What’s open, what’s closed in the wake of the Glacier National Park wildfire

The Going to the Sun Road, which takes visitors deep into Montana’s Glacier National Park, is partly closed because of a wildfire burning on the eastern side of the park.

The closure stretches for 20 miles between St. Mary’s Valley in the east and Big Bend in the west.

The Reynolds Creek Fire, which started Tuesday afternoon, has prompted the evacuation of two campgrounds, a visitor center and a motel as well as homes in the area. Some visitors had to abandon their vehicles on the road and be shuttled out of the park.

Winds have spread the fire that had covered 2,000 acres as of Thursday, according to InciWeb.

Visitors planning to stay at the 72-room Rising Sun Motor Inn & Cabins need to make other arrangements. The motel was evacuated and closed; anyone who had reservations for Wednesday and/or Thursday will receive a refund, according to the Glacier National Park Lodges’ website.

Hotels and restaurants on the west side of the park are open. Places such as Many Glacier Hotel, Lake McDonald Lodge and Village Inn at Apgar are far from the fire, and reservations have not been canceled.

The park’s 1930s-era Red Buses also are operating but have dropped the eastern itinerary of the tours.

The wildfire claimed a historic back-country cabin; no injuries have been reported.

Info: Glacier National Park, Glacier National Park Lodges