Shuttle bus will run to The Loop

The Going-to-the-Sun Road may not be open to vehicles as far as Logan Pass, but visitors can still get a taste of the high country via Glacier National Park’s free shuttle service starting Thursday, June 26.

The Park will offer a free shuttle ride to The Loop from the Apgar Transit Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

No private vehicles will be allowed beyond Avalanche Creek, and visitors who want to ride the shuttle must start at Apgar. The Park says the shuttle will run about once every 20 minutes.

The Park has closed the Sun Road past The Loop to hiking and biking while snowplows are working, which is most of the day. Visitors can hike the Loop Trail to Granite Park Chalet.

Hikers and bikers can still travel on the Sun Road beyond Avalanche Creek as far as The Loop during the day.

A snowstorm last week sent more than 24 new slides over the west side of the Sun Road. The road crew on the west side was still clearing debris and snow from the road Tuesday and was working in a section known as the Alps.

On the east side, the road crew had re-cleared the Sun Road back to the Big Drift, Park spokeswoman Jennifer Lutman said. Vehicles can travel on the east side to Jackson Glacier Overlook. No shuttle service will be offered on the east side until the entire road opens.

There is no projection on when the Sun Road will open completely to motor vehicles, Lutman said.