To the point - Glacier National Park’s free shuttle system streamlines hiking
By JUSTIN GRIGG of the Missoulian
Click here to view an interactive map with photos of the trail
It’s early in the morning as we step onto the trail from Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The air is crisp, the sky blue, a few clouds float past the park’s peaks above. The creek rushes under the road before cascading down a steep forested incline. And our car is about 14 miles away. Call it an incentive.
The drop-off location at the Siyeh Bend trailhead was my introduction to Glacier National Park’s shuttle system last summer.
Looking back down the trail: west of the pass, the view includes Preston Park and Piegan Mountain. Photo by JUSTIN GRIGG/Missoulian
Originally conceived to relieve congestion during rehabilitation of the Sun Road, the shuttles also open up the park’s point-to-point hikes - routes that start at one trailhead, end at another and require transportation between the two. The advantage of these hikes is that with every step you get a new view, as opposed to an out-and-back route in which you cover the same ground and see the same scenery twice.
“That’s where the shuttle system really revolutionizes hiking in the park,” said Glacier spokeswoman Amy Vanderbilt.
These trails have been around for years, but hikers previously had to either bring two cars, arrange a pay shuttle through concessionaire Glacier Park Inc. or hitchhike.
Now, one need only park at a shuttle stop - there are 17 along the Sun Road - near the start of a hike and catch a ride back from the ending point, or vice versa. Shuttles run every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the route.
“It improves and streamlines how people can enjoy the beauty of the backcountry,” Vanderbilt said.
And the service proved popular in its first year, with about 133,000 people climbing aboard, she said.
“We had substantial feedback from the public that the system was well liked,” Vanderbilt said.
This year, the shuttles are back, with a few adjustments.
KEN BARNEDT/Missoulian
“They started July 3 and will run through Labor Day, seven days a week, 7 (a.m.) to 7 (p.m.),” Vanderbilt said.
Changes this year include the elimination of routine stops at Fish Creek - it’s now an on-call stop - and the addition of a stop at the Rising Sun boat dock, and a new route to ease congestion at Logan Pass. Also, the last shuttles leave Logan Pass at 7 p.m. this year instead of 9:30 p.m.
And even though gas prices have jumped above $4 a gallon, the shuttles are still free once you enter the park - no extra fee or ticket required.
“At this point, there are no intentions to change that,” Vanderbilt said.
To assist visitors in planning outings, the park has put together a list of shuttle-friendly trails in its visitor guide and on its Web site. Among these are classic point-to-point routes such as the Highline from Logan Pass to Granite Park then down to the Loop; from Siyeh Bend to Sunrift Gorge via Siyeh Pass (see map); and from the Gunsight Pass trailhead to Lake McDonald Lodge.
And you can still hop a Glacier Park Inc. shuttle, with rates starting at $8, to put together hikes between the Sun Road and the Many Glacier Valley via Piegan and Swiftcurrent passes.
“It’s a great way for people to do the portion of the Highline down to the Loop, as well as the Siyeh Pass Trail, which is a beautiful hike,” Vanderbilt said.
Ride a shuttle, take a hike
Point-to-point hikes accessible from Glacier National Park shuttles (distances are approximate):
• Lake McDonald Lodge to Gunsight Pass trailhead (via Gunsight Pass), 21.4 miles
• Lake McDonald Lodge to Avalanche Creek, 6.5 miles
• Logan Pass to the Loop, 11.6 miles.
• Siyeh Bend to Sunrift Gorge (via Siyeh Pass), 10.3 miles.
• Siyeh Bend to Sun Point (via Siyeh Pass), 11.1 miles.
• Siyeh Bend to Gunsight Pass trailhead, 2.5 miles.
• Siyeh Bend to St. Mary Falls shuttle stop, 6.8 miles.
• Gunsight Pass trailhead to St. Mary Falls shuttle stop, 4.3 miles.
• Gunsight Pass trailhead to Sunrift Gorge, 4.1 miles.
• Gunsight Pass trailhead to Sun Point, 5 miles.
• St. Mary Falls shuttle stop to Sunrift Gorge, 1.2 miles
• St. Mary Falls shuttle stop to Sun Point, 1.6 miles.
• Sunrift Gorge trailhead to Sun Point, 0.8 miles.
Point-to-point hikes accessible using Glacier Park Inc. and national park shuttles (distances are approximate):
• The Loop to Swiftcurrent Motor Inn (via Swiftcurrent Pass), 11.6 miles.
• Logan Pass to Swiftcurrent Motor Inn (via Swiftcurrent Pass), 15.6 miles.
• Siyeh Bend to Many Glacier Hotel (via Piegan Pass), 13.8 miles.
Source: Glacier National Park Web site, www.nps.gov/glac.
On the Net
• For information on the free Glacier National Park shuttle system, go to www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/shuttles.htm.
• For information on Glacier Park Inc.’s pay shuttles, go to www.glacierparkinc.com/Transportation/Shuttles.
News editor Justin Grigg can be reached at 523-5243 or at jgrigg@missoulian.com.
