Going-to-the-Sun Road Shuttle Service Begins July1

Date: June 30, 2009
Contact: Wade Muehlhof, 406-888-7895
Contact: Amy Vanderbilt, 406-888-5838

WEST GLACIER, MONT.  –   Glacier National Park’s free, optional Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttle service will begin operating for the summer on Wednesday, July 1 and continue operations through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. The shuttle runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The shuttles service locations along the Sun Road and through Apgar Village. The last evening buses depart Logan Pass for points east and west at 7:15 p.m. 

This free, step-on-step off, no frills shuttle provides an alternative for visitors traveling the Sun Road. The smaller fuel-efficient vans operate on the narrow and winding alpine section of Sun Road, the larger buses operate on the other sections.

Now in its third season, the Sun Road shuttle started in July 2007. The 50-mile shuttle system that operates between the Apgar Transit Center and St. Mary Visitor Center is part of Glacier’s program to minimize impacts on visitors throughout the multi -year Sun Road reconstruction. Intended to help reduce traffic delays for Sun Road travelers, the transit service provides an alternative mode of transportation for those who don’t mind leaving their vehicles behind. 

The shuttle service is strictly optional, but transit use has been strong with nearly 250,000 visitor rides tallied during the 2007 (132,039) and 2008 (105,639) seasons alone. This option is available in addition to popular guided tours by Sun Tours from a Blackfeet perspective (800-786-9220 or 406-226-9220 or www.glaciersuntours.com) and aboard the historic red buses with Glacier Park, Inc. (406-892-2525 or www.glacierparkinc.com). There is also an eastside hiker’s shuttle between Many Glacier Valley and the St. Mary Visitor Center that is operated for a fee by Glacier Park, Inc. (406-892-2525 or www.glacierparkinc.com).

All previous Sun Road shuttle brochures (2008 and 2007) are out of date, and should not be distributed. Routes have been modified, and a current map is included in the informational park newspaper each visitor receives as they enter the park. The map is also available online at:  https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/upload/web_shuttlemap_2009.pdf.

A number of shuttle-friendly park hikes are accessible by using the park shuttle system. For more information on shuttle-friendly hikes and helpful hints to be prepared for a safe and enjoyable hike go to:  https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/usingshuttle.htm and https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hikingthetrails.htm.

For current information on park roads and weather conditions, and visitor services throughout the park, visit Glacier's website at www.nps.gov/glac, dial 511 anywhere in Montana (select option 5) or call park headquarters at 406-888-7800.