Glacier Park shuttle starts next month

Glacier National Park will start its free hiker/biker shuttle service from the Apgar Visitor Center from May 7 until June 26— 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. — to Lake McDonald Lodge and Avalanche Creek.

The shuttle operates on a first come-first served basis and also offers a return trip to the visitor center.

Glacier also reminds folks that there are closures when plows are working and this year there will be closures in the upper end of the road when the avalanche danger is high.

In the past, cyclists have been caught on the upper end of the Going-to-the-Sun Road after avalanches have blocked the route down.

“Closure locations will be based on an evaluation of the potential avalanche hazard above the road. This approach will allow more of the road to be opened progressively through the season as the avalanche hazard decreases. Visitors who disobey the road closure signage are putting their safety at risk and could face up to a $5,000 fine and six months in jail,” the Park Service said in a release.

It takes about three months for crews to completely plow the Sun Road. It typically finishes in mid-to-late June,.

As of late last week, crews had made it to the West Side Tunnel, though there was 3 feet of ice in upper regions of the road.

Glacier saw more snow Sunday in Monday, so they’ll have to clear that first before going further.

The Camas Road, Two Medicine Road and Many Glacier Road are all closed to motor vehicles, but people can hike and bike beyond the gates.

The Sun Road on the west side is closed to vehicles at Lake McDonald Lodge, though people can hike and bike to Avalanche Creek when plows are working and farther when they’re not.

In Many Glacier, folks can go to the T intersection before the lodge when crews are plowing, but farther on the weekends. Crews have been plowing the lots around the lodge and the interior of the valley.

The closures are clearly marked.