite Creek Culvert", 5 data pages
* HAER No. MT-78, "Haystack Creek Culvert", 1 photo, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-79, "Triple Arches, Spanning Rift on Pollock Mountain", 1 photo, 1 measured drawing, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-80, "East Side Tunnel, Through Piegan Mountain", 1 photo, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-81, "Siyeh Creek Culvert", 1 photo, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-82, "Baring Creek Bridge", 2 photos, 3 measured drawings, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-83, "Golden Stairs Retaining Wall", 1 photo, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-84, "St. Mary River Bridge", 1 photo, 6 data pages, 1 photo caption page
* HAER No. MT-85, "Divide Creek Bridge", 1 photo, 5 data pages, 1 photo caption page

* v
* t
* e

Glacier National Park

Going-to-the-Sun Road|

* Big Drift
* Bird Woman Falls
* Garden Wall
* Going to the Sun Mountain
* Heavens Peak
* Highline Trail
* Jackson Glacier
* Lake McDonald
* Lake McDonald Lodge
* Logan Pass
* Rising Sun
* Saint Mary Lake
* Trail of the Cedars
* Weeping Wall

Many Glacier|

* Granite Park Chalet
* Grinnell Glacier
* Iceberg Cirque
* Lake Sherburne
* Many Glacier Hotel
* Swiftcurrent Lake

Two Medicine|

* Two Medicine Store

Waterton-Glacier
International Peace Park|

* Waterton Lakes National Park

* v
* t
* e

National Register of Historic Places in Glacier National Park

National
Historic Landmarks|

* Going-to-the-Sun Road
* Lake McDonald Lodge

National Historic
Landmark District|

* Great Northern Railway Buildings

Other
historic districts|

* Belly River Ranger Station Historic District
* Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District
* Glacier National Park Tourist Trails--Inside Trail, South Circle, North Circle
* Headquarters Historic District
* Howes' Lake McDonald Cottage Sites Historic District
* Kelly's Camp Historic District
* Kintla Lake Ranger Station
* Kishenehn Ranger Station Historic District
* Lake McDonald Lodge Historic District
* Logging Creek Ranger Station Historic District
* Many Glacier Hotel Historic District
* Nyack Ranger Station Historic District
* Polebridge Ranger Station Historic District
* Rising Sun Auto Camp
* St. Mary Utility Area Historic District
* Sherburne Ranger Station Historic District
* Stillwater Ranger Station Historic District
* Swiftcurrent Ranger Station Historic District
* Upper Lake McDonald Ranger Station Historic District
* Walton Ranger Station Historic District

Other properties|

* Apgar Fire Lookout
* Alice Beck Cabin
* Bowman Lake Patrol Cabin
* Bowman Lake Road
* Bull Head Lodge and Studio
* Camas Creek Cutoff Road
* Cattle Queen Snowshoe Cabin
* Chief Mountain Border Station and Quarters
* Coal Creek Patrol Cabin
* DeSmet
* Fielding Snowshoe Patrol Cabin
* Fish Creek Bay Boathouse
* Ford Creek Patrol Cabin
* Goathaunt Bunkhouse
* Granite Park Chalet
* Greve's Tourist Cabins
* Gunsight Pass Shelter
* Harrison Lake Patrol Cabin
* Heaven's Peak Fire Lookout
* Huckleberry Fire Outlook
* Kootenai Creek Snowshoe Cabin
* Lake McDonald Lodge Coffee Shop
* Lee Creek Snowshoe Cabin
* Lincoln Creek Snowshoe Cabin
* Little Chief
* Logan Creek Patrol Cabin
* Logan Pass Visitor Center
* Loneman Fire Lookout
* Lower Logging Lake Snowshoe Cabin and Boathouse
* Lower Nyack Snowshoe Cabin
* Lower Park Creek Patrol Cabin
* Margaret McCarthy Homestead
* McCarthy Homestead Cabin
* Many Glacier Barn and Bunkhouse
* Many Glacier Campground Camptender's Cabin
* J.K. Miller Homestead
* Morning Eagle
* Mount Brown Fire Lookout
* North Fork Road
* Numa Ridge Fire Lookout
* Pass Creek Snowshoe Cabin
* Polebridge to Numa Ridge Phoneline
* Ptarmigan Tunnel
* Quartz Lake Patrol Cabin
* William Raftery Homestead
* Roes Creek Campground Camptender's Cabin
* Saint Mary Ranger Station
* Saint Mary Visitor Center, Entrance Station and Checking Stations
* Scalplock Mountain Fire Lookout
* Anton Schoenberger Homestead
* Charlie Schoenberger Homestead
* Sherwood Lodge
* Skyland Camp-Bowman Lake Ranger Station
* Slide Lake-Otatso Creek Patrol Cabin and Woodshed
* Sperry Chalet
* Sun Camp Fireguard Cabin
* Swanson Boathouse
* Swiftcurrent Auto Camp Historic District
* Swiftcurrent Fire Lookout
* Two Medicine Campground Camptender's Cabin
* Two Medicine General Store
* Upper Kintla Lake Patrol Cabin
* Upper Logging Lake Snowshoe Cabin
* Upper Nyack Snowshoe Cabin
* Upper Park Creek Patrol Cabin
* Johnnie Walsh's Guest Lodge
* Johnnie Walsh Homestead
* West Entrance Station
* Burton and Lulu Wheeler Cabin

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Glacier National Park

* v
* t
* e

National Register of Historic Places in Glacier County, Montana

National Historic Landmarks|

* Camp Disappointment
* Going-to-the-Sun Road
* Great Northern Railway Buildings

Historic districts|

* Belly River Ranger Station Historic District
* Cut Bank Municipal Airport and Army Air Force Base
* Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District
* East Glacier Ranger Station Historic District
* Glacier National Park Tourist Trails-Inside Trail, South Circle, North Circle
* Many Glacier Hotel Historic District
* Rising Sun Auto Camp
* St. Mary Utility Area Historic District
* Sherburne Ranger Station Historic District
* Swiftcurrent Auto Camp Historic District
* Swiftcurrent Ranger Station Historic District

Historic properties|

* Babb-Piegan, Montana, Inspection Station
* Chief Mountain Border Station and Quarters
* Glacier County Courthouse
* Glacier Park Women's Club
* Goathaunt Bunkhouse
* Holy Family Mission
* Kootenai Creek Snowshoe Cabin
* Lee Creek Snowshoe Cabin
* Logan Pass Visitor Center
* Many Glacier Barn and Bunkhouse
* Many Glacier Campground Camptender's Cabin
* Morning Eagle
* Pass Creek Snowshoe Cabin
* Ptarmigan Tunnel
* Rising Wolf
* Roes Creek Campground Camptender's Cabin
* Saint Mary Ranger Station
* Saint Mary Visitor Center, Entrance Station and Checking Stations
* Slide Lake-Otatso Creek Patrol Cabin and Woodshed
* Sun Camp Fireguard Cabin
* Swanson Boathouse
* Two Medicine Campground Camptender's Cabin
* Two Medicine General Store

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Glacier County, Montana and List of National Historic Landmarks in Montana

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

|

*[No.]: number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template