September 25, 2026 Team Contributor
Planning a road trip between southern Alberta and Montana? Keep one date in mind: the Chief Mountain port of entry will close for the season on September 30 and won’t reopen until spring 2027.
The Chief Mountain border crossing will close at 6 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, marking the end of its summer operating season. The seasonal crossing is expected to reopen in spring 2027.
For travellers who use this scenic route between Alberta and Montana, that means finding another way across the Canada-U.S. border once the gates close.
A border crossing with a view
Chief Mountain sits along Alberta Highway 6, on the boundary of Waterton Lakes National Park and Glacier National Park in Montana.
At 1,722 metres (5,649 feet), it is the highest-elevation border crossing in Canada and has long been regarded as one of the country’s most scenic ports of entry.
The spectacular setting comes with a practical downside: high elevation and harsh winters mean Chief Mountain can only operate seasonally, generally from May through September.
Where to cross after Chief Mountain closes
Travelers crossing the Canada-U.S. border in winter can instead use the Carway, Del Bonita, or Coutts ports of entry.
If you’re planning a road trip, it is worth checking CBSA border wait times before setting out, particularly if your route is flexible.
And remember, all travellers entering Canada must declare their goods. Canadian residents returning home should keep receipts handy for purchases made or received while outside the country.
Nearly 54,000 travellers used Chief Mountain this season
Chief Mountain welcomed 53,993 travellers into Canada as of September 7, 2026, nearly 5,000 more than during the comparable period the previous year.
The crossing has been part of the region’s travel story for decades. It first opened in 1936, when the Chief Mountain International Highway opened. The Canadian border facility initially operated from a tent before a permanent building was constructed in 1937.
If you hope to cross before winter sets in, the clock is ticking. September 30 at 6 p.m. is the cutoff — after that, you’ll need to use another Canada-U.S. border crossing until Chief Mountain returns for the 2027 season.
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