Glacier National Park

In a recent news release, the National Park Service estimates that hundreds of millions of dollars make their way into gateway communities surrounding Montana’s national parks.

Yellowstone National Park’s northern entrances remain closed after major flooding swallowed roads, bridges and homes. State and federal public land agencies are now anticipating visitors to look for other outdoor recreation opportunities, bringing crowds and tourism dollars to other areas.

Heavy rain and high flows on the Flathead River are putting a damper on the early summer season for rafting and fishing guides near Glacier National Park. Some business owners are finding alternatives.

The park’s public information officer, Gina Kerzman, says rangers will adjust by moving most park activities outdoors. The decision was made Wednesday after Glacier County, one of two counties adjacent to the park, crossed into a high community level of COVID-19

The amount of tax collected last year from stays at Montana campgrounds, motel and hotel rentals exceeded expectations. The finding was presented Wednesday during an economic seminar by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

The highest avalanche danger exists at the middle and upper elevations for the Whitefish and Flathead ranges, and Glacier National Park. Avalanche danger in the Swan Range is moderate.

The park will again require tickets for Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2022 and for the first time will also require visitors to have tickets for the Polebridge entrance of the park.

Glacier National Park has selected an interim superintendent that will start in January.

The bear was discovered last Thursday afternoon two miles east of Rising Sun. An initial investigation by the National Park Service found it sustained unsurvivable traumatic injuries after being hit by a car.

While the reservation system caused countless headaches for locals and outsiders who struggled to secure $2 tickets, park officials say it worked as intended, alleviating traffic congestion inside the park and preventing long lines of cars from spilling onto U.S. 2.