It's too cloudy to hike.

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1968. We instead drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Layered Reunion

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1970. Breathtaking landscapes appear at every turn of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Near Logan Pass

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1966. We're driving toward the Visitor Center.

Fire in Glacier

Burning now.

(Thanks to my friend V for directing me to this article.)

ADDED: More photos here.

Swiss Drive

When we traveled to Europe in 1971, we realized we preferred the wild scenery of the American West. In Switzerland, by contrast, even "remote" spots had been touched by civilization.

Earlier today, I mentioned the seasonal opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The drive along that road isn't for the meek, but it's breathtaking.

How does this drive through the Swiss Alps compare?

The road is open.

Glacier National Park today opened the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Here's a clip of the drive we took 49 years ago.

Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1966. This clip is from one of our first drives along the road.

Devil's Bridge

Saint-Gotthard Massif, Switzerland, July 1971. It's a spot scarier than the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

"This Is The ONE Thing You Must Do In Each U.S. State."

In Wisconsin, it's the Dane County Farmer's Market. 

For Montana's "thing"—driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road—the editors chose a photo of a pretty tame segment of the road.

(I've done seven.)

No Room for Errors

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1972. The Going-to-the-Sun Road drive always rattles me.

Creek

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1966. We're approaching Logan Pass.

Brewing

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1968. An interesting sky prompts Dad to snap a shot.

Where the trip is the destination.

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1966. The Going-to-the-Sun Road takes visitors from one end of the park to the other. But the purpose of the drive isn't to reach St. Mary or Lake MacDonald; instead, it's to appreciate what you see along the way.

Get out of the car and take a short walk.

Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1968. We've stopped at the Visitor Center as we make our way along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. I wear my Ranger Rick jacket.

Scenic View

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1966. Mom is back to her task of filming home movies. This image shows why I found drives along the Going-to-the-Sun Road scary.

"[T]here are a few tight curves, but thousands of vehicles have safely made the journey from one side of the park to the other."

Partial answer to: "How scary is it to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road?"

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1966. I found it pretty scary.

We're heading in a westerly direction.

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1966. We're on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, driving from St. Mary to Lake MacDonald.

We pause.

Glacier National Park, July 1970. We take a break as we hike the Gunsight Pass Trail from the trail head on Going-to-the-Sun Road to Sperry Park Chalet.

Piegan Creek

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1966. The Piegan Pass trail begins at Piegan Creek.

Watch for water on the roadway.

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1966. Melting snow creates a waterfall alongside Going-to-the-Sun Road.