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Looking Glass Road to St. Mary, Glacier's east side, Montana
Photo: KimonBerlin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped

Drives Montana Glacier, the Flathead and Northwest Montana

Looking Glass Road to St. Mary

MT 49, US 89 · East Glacier Park → St. Mary

Sweeping30 mi45 min3,200 ft climbHigh point ≈ 6,000 ftOne way
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The drive

Montana Highway 49 is steep, narrow and winding, and prone to landslides. The drive runs north from East Glacier Park, near the southeast corner of Glacier National Park, over Looking Glass Hill. This is the twisty part of the drive, miles 4 to 10, and there are no shoulders and the pavement is rough in places.

After about 12 miles MT 49 meets US 89 at Kiowa, and the drive carries on across the Blackfeet prairie and the Hudson Bay Divide to St. Mary, the east entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road. In all it's 29.5 miles, about 45 minutes. MT 49 was once part of US 2's alignment.

Along the way

  1. East Glacier Park (US-2)
  2. St. Mary
Elevation
3,200 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 6,000 ft
East Glacier ParkSt. Mary
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
East Glacier ParkSt. Mary
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • MT 49 over Looking Glass Hill, mileposts 4 to 11, is seasonally closed and not maintained in winter, usually from the first heavy snow until spring.
  • The road is narrow with tight bends and no shoulders.
  • Loose cattle can be on the road on the reservation.

MT-49 over Looking Glass Hill isn't plowed; closed from the first heavy snow (often November) until spring, usually April or May. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Montana 511 Travel Information.

Questions about this drive

Is Looking Glass Road open in winter?

No. Montana lists MT 49 between mileposts 4 and 11 as seasonally closed, and the Looking Glass Hill section is unmaintained and usually impassable in winter.

How long does Looking Glass Road to St. Mary take?

East Glacier Park to St. Mary by MT 49 and US 89 is 29.5 miles and takes about 45 minutes.

Is Looking Glass Road dangerous?

MT 49 is steep, narrow and winding with no shoulders, so drive it slowly and watch for cattle.

What you get in the app

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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Looking Glass Road to St. Mary, from East Glacier Park to St. Mary