(Free) Shuttle Routes
First Glacier Shuttle up is at 7:00 AM
Last Glacier Shuttle down from Logan Pass
is at 7:00 pm
Shuttle Service started July 1st, 2009 this year.
Shuttle Service stops after September 7, 2009 for this season
"Ridership was up more by more than 50,000 compared to 2008, with 156,726 people utilizing the free shuttle to travel the Sun Road. The increase is partly attributed to an extra week of operation compared to 2008, and an 11 percent increase in visitation to the park, year-to-date. The transit system received a total of 105,639 riders in 2008, compared to 132,093 riders in 2007. In 2008, ridership counts were down from 2007 partly because of gas prices near four dollars a gallon, a week less of shuttle operations, and three east side shuttle buses being out of service for several weeks in August 2008 for necessary warranty service." from NPS News Release
Only the government would have the nerve to give this as an excuse for three shuttles being out of service during a season that only last 9 weeks. The lack of shuttles on the east side in 2008 was very noticeable.
If your going to Logan Pass Glacier Parks free shuttle service is the best option with current road conditions on Going to the Sun Road. The Apgar Transit Center (who would ever be able to tell that you get Free shuttle service at a place named like a park maintenance garage. Is located at the end of the West Glacier Entrance Road near Apgar. The earlier you get a shuttle the less hassle.
This sign is at the start of the Highline Trail at Logan Pass, so far it's the only one I've seen while hiking in the park this year. Free Glacier Shuttle service started operation July 3, 2008.
Due to budget cuts the Glacier Shuttle for 2008 operates from 7 am to 7 pm. In 2007 the shuttle operated from 7 am to 9:30 pm.
(I can't call it a hikers shuttle anymore due to the shorter hours)
As a result the Glacier Shuttle is not an option for long hikes.
2009 Schedule for GPI EastSide Shuttle from Many Glacier, East Glacier and Two Medicine
East side Glacier Shuttle same route different busses then last year but running same route with the shorter hours of operation. The Glacier Shuttle on the east side is on a half-hour schedule. The last time I waited forty minutes and finally gave up. It would be nice if this shuttle was on at least a twenty minute schedule. Usage appears to be dropping from my trips through the park this summer on the east side. West side shuttle has been completely reconfigured. Get a Glacier Shuttle Guide as it can be very confusing on the west side.
Glacier National Park Free Glacier Shuttle Routes. With the price of gas matching the mountain peaks, Glacier National Parks Free Glacier Shuttle, now in its second year of operation, is a great way to get to hikes with trailhead's that intersect Going To The Sun Road. The Going-to-the-Sun Road Shuttle System now services most of the campgrounds that are near Going To The Sun Road.
If you are planning on doing ANY hiking do yourself a favor and go to one of the Visitor Centers and get a copy of Day Hikes in Glacier. Be Aware that the Day Hikes in Glacier has last year shuttle routes, you will need to also pick up the 2008 Going-to-the-Sun Road Shuttle System Route Map. Day Hikes in Glacier has last years shuttle maps and a comprehensive list of most of the day hikes. Glacier National Park Visitor Centers are located in West Glacier and Saint Mary. The Apgar to Avalanche Creek Route is shown in BLUE: The Apgar to Logan Pass Route is shown in Orange and the Lake McDonald to Logan Pass Route is shown in Green and the Saint Mary route is shown in Red.
This is a brief synopsis of the 2008 Routes. Get a Going-to-the-Sun Road Shuttle System Route Map and keep it with you!
Avalanche Creek is the transfer point on the west side. Logan Pass remains the only point to change between the west side shuttle and the east side shuttle. The free hikers shuttle started July 1, 2007. The Lake McDonald shuttle bus is smaller then Saint Mary shuttle bus.
The longer shuttle bus won't make it down the west side of Going to the Sun Road.
On the Lake McDonald Route (the larger busses) the shuttle stops at the Apgar Transit Center, Apgar Village, Apgar Campground, Sprague Creek Campground, Lake McDonald Lodge, and ends at Avalanche Campground. On the Orange Route (the smaller busses) the shuttle stops at the Apgar Transit Center , Apgar Village, Apgar Campground, Sprague Creek Campground, Lake McDonald Lodge, Avalanche Campground, The Loop, and ends at Logan Pass. The Green Route (the smaller busses) starts at Avalanche Campground, The Loop, and ends at Logan Pass. The busses are now color coded on the front. Avalanche is now the primary transfer point to Logan Pass. The smaller busses will depart Apgar Transit Center in the mornings and from then on will loop between Avalanche and Logan Pass. The dispatcher at Logan Pass has a thankless job (especially for a volunteer) but the ones I have dealt with are doing a great job! I'm not seeing large numbers of riders waiting for the shuttle, so either the change in schedule is working or fewer tourists are taking the shuttle.
The west side routes are confusing, and complicated but should help the overcrowding that occurred last year.
On the Saint Mary route the shuttle bus starts at the Saint Mary Visitor Center, stops at Rising Sun Campground, the Rising Sun Boat Dock has also been added to the east side route this year, next it takes a left down to Sun Point then returns to the Going to the Sun Road and proceeds to Sunrift Gorge, then onto Saint Mary Falls, Gunsight Pass Trailhead, Siyeh Bend and then ends at Logan Pass were it meets the Lake McDonald shuttle. When I took the shuttles this year on July 4th there was a good dispatcher at Logan Pass, peace and tranquility are dependent on the skills of the dispatcher at Logan Pass.
NOTE: Due to construction on the Going to the Sun Road you can expect delays when transferring between shuttle routes at Logan Pass. Bus routes and schedules are posted at all of the shuttle stops. This year the routes are confusing on the west side.
Before the hikers shuttle I would hitchhike back to my car, something you still might have to do if your hike ends in Many Glacier.
2009 Schedule for GPI EastSide Shuttle from Many Glacier, East Glacier & Two Medicine
Be aware that most of the EastSide Shuttles start service on July 1 to co-ordinate with the park service shuttle described above. Also the schedules are VERY limited. It took me some time last year to find out about the shuttle schedules. GPI has done a better job this year with the information. The schedules are also posted at each of the stops. If you're hiking over the continental divide on Swiftcurrent Pass Trail or Piegan Pass Trail you will need to get an early start to be able to catch these shuttles. Hitchhiking out of Many Glacier used to be a time-honored tradition but I haven't done it for several years, your results may vary. Hitchhiking into Many Glacier would be much more difficult.
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Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the 'one less traveled' by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
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This photo was taken on my return trip from Polebridge, after a day of XC skiing on the Kintla Lake Road northeast of Polebridge. There are many hidden jewels within the crown of the continent. I returned to the North Fork Road the next day to shoot the last total lunar eclipse of this decade.
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