Update 10:30 p.m.
Heavy rain over the weekend forced evacuations from campgrounds and hotels in Glacier National Park Monday.
Watch the video below:
A Kalispell woman was one of many who had to cut her visit short—a trip she had been planning for a year.
“About 8:30 this morning, a ranger came in and said anybody staying at any Glacier campground needs to evacuate now,” said Shanda Elavsky.
Elavasky still thought they would be alright since she was staying at the Many Glacier Hotel, but that changed a couple of hours later.
“The hotel staff started coming down and knocking on all the rooms and telling everybody to be gone by 2:30,” she says.
The flooding was caused by near record rainfall in some areas. Campgrounds, trails, and roads were closed.
Shandy says the water was licking the bridge as they made their way out.
“The water was just so loud. It was just so much pressure. I was like, this doesn’t look real. I was like wow, that’s going to come over,” she says.
Elavsky says they were able to make it out in about an hour—a visit she will remember, but not the way she had hoped.
“I’ve never seen that flooded like that before,” she says.
- reporting by Russ Riesinger/ MTN News
(original report) Flooding in Glacier National Park on Monday has caused closures and evacuations in the Many Glacier Valley area.
According to park staff, Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn are both being evacuated. Glenns Lake Head Wilderness Campground, Many Glacier Campground and the Many Glacier Valley are closed to the public.
The Many Glacier Road is closed due to flooding at Sherburne Dam.
Commercial boat tours operated by the Glacier Park Boat Company and horseback rides operated by the Swan Mountain Outfitters in Many Glacier have been suspended for the duration of the closure.
Glacier National Park will work closely with the Federal Highway Administration when it is time to reopen the Many Glacier Valley to ensure that access is restored safely.
Heavy rainfall has also impacted access along Going-to‑the-Sun Road. Visitors should expect detours, delays, and limited access while crews respond to hazardous conditions created by fast‑moving water, debris, and saturated soils.
Dozens of trails are listed as impacted as of Monday afternoon. For a full list of impacted areas, visit here.
Click here for the full release from the National Parks Service.
Update 6:40 p.m.
Park visitor Michelle James captured videos and photos of the flooding from her campsite at Many Glacier. She said she saw firsthand why the closures were necessary.
"It was wild to see Mother Nature in all her raw power. As heartbreaking as the situation is, we’re incredibly grateful we were able to experience the beauty of Many Glacier safely before the closure. It wasn’t quite the experience we were expecting, but it was certainly an experience," she wrote.
See her video and photos below:
Editor's note: This is a developing story.
