America's Most Scenic Road Now Entirely Open.

GLACIER PARK, Mont.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 22, 1999--

The 50-mile historic highway through the heart of Glacier National Park has just been cleared of the last snowdrift and opened for the summer over Logan Pass by diligent and tenacious Park Service crews.

The Going-To-The-Sun Road has been called one of the most scenic drives in America. It winds its way over and through one of the larger national parks in the lower 48 states, 1.2 million acres of pristine wilderness.

The park, established by the National Park Service in 1910, is America's foremost trail park, with more than 700 miles of foot and horse trails.

But, without a doubt, it is the Going-To-The-Sun Road which attracts the vast majority of visitors. The national historic landmark is an outdoor photographer's dream. Views along the road include awesome snowcapped peaks, thundering waterfalls, jewel-like glacial lakes and an incredible variety of wildlife.

From West Glacier, at an altitude of 3,200 feet, the two-lane road heads east, passing Lake McDonald and historic Lake McDonald Lodge Complex.

The road passes Trail of the Cedars, a lush forest trail winding through dense ferns and towering cedars, some of which are 700 years old. The trail is an easy hike, about an hour walk, and is one of the few wilderness trails accessible to the handicapped.

The road continues past Avalanche Creek and gains elevation along the Garden Wall, to where it rises to 6,664 feet at Logan Pass. Here you cross the Continental Divide. Spectacular views of Clements Mountain and Bird Woman Falls are available from this vantage point. The visitor center also has interesting displays on the natural history and geology of the area.

The chiseled peaks and deep valleys you see at every turn were sculpted eons ago by slow-moving glaciers. Fifty of these glaciers are still active today, although the park is not named for these glaciers, but for the geological glaciers that are evident throughout the park.

From Logan Pass, Going-To-The-Sun Road begins to descend toward St. Mary Lake. Roadside turnouts are available to view Jackson Glacier, Blackfoot Glacier and Mt. Logan.

The Rising Sun Motor Inn is located at St. Mary Lake. A five-mile hike to Otokomi Lake starts behind the inn. The trail rises 1,900 feet and is a good pick if you are looking for mountain goats and bear. But do keep a safe distance, and don't hike alone.

The road finally ends at St. Mary at an altitude of 4,483 feet on the eastern edge of the park. From here, you can venture north on Route 89 toward Swiftcurrent Lake and the magnificent Many Glacier Hotel. Further north is Waterton Lakes National Park. The Prince of Wales Hotel overlooks Waterton Lake and this interesting Canadian townsite. Bighorn sheep and deer are visible from the majestic lobby windows at the hotel.

South from St. Mary is East Glacier Park and the Glacier Park Lodge, a massive structure built in 1913 with huge 40' timbers. The architecture inspired the Blackfeet Indians to call it "The Big Tree Lodge."

Perhaps the best way to experience the drive is to not drive at all. Many people opt for the unique and fun red buses. These vintage motor coaches travel back and forth over the Going-To-The-Sun Road and link all the historic hotels and lodges within the park.

The colorful red coaches seat 15 people and have a rollback canvas top which allows a full experience of the dramatic vistas. The drivers, or "jammers" as they are known, offer a wealth of knowledge about the history and the best views. Their names came from the old days when the coaches did not have automatic transmissions and the drivers could be heard "jammin" the gears up and down the mountainous road.

Tickets for the coaches are available at all Glacier Park, Inc., hotels.

The two-lane historic road was completed in 1932, long before RVs began to crisscross America's interstates. It is narrow (in most places the road is actually carved out of solid rock) so overall vehicle length cannot exceed 21 feet.

There are two Web sites where you can get plenty of up-to-date information on Glacier National Park and its historic lodges. You can go to www.nps.gov/glac for information on the park. For information on the lodges and the red buses, go to www.glacierparkinc.com or call 602-207-6000.

How to Get There

Glacier National Park lies in the rugged Rocky Mountains in northwest Montana just 35 miles northeast of Kalispell. It adjoins Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, to form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.

Delta Airlines, Horizon Air and Northwest Airlines fly into Glacier Park International Airport which is located between the Park and Kalispell, Mont. Northwest, Delta, Alaska Air, and Horizon Air airlines fly into Great Falls, Mont., which is 138 miles from East Glacier, Mont.

Major rental car agencies are located at these airports and elsewhere in gateway communities.

Lodging

There are a number of historic hotels in and around the park:

-- Lake McDonald Lodge Complex. Built in 1913 as a private hunting

lodge, the 100-room complex offers guests the flavor of the Old

West. It is located on Lake McDonald.

-- Glacier Park Lodge. Located in East Glacier, this 162-room lodge

was also built in 1913. Amenities include a 9-hole golf course,

heated swimming pool, horseback riding, and the Great Northern

Steak & Rib House, a local favorite.

-- Many Glacier Hotel. Built in 1914, this Swiss-style hotel is

located on the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake. It is the largest

hotel in the park with 208 rooms.

-- The Prince of Wales Hotel. Built in 1927, this majestic

English-style, 87-room gabled structure overlooks the quaint

Canadian town of Waterton Lakes, Alberta. High tea is served

every afternoon at 2 p.m.

-- The Inns. Complementing the four main hotels are three smaller

inns: The Village Inn, The Rising Sun Motor Inn, and the

Swiftcurrent Motor Inn.

For reservations, call Glacier Park, Inc., at [phone].

NOTE TO EDITORS: Velox of map and 35mm color slides available.