# Glacier St. Mary Entrance: this week

> Week of Nov 9–15, 2026 · Glacier National Park · St. Mary, MT (US-89) · Status: **Open — road to Jackson Glacier Overlook**. Facts fetched Nov 12, 2026 from official NPS and NWS sources.

HTML version: https://parks.goes.health/parks/glacier/st-mary-entrance.html

St. Mary is the east-side entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road, along St. Mary Lake. It's about 125 miles from Great Falls via US-89 and Browning.

## This week at the St. Mary Entrance (official conditions)

- **Heads-up:** Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed for the season at Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side. Open sections can change at any time due to winter weather. Sources: [NPS Glacier alerts (NPS Data API, fetched Nov 12)](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)
- **Closed:** St. Mary Visitor Center is closed for the winter. Primitive camping is available year-round at St. Mary Campground. Sources: [Glacier: visiting in winter](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/winter.htm); [Glacier operating hours & seasons](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hours.htm)
- **Heads-up:** Tularemia was confirmed in a dead snowshoe hare in the St. Mary Lake area (Sept 17 release). Sources: [News release: Tularemia detected in St. Mary Lake area (Sep 17, 2026)](https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/tularemia-detected-in-st-mary-lake-area-of-glacier-national-park.htm)
- **Info:** No fuel inside the park. The St. Mary grocery store sometimes stays open in fall; full-service groceries are in Browning. Sources: [Glacier directions, transportation & road status](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/directions.htm); [Glacier operating hours & seasons](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hours.htm)

**Entrance fee:** Private vehicle $35 (self-pay when stations are unstaffed). Non-US residents 16+ pay an additional $100 nonresident fee unless entering with an annual / America the Beautiful pass. Sources: [NPS Glacier fees & passes](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/fees.htm); [NPS Data API (parks, operating hours, fees)](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/developer/api-documentation.htm)

## Forecast near the St. Mary Entrance

| Period | Temp | Forecast | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonight | 46°F | Mostly Cloudy | 9 mph |
| Thursday | 62°F | Mostly Cloudy | 8 mph |
| Thursday Night | 40°F | Mostly Cloudy | 6 mph |
| Friday | 62°F | Partly Sunny | 3 mph |
| Friday Night | 36°F | Partly Cloudy | 3 mph |
| Saturday | 54°F | Mostly Sunny | 2 to 9 mph |
| Saturday Night | 34°F | Mostly Cloudy | 9 to 13 mph |
| Sunday | 48°F | Mostly Sunny | 8 to 12 mph |

Snapshot from the National Weather Service, fetched Nov 12, 2026. Live forecast: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=48.746&lon=-113.437

## What actually matters here this season

The goal is a good trip, not a scary one. These are the hazards NPS highlights for this area and season, and what to do about each.

- **East-side wind and cold.** Glacier sits where Pacific air from the west meets arctic air from the northeast. NWS forecast for St. Mary this week: mostly cloudy, highs around 54–62°F, lows near 36–46°F. Expect colder, harsher conditions higher up. Sources: [National Weather Service point forecasts (api.weather.gov, fetched Nov 12)](https://www.weather.gov/); [Glacier current conditions & safety](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm); [NPS Data API (parks, operating hours, fees)](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/developer/api-documentation.htm)
  - In GOES: Environmental Health: hypothermia and frostbite assessments
- **Bears.** Grizzlies and black bears live on both sides of the Divide. Make noise, hike in a group, and carry bear spray where you can reach it. Sources: [Glacier bear safety](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/bears.htm)
  - In GOES: Wildlife Encounters: location-specific risk indicators for bears and other dangerous animals
- **Tularemia and ticks.** Don't touch dead animals, use repellent, check for ticks, and drink only treated or boiled water. Sources: [News release: Tularemia detected in St. Mary Lake area (Sep 17, 2026)](https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/tularemia-detected-in-st-mary-lake-area-of-glacier-national-park.htm)
  - In GOES: Tick Risk: location- and season-specific tick activity

## Checklist for the St. Mary Entrance

- [ ] **Fuel and supplies in Browning or St. Mary** — No fuel in the park.
- [ ] **Bear spray and windproof layers** — The east side is exposed.
- [ ] **Treat all water** — Tularemia advisory in the St. Mary Lake area.
- [ ] **Download GOES before St. Mary** — Plan for no signal inside the park.

Follow official NPS rules, posted closures and ranger instructions. They override anything on this page.

