ezbordercrossing

Guide to Crossing the US Canada Border

Chief Mountain

Chief Mountain – MT Hwy 17 / AB Hwy 6

This is a very scenic border crossing that sits on the Chief Mountain Highway as it travels through the Waterton National park and Glacier National Park. The border is closed during the winter months and reopens in the spring.

Chief Mountain Port Information

  • The hours of operation for this border crossings are seasonal and can change from year to year depending on the weather. You may want to call the border office or otherwise confirm its hours of operation.
  • Hours of Operation for the U.S. border office are listed as
    • May 15 – May 31 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. MDT
    • June 1 – September 4 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. MDT
    • September 5 – September 30 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. MDT
  • Canadian hours of operation are seasonal and listed as follows:
    • 9:00 am to 6:00 pm seven days a week from May 15 to May 31
    • From June 1st through Labor Day, the port is open seven days a week from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
    • On the Tuesday following Labor Day, the port’s hours reduce to 9am to 6pm.
  • This port closes for the winter at the end of September and reopens around May 15th. The closing and opening dates can vary, so you should call U.S. or Canadian Border Information Services for the port status if you are travelling around this time.
  • Canadian commercial services hours of operation are listed as 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday (except holidays).

Current Road Conditions in Montana and Alberta

CARWAY WEATHER

We have special pages showing all current road advisories for the State of Montana and the Province of Alberta. These pages show problems such as roadway snow or ice, lane closures or blockages, road restrictions, traffic problems, and roadwork.

Map of Chief Mountain Border Crossing Area

Travel Tips for the Chief Mountain Border Crossing

  • Here are handy links to hotels in Montana and Alberta Canada.
  • Heavy traffic is normal during the summer season, especially around holidays such as Canada’s Victoria Day (May 24) and the U.S. Memorial Day (May 31).
  • Peak traffic is typically between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Most people use the Piegan / Carway crossing when Chief Mountain is closed for the winter.
  • If you are planning to travel on the “Going to the Sun” road there is a restriction as to the length of your vehicle. If you are driving an RV or hauling a trailer you may need to use Hwy 89, which goes around Glacier National Park.
  • You can retrieve Montana road condition information by phone by calling 1-800-226-7623 or 1-800-335-7592 (TTY)
  • Road Reports for the Province of Alberta are available by calling 1-877-262-4997.

Telephone Numbers for the Border Customs Offices at Chief Mountain

  • Chief Mountain U.S. Customs Office Telephone Number: Because Chief Mountain is seasonal, this port is run through the Piegan office at (406) 732-5572.
  • You will need to call the Canadian Border Information Service (CBIS) for information on the Canadian port, as they discourage calls directly to the customs office.

Chief Mountain Port GPS coordinates – Latitude & Longitude: 48°59’50″N 113°39’37″W