Ride the Free Glacier National Park Shuttle
Even with vehicle reservations required in Glacier National Park, the summer traffic along Going-to-the-Sun Road can get pretty congested. In fact, the parking lot at Logan Pass usually fills up by 10 AM. There is an alternate solution though. Ride the free wheelchair-accessible Glacier National Park shuttle. Shuttles are available on a walk-up basis (although you will need a vehicle reservation for the West Entrance, emerginghorizons.com/new-glacier-vehicle-entrance-system-for-2023/); and although there may be a slight wait for the next bus, you won’t waste your time passing by scenic viewpoints or searching for parking places. It’s the smart way to visit Glacier National Park
The Basics
Do you need a vehicle entrance reservation in order to ride the shuttle? It depends on where you begin. Shuttles depart from the Apgar Visitor Center on the west, and the St. Mary Visitor Center on the east. The Apgar Visitor Center is inside the west entrance reservation checkpoint (the West Entrance), while the St. Mary Visitor Center is outside of the entrance reservation checkpoint (Rising Sun). So although you will need a vehicle entrance reservation to access the Glacier National Park Shuttle from the west, you won’t need one if you begin your journey on the east, at the St. Mary Visitor Center.
The shuttles run seven days a week, from 7 AM to 7 PM on the west side; and from 8 AM to 7 PM on the east side. It’s important to remember that the last shuttle departs from Logan Pass at 7 PM. That said if you are in line at 7 PM and the bus is full, rest assured you will be accommodated on another bus. Best bet is to try and get back to your starting point earlier in the day, to avoid that last minute rush.
It is possible to traverse the entire length of Going-to-the-Sun Road on the shuttle; however you will have to transfer three times. The transfer points and approximate length of the journey are listed below.
- Apgar Visitor Center – Avalanche Creek (30 minutes)
- Avalanche Creek – Logan Pass (50 minutes)
- Logan Pass – Sun Point (30 minutes)
- Sun Point – St. Mary Visitor Center (20 minutes)
There can be a 10 to 40 minute wait between buses, depending on the crowds. Again, the crowds increase later in the day. A morning express service to Logan Pass also operates from Apgar (7-8:30) and St. Mary (8-8:45).
Stop Along the Way
Of course the best way to enjoy the day on Going-to-the-Sun Road is to pack a picnic lunch and stop at some of the wheelchair-accessible trails and viewpoints along the route. The Glacier National Park Shuttle stops are listed below, along with a few suggestions if you’d like to linger a bit.
- Apgar Visitor Center
- Sprague Creek Campground
- Lake McDonald Lodge
- Book a one-hour cruise on Lake McDonald through the Glacier Park Boat Company (www.glacierparkboats.com). The boat features ramp access with room for two wheelchairs on the bow, but some power wheelchair-users may have a problem accessing the bow space if they can’t make a tight 90-degree turn. And if you have boat tour tickets, you can also drive your vehicle into the park.
- Avalanche Creek
- Hike the accessible Trail of the Cedars, which begins near the campground and winds .8 miles through the woods.
- The Loop
- This viewpoint offers a scenic view of Heavens Peak, from the paved overlook in the upper parking area or near the accessible parking spot in the lower area.
- Logan Pass
- Don’t miss the quarter-mile paved interpretive path behind the visitor center!
- Siyeh Bend
- Jackson Glacier Overlook
- One of the best spots along Going-to-the-Sun Road for an accessible glacier view.
- St. Mary Falls
- Sunrift Gorge
- Sun Point
- A nice lunch stop. There are several accessible picnic tables sheltered by a small grove of trees.
- Rising Sun Boat Dock
- The Glacier Park Boat Company also offers a St. Mary Lake cruise that may work for some slow walkers. There is a step down to board the boat, but employees are on hand to assist with boarding. Manual wheelchair-users can stay in their chairs for the length of the 1.5-hour cruise.
- St. Mary Visitor Center
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