All Veterans, Military Personnel and Families Receive Free Admission on November 11

Date: October 28, 2009
Contact: Amy Vanderbilt, 888 406-5838
Contact: Wade Muehlhof, 406 888-7895

WEST GLACIER, MONT. –All National Park Service sites, including Glacier National Park, will offer free admission to veterans, current members of the U.S. armed forces, and their families on Wednesday, November 11, in honor of Veterans Day.  This annual fee-free day was established in 2006 and is in addition to National Public Lands Day held in late September, the other annual fee-free day. Unlike National Public Lands Day, which is always on a Saturday, the Veterans Day waiver only applies on November 11, regardless of the day of the week.

The fee waiver applies to entrance fees only, however.  Visitors need not identify themselves as military personnel and no special documentation is required. All park visitors are reminded that when entrance stations are not staffed, entrance fees are still required. Upon entering the park, visitors should follow posted instructions to pay entrance fees at the self-pay stations at each entrance.

The Apgar Visitor Center is now open for winter hours through the end of April 2010.  It is open weekends only from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  During weekdays, visitors may stop at park headquarters in West Glacier for information and assistance. Headquarters is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Despite the Going-to-the Sun Road alpine section’s vehicle closure from Avalanche Creek to Jackson Glacier Overlook, weather permitting, 30 miles of the Sun Road remains open for vehicular traffic. This includes 16 miles from the West Glacier entrance to Avalanche Creek on the west side and 14 miles from St. Mary to Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side. Many roads in the park are open to vehicle traffic.  Current road conditions, updated as conditions change, are available on the park’s Web site at: https://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm.   Road conditions are also available by calling 511, the Montana Department of Transportation Traveler Information System. If your phone does not support 511, call 1-800-226-7623.  Both numbers are toll-free. Select “Glacier Park Tourist Information” from the main menu to hear Glacier’s road report.

For additional park information, visit Glacier National Park’s Web site (www.nps.gov/glac) or call 406-888-7800.

- NPS -