Glacier Park hiker-biker shuttle opens this weekend
Beard blowing in the wind, a cyclist heads down the Sun Road earlier this spring. (Chris Peterson photo)
Beginning May 13, the hiker-biker shuttle will be available every weekend on the west side of Glacier National Park. The shuttle will operate every 30 minutes beginning at 9 a.m., and will start from the Apgar Visitor Center and make stops at Lake McDonald Lodge and Avalanche Creek. The last shuttle departs Avalanche Creek at 5:15 p.m.
The shuttle will operate until Going-to-the-Sun Road opens fully to vehicles.
Last year was the first year of the hiker-biker shuttle, and the Park will continue to monitor shuttle use and effects on springtime parking congestion. This year, the park has additional bike racks and one additional bike trailer.
The hiker-biker shuttle is made possible in part through donations from the Glacier National Park Conservancy.
Hikers and bikers may travel as far as conditions allow on weekends when plow crews are not working. During weekdays, hiker-biker restrictions are in place to allow road crews to work safely.
Hikers and bikers beyond closed gates should watch for snowplows and other heavy equipment, as well as hazardous areas of ice, slush, avalanche zones and falling rock.
The Park says to prepare and take similar precautions as you would when undertaking a backcountry hiking trip. Please be aware of wildlife on park roads and report any bear or mountain lion activity or sightings to a park ranger.
Park plows are currently at Haystack Creek on the west side and near Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side.
The Two Medicine and Many Glacier Roads are open. The Many Glacier campground, however, is closed due to flooding.