Where Does Going-to-the-Sun Road Start and End?

Going-to-the-Sun Road is a beautiful winding road in Montana. It traverses the Glacier National Park in just a few hours, where you can see stunning landscapes of forests and the Rocky Mountains. The road passes and runs along the Rocky Mountains and as you climb into Logan Pass, the highest point on the road, you end up crossing the Continental Divide. But you’re probably wondering where Going-to-the-Sun Road starts and ends. Let’s take a look at the beginning of the road and the end of the road. We’ll also include some of the wildlife you will see along the way if you choose to drive the road.

About Going-to-the-Sun Road

First, let’s talk about Going-to-the-Sun Road. The road started construction in 1921 and finished 11 years later, in 1932. The formal dedication, however, took place the following year in 1933. The road was seen as a way to traverse the Glacier National Park in a few hours. Before the road, it took people days to travel within the park. The idea was first thought of by the future chief engineer of the National Park Service, George Goodwin. At the time of construction, the road was also known as Glacier Route 1 Road.

The road’s western starting point is located in West Glacier, MT, and the eastern point is in St. Mary, MT. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is part of the national park and thus has been designated a National Historic Place and National Historic Landmark, as well as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The total miles this road runs is 50 miles.

Where Does it Start?

The road’s western terminus begins at US Route 2 in West Glacier, MT. West Glacier is a town of about 200 people and it sits at the entrance of the Glacier National Park. Its rough terrain and harsh winters serve as the backdrop to the national park and how the road commences as you move eastward through the state.

Where Does it End?

The road that takes you from the west is a winding road, especially right when it crosses its highest point in Logan Pass. Afterward, it becomes less winding but still a narrow, two-lane road. Eventually, the road will finish at St. Mary, MT with a view of Saint Mary Lake nearby.

Wildlife Along the Way

Montana is abundant in wildlife. Although the road is only 50 miles, it traverses through a national park that is home to many animals. A total of 71 species of mammals roam around in Glacier National Park, as well as over 250 species of birds, and six species of amphibians. If you look out the window as you wind down the road, you will be able to spot grizzly bears, cougars, bighorn sheep, moose, and even mountain goats. When it comes to the flora in the park and the road’s surrounding areas, you can spot many species of plants, wildflowers, and trees.

Conclusion

And there you have it, Going-to-the-Sun Road starts in West Glacier, MT, and ends in St. Mary, MT. The road traverses the gorgeous Glacier National Park. You can see an abundance of wildlife and the pictures you take will have amazing landscapes that are bewildering. You will learn so much about the country’s national parks and the nature that roams around in Montana. It will be a great learning experience for you and your friends.