Glacier National Park’s free shuttle service makes Going-to-the-Sun road available to more recreationists looking to access the park’s famous views.

For cyclists and hikers, the trip from Avalanche Creek to Logan Pass is one of the more popular park activities before Sun Road is completely open to thousands of vehicles. In this section, the road climbs nearly 3,200 feet in a span of 16 miles.

Sun Road is open to the parking area at Avalanche Creek, but parking there can be limited.

Glacier National Park Conservancy’s Amy Dempster explained the importance of the shuttle service.

“It was started through a grant request from the park, who identified the need to accommodate the increasing interest in the spring hiking and biking season on the Going-to-the-Sun Road,” Dempster said in an email. “The Avalanche parking lot was becoming increasingly congested and the shuttles were a perfect solution to allow additional parking at Apgar and Lake McDonald Lodge.”

For those who don’t find parking at Avalanche Creek, they can park at Apgar or Lake McDonald and take the shuttle to Avalanche.

According to GNP Public Affairs Officer Lauren Alley, the shuttle has grown significantly in popularity and was very busy during the Memorial Day weekend.

“Many of the shuttles were full over the weekend, and it’s a great alternative to trying to find parking at Avalanche Creek,” Alley said in an email.

The shuttle does not run on the east side of the park, but a regular shuttle service that starts at the St. Mary Visitor Center begins July 1.

The shuttle was launched in 2016 as part of a pilot project for the NPS Centennial, the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The shuttle service started as part of a project to study bicycle use in the park during the NPS Centennial year. The $52,000 project was funded by a grant from Climate Ride to the conservancy. Climate Ride is a nonprofit organization that organizes charitable events to raise awareness and support sustainability, active transportation and environmental causes.

The Glacier Conservancy is the fundraising partner for Glacier National Park providing funding for preservation, education, and research through philanthropy and outreach.

According to conservancy’s Lacy Kowalski, the 2019 shuttle service will be supported through Whitefish Community Foundation’s 2018 Great Fish Challenge, which will run from July 26 through Sept. 14.

There are restrictions on how far hikers and bikers can go from Monday to Friday when plow crews are working on the road. On the west side, they are limited to Packers Roost, about six miles past Avalanche Creek.

But on weekends, or after work hours, park visitors may go as far as they wish.

However, there is currently no hiker/biker access on the east side past the vehicle closure at Jackson Glacier. For those who plan to hike or bike from the East Entrance, parking is available at St. Mary, Rising Sun and Jackson Glacier Overlook.

For the updated status on road closures, visit the park’s Road Status Page. It is updated Monday through Friday with the most recent conditions. Crews do not work on the weekend so there are no hiker-biker closures on Saturday or Sunday.

Pets are not permitted past the vehicle gates during this time of year.

Park officials recommend bringing bear spray, water and food and plan a trip the same as if hiking a trail. They also suggest being on the lookout for wildlife and to be aware that bicyclists and hikers are using the same roadway. Avalanche conditions still exist throughout the park and along the roadway.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.