Glacier National Park Late September
 

We are thinking of Glacier National Park - one of my dream trips - in late September. Will there still be a lot open? or will we be missing too much by waiting?

Check the closing dates on this link: http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hours.htm

You'll want to know that Going to the Sun Road closes on September 21.

A portion of GTTS road is open 24/7, 365. Driving the length will close Sept. 22 BUT Logan Pass is reachable via GTTS road on the west side until October 19, weather dependent.
ALL major concessions will be closed at that late date. To avoid crowds and still enjoy the road, come out the last week in August. All will be open, crowds will be less

We were there before and after Labor Day a couple of years ago. AVOID Labor Day but if you can possible move your dates up to early September you should be good. You will not want to miss the Going to the Sun highway!!!!

We were camping and some campgrounds close after Labor Day.

Utahtea

Labor Day is September 1 this year.
On November 7 2005 DW and I drove up as far as the Lake McDonald Lodge. The gate was closed next to the parking lot for the GTTS. I did take a photo at the lakeside spot where Ansel Adams took one of his great photos. Coming back down to West Glacier, I saw several elk.

The facilities on the east side of the park will be closed, plus the ranger led hikes will be over by then. I would think about late August to early September. We've been there many times during Labor Day weekend. The key is to stay away from the major trails and Labor Day weekend. Think about hiking in the Two Medicine area Labor Day weekend which gets fewer visits than the Many Glacier/Going to the Sun Road area. Scenic Point and Dawson Pass are spectacular hikes:

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/scenic-point.htm

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/dawson-pass.htm

Thank you for your replies. It makes it a lot easier to decide.

I think you are taking a risk going that late. Even Trail Ridge Rd in Rocky Mtn National Park, which is much further south, can close for snow during that time. As far as not being able to go past Logan Pass to the east side, IMHO, the east side is the most scenic side.