Beginning Friday, Glacier National Park will offer limited shuttle and tour access on Going-to-the-Sun Road from the west side.

Most of the west side of the scenic highway has been closed to the public since Aug. 12 due to the Howe Ridge Fire burning along Lake McDonald. At one point the fire burned within 150 feet of the road.

The park has worked with the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1 to allow limited visitor access to resume.

Visitors will be required to use the shuttle or tour services to travel through the closed area in order to provide for visitor safety and firefighter access in the fire closure area.

Visitors will be able to ride the park shuttle system with a free park shuttle pass, available beginning at 7:30 a.m. each day at the Apgar Visitor Center Shuttle Stop. The passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Shuttles will depart every 30 minutes. The last shuttle will depart at 1:30 p.m. The last returning shuttle from Logan Pass will depart at 4 p.m.

Concessioner operated Sun Tours and Red Bus Tours will also operate in the closure area. Visitors who would like to make reservations with Sun Tours should visit the Sun Tours website. Visitors who would like to make reservations for a Red Bus Tour should visit the Glacier National Park Lodges website.

Shuttles will not stop between Apgar and Logan Pass. Currently, private vehicles will not be allowed due to significant ongoing fire traffic operating in the closed area. Shuttle and tour services will provide visitors with access to the popular Logan Pass Visitor Center. Shuttle capacity will be limited.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road remains open to private vehicles from St. Mary to Logan Pass, accessible from the east side of the park.

Since the Howe Ridge Fire began on Aug. 11, visitor services have continued in all other areas of the park, and numerous visitors continue to access the park via the St. Mary Entrance as well as the Many Glacier and Two Medicine park areas.