Middle Fork of the Flathead River, Glacier National Park/NPS, Jacob W. Frank

Cooler temperatures and even some areas of frost are the telltale signs that summer is fading and fall can't be far off in the Northern Rockies. With that in mind, the folks at Glacier National Park in Montana have some tips to make your fall visit to the park go a bit more smoothly.

This year, the park’s free park shuttle system is scheduled to continue running through September 15. Shuttle operating hours shift after Labor Day. The first shuttles will leave Apgar Visitor Center and St. Mary Visitor Center at 9 a.m. and the last shuttles will leave Logan Pass at 5 p.m. for a return to Apgar Visitor Center and St. Mary Visitor Center.

A portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Creek and Logan Pass will close temporarily September 16-29 to allow pavement preservation crews to complete remaining work in the alpine section of the road. 

Logan Pass will remain accessible from the St. Mary entrance during the closure. The park expects that some hiker and biker access will be possible during the closure period, but the days and times will be dependent on weather and overall construction progress. Crews may work seven days a week depending on weather, and may work very late in the day. However, there may be days when the pavement treatment is curing, and while it will not be suitable for vehicle travel, bicycle travel may be possible.

For information on hiker and biker access during this vehicle closure, the public should routinely check Glacier National Park’s Road Status Page

The park expects to open the road again on September 30, weather permitting. Typically, the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road closes between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook in mid-October so that crews can winterize the road before significant snow falls and ice coats guardrails and road surfaces. However, early fall storms frequently close the alpine section of the road for periods of time in late September and early October. 

Visitor center hours for early fall will be:

• Apgar Visitor Center, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• St. Mary Visitor Center, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Logan Pass Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Later in the fall, the St. Mary Visitor Center and Logan Pass Visitor Center will close for the winter, and the Apgar Visitor Center will be open on weekends only.

Hotels, camp stores, and guided tours will begin to close or have reduced hours as we enter into September. For closing dates, please check page three of the park newspaper, or the concessioners’ webpages.

Many campgrounds will begin to close or move to primitive status, meaning that running water and other services may not be available. If you plan to camp in Glacier in the fall, research the campground you want to visit to learn more. 

For more information about a fall visit, please visit the park’s website.