## Glacier park-wide

- **Grizzly and black bears.** Glacier has habitat for nearly 1,000 bears of both species. Stay 100 yards from bears and wolves (25 yards from other wildlife), carry bear spray, make noise and hike in groups: Glacier has had no reported attacks on groups of four or more. In fall, bears forage hard before denning. Sources: [Glacier bear safety](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/bears.htm); [Glacier current conditions & safety](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm); [Glacier operating hours & seasons](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hours.htm)
  - In GOES: Wildlife Encounters: location-specific risk indicators for bears and other dangerous animals
- **Cold water.** Water is the number one cause of fatalities in Glacier. Use extreme caution near lakes and streams. Sources: [Glacier current conditions & safety](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)
  - In GOES: Environmental Health: hypothermia and frostbite assessments
- **Tularemia.** NPS confirmed tularemia in dead snowshoe hares in Many Glacier (Oct 15 release) and the St. Mary Lake area (Sept 17 release). Use insect repellent, check for ticks, don't touch carcasses, drink only treated or boiled water, and see a doctor if you get fever, chills or sores within two weeks of your visit. Sources: [News release: Tularemia detected in Many Glacier Valley (Oct 15, 2026)](https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/tularemia-detected-in-glacier-national-park-s-many-glacier-valley.htm); [News release: Tularemia detected in St. Mary Lake area (Sep 17, 2026)](https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/tularemia-detected-in-st-mary-lake-area-of-glacier-national-park.htm)
  - In GOES: Tick Risk: location- and season-specific tick activity
- **Winter self-sufficiency.** Most businesses and services in and near the park are closed from early October to late May. Expect cold, blustery days and be entirely self-sufficient. Sources: [Glacier operating hours & seasons](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hours.htm); [Glacier current conditions & safety](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)
  - In GOES: Environmental Health: hypothermia and frostbite assessments

## All active Glacier NPS alerts

From the NPS Data API, fetched Nov 12, 2026. Live: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

- **[Park Closure] Going-to-the-Sun Road Seasonal Closure.** Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed for the season at Avalanche Creek on the west side of the park. On the east side, the closure is located at Jackson Glacier Overlook. Travel on open sections of the road may change at any time due to winter weather conditions. Visitors should check road conditions before their arrival and be prepared for winter weather. (https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/directions.htm)

## Get the GOES app before the gate

**When signal drops, GOES steps in.** Grizzlies, a tularemia advisory and wind off the Divide. Download GOES before St. Mary so its offline tick, wildlife and cold guidance is ready.

GOES — Outdoor Health & Safety is your outdoor safety companion: an offline interactive health assessment, 50+ visual how-to guides, 200+ prevention tips across 60+ medical topics, and location-specific risk indicators (wildlife, cold, heat, altitude, ticks, poisonous plants, UV, smoke). Built by wilderness medicine physicians: founded by Dr. Grant Lipman; Chief Medical Officer Dr. Colin Little, MD, FAWM.

- iOS (App Store): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/goes-outdoor-health-safety/id1576527901
- Android (Google Play): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goes.mobile
- About GOES: https://goes.health/platform

Free to download. Premium features need a monthly or annual subscription after a 7-day free trial. GOES provides guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical care.

## Other Glacier entrances

- [West Entrance](https://parks.goes.health/parks/glacier/west-entrance.md): Open — road to Avalanche Creek
- [Glacier overview, closures and park-wide risks](https://parks.goes.health/parks/glacier/index.md)

## Sources

Fetched Thu Nov 12, 2026 (JST), which is Wed Nov 11 evening in US time zones. We don't publish wait times, wildlife sightings or conditions we can't source.

- [NPS Glacier alerts (NPS Data API, fetched Nov 12)](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)
- [Glacier: visiting in winter](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/winter.htm)
- [Glacier operating hours & seasons](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hours.htm)
- [News release: Tularemia detected in St. Mary Lake area (Sep 17, 2026)](https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/tularemia-detected-in-st-mary-lake-area-of-glacier-national-park.htm)
- [Glacier directions, transportation & road status](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/directions.htm)
- [National Weather Service point forecasts (api.weather.gov, fetched Nov 12)](https://www.weather.gov/)
- [Glacier current conditions & safety](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)
- [NPS Data API (parks, operating hours, fees)](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/developer/api-documentation.htm)
- [Glacier bear safety](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/bears.htm)
- [NPS Glacier fees & passes](https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/fees.htm)
- [News release: Tularemia detected in Many Glacier Valley (Oct 15, 2026)](https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/tularemia-detected-in-glacier-national-park-s-many-glacier-valley.htm)
- [NPS Glacier National Park](https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm)

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*GOES provides guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. ParkReady Guides is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Always follow official NPS rules, posted closures and ranger instructions. Conditions change quickly; check the linked NPS pages before you go. In an emergency, call 911.*

ParkReady Guides by GOES Health · Week of Nov 9–15, 2026 · facts fetched Nov 12, 2026 from NPS and NWS. Agent overview: https://parks.goes.health/llms.txt · Conditions feed (JSON): https://parks.goes.health/conditions.json