WEST GLACIER — September is bringing changes for visitors to Glacier National Park.
Service hours begin to shorten, and construction projects expand to take advantage of lower visitation and remaining favorable weather.
The park’s free park shuttle system is scheduled to continue running through Sept. 15. The first shuttles leave Apgar Visitor Center and St. Mary Visitor Center at 9 a.m. and the last shuttles leave Logan Pass at 5 p.m.
A portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Creek and Logan Pass will close temporarily from Sept. 16 until Sept. 29 to allow pavement preservation crews to complete remaining work in the alpine section of the road.
Logan Pass will remain accessible from the St. Mary entrance during the closure. The park also expects that some hiker and biker access will be possible during the closure period, but the days and times will be dependent on weather and overall construction progress.
Crews may work seven days a week depending on weather, and may work very late in the day. However, there may be days when the pavement treatment is curing, and while it will not be suitable for vehicle travel, bicycle travel may be possible.
Click here for information on hiker and biker access during this vehicle closure. The park expects to open the road again on Sept. 30, weather permitting.
Typically, the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road closes between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook in mid-October so that crews can winterize the road before significant snow falls and ice coats guardrails and road surfaces.
However, early fall storms frequently close the alpine section of the road for periods of time in late September and early October.
Visitor center hours for early fall will be:
- Apgar Visitor Center, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- St. Mary Visitor Center, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Logan Pass Visitor Center, 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Later in the fall, the St. Mary Visitor Center and Logan Pass Visitor Center will close for the winter, and the Apgar Visitor Center will be open on weekends only.
Hotels, camp stores, and guided tours will begin to close or have reduced hours as we enter into September.
Many campgrounds will begin to close or move to primitive status, meaning that running water and other services may not be available.
Click here for more information about a fall visit to Glacier National Park.
