Good morning folks, this is Denny with your hiking and rafting report for June 26th. The Glacier National Park forecast for this weekend is:

West Glacier

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. West southwest wind between 8 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. West southwest wind between 7 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind between 6 and 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

St. Mary’s

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. West southwest wind between 13 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. West southwest wind between 10 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69. West southwest wind between 8 and 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 72.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Rivers

Current water level is 4.6 feet or about 6,000 cfs in West Glacier, creating an awesome wet adventure. We have been running Bear Creek down to Blankenship on the Middle Fork and the border down on the North Fork. Remember we only put a maximum of 8-9 people per boat so everyone can have a window seat!

Roads
Logan Pass – Is open from the west side as of mid day Thursday. We do expect the complete road to be open Friday. Please contact the park for more details at 406 888 7800.

Other roads – All roads are open except the Inside North Fork Road. The Inside North Fork Road is currently closed at Logging Creek RS and Fish Creek due to construction. Hiker/biker access is not allowed during the construction on this section of road.

Trail Reports
Closed Trails and Areas
Arrow Lake Campground - Bears
Lower two thirds of St. Mary’s Lake – Eagles Nesting
Head of Kintla Lake – Eagles Nesting
Head of Bowman Lake – Eagles Nesting

Posted Trails and Areas
Apgar Bike Path – Bears

Current Conditions

Lake McDonald Valley
Expect snow above 5,000 – 6,000 feet.

Avalanche Lake trail is open with little snow. Please be mind full of “Restoration Area” signs along the trail and around the campground and try to prevent/reduce resource impacts by staying on the trail or walking on durable surfaces (ex: lakeshore, rocks, logs, etc.).*

St. Mary’s Valley
St Mary’s Falls and Virgina Falls are open.
Expect complete snow cover at Logan’s Pass and Siyeh pass trails. Expect snow above 5,000 feet.

Many Glacier Valley
Iceberg Lake Trail is open but there is snow on the last 1/2 mile. The lake is still frozen. Little snow reported towards Ptarmigan Tunnel. The tunnel is not open.
Grinnell Glacier Trail is not open due to snow hazard at Thunderbird Falls.

Two Medicine Valley
Patchy snow above 5,000 feet and around Two Medicine lake. Some avalanche debris on north side of the lake.

North Fork
Expect patchy snow above 5,000 feet.

Backpacking

Backcountry campgrounds – CGs above 5,000 feet are either closed for emerging vegetation or in winter conditions. Backpackers must expect snow over any pass and be prepared with ice axes and crampons.

McDonald Lake CG is open and has been reconstructed, the Belly River Valley, Bowman Lake Valley, and Kintla Lake Valley are all open to backcountry camping. Call the backcountry office for more details – 406 - 888-7859

The bears and lions are out and about. Use caution around wildlife, there are young of the year and their parents are very protective. Remember, we sell bear spray at cost.

Before a long day of adventuring in Glacier please stop by the Bonecrusher Bistro for coffee, breakfast burrito or sandwich (open 8 am to 6 pm). Or stop by after for a smoothie, homemade cookie or ice cream cone.