MONTANA — Ahead of Glacier National Park's busiest season, a new documentary is set to unveil the untold story of one of its most iconic features. "Journey to the Sun," a Montana-made film, delves into the history and ongoing efforts surrounding Going-to-the-Sun Road.
For countless visitors, the road is a must-see destination. Co-director Jordan Lefler emphasized its significance, saying, "It's one of those places that has become very special to us as wildlife photographers and filmmakers."
The filmmakers aim to reveal the hidden risks and history behind this scenic drive. "We've been working on a story that's going to go into the construction of the road and how they built it. And just all the risks that everybody took to materialize this road in Glacier,” said Lefler.
The documentary explores the road's challenging construction in the 1930s and its historical significance before Glacier became a national park. It also highlights the current teams responsible for maintaining safety on the road.
Logan Lefler, co-director of the film, shared their journey, saying, "We've never had anything of this magnitude come to fruition, especially with the sheer amount of work that it's taken us to get this thing to the finish line."
The project involved extensive pre-production, permitting, and travel, as well as connecting with those who have ties to the road's early days. "We feel like we'll help make that connection between the viewers and the people who built the road who are long gone. But we found some living links to the past that I think will help viewers connect to that," said Lefler.
The filmmakers also focus on the modern-day crews working on the road, including spring plow teams who face avalanches and debris as they prepare for the summer season. "There's been a lot of hoops that we've had to jump through to get this project made. It's been tough, but I think at the end of the day, when the project is done, it's going to be all worth it," Lefler added.
"Journey to the Sun" is scheduled to premiere on June 23 in Kalispell, with more screenings planned throughout Montana later this summer.
The documentary's primary goal is to help viewers see Going-to-the-Sun Road as a shared piece of Montana history, not just a scenic drive.