Glacier National Park Provides Updates On the 2026 Shuttle System and Logan Pass Parking

Glacier National Park today announced that shuttle service and three-hour time limit for parking at Logan Pass will end for the season. Parking at Logan Pass will return to first-come, first-served availability, allowing the public to park without a time limit until the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road closes for the winter season.

The Logan Pass Shuttle and Timed Parking at Logan Pass were new programs piloted for the first time in 2026. The program improved public access to Logan Pass by increasing vehicle turnover throughout the day compared to previous years, allowing more people touring Going-to-the-Sun Road to reliably park at Logan Pass to access visitor services, facilities and trails.

“On most days we issued 1,200-1,300 free permits from onsite kiosks for three-hour parking at Logan Pass,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer. “By utilizing stand-by access, we filled seats that were available and provided service to Logan Pass that maximized ridership. This new reservation program significantly reduced wait times at boarding and pickup locations compared to previous years.”

Logan Pass has 235 parking spaces and issued 1,200 – 1,300 free permits from onsite kiosks for three-hour parking. Available data suggests there was significant turn over and more visitors were able to access and use this parking area during their visit. During peak hours, about 100 permits were issued per hour, meaning parking spaces were regularly freed up and taken by new visitors throughout the day. The redesigned shuttle service offered visitors reservable early morning shuttles, beginning at 6 a.m., to facilitate longer day-use itineraries, like hiking the Highland Trail, from Logan Pass.

The park continues to refine transportation and access for visitors while safeguarding park resources.

Logan Pass Visitor Center seasonal updates:

* The visitor center will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sept. 13.

* Reduced hours will begin on Sept. 13 and be open from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m.

* The visitor center will close for the season after Sept. 27.

* Water at Logan Pass will be turned off for the season on September 8, 2026. Visitors should be prepared and bring their own potable water, as bottled water is not available to purchase at the visitor center.

* For the most current operation hours and information, please visit the Glacier National Park website. 


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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

Glacier National Park Announces Temporary Alpine Closures Due to Heavy Rainfall

Glacier National Park is implementing a temporary road closure of the alpine sections of Going-to-the-Sun Road. The closure will extend from Avalanche to Jackson Glacier Overlook at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2026. As of today, it's not clear whether the road has been reopened or not. I'm seeing conflicting information. The park website seems to indicate that it's still closed: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Heavy rainfall is predicted across northwestern Montana beginning on the evening of September 6, 2026, followed by strong thunderstorms that are expected to continue through September 8, 2026. Learn more at the National Weather Service website.

The Logan Pass Shuttle will run normally today, September 6, 2026, with last shuttle departure from Logan Pass westbound at 7:30 p.m. and eastbound at 8:00 p.m. Shuttles will not run tomorrow, September 7, 2026, and regular shuttle service will end for the 2026 season after September 7, 2026.

Visitors should expect detours, delays, and limited access while crews respond to hazardous conditions created by fast‑moving water, debris, and saturated soils.

Glacier National Park will evaluate and re-open areas when conditions improve.

Visitors are reminded that weather conditions can change quickly, and park travelers should always be prepared for inclement weather. Check the park website for the most up to date information. Visitors can also sign up for GNP notifications to receive road status updates by texting GNPROADS to 333111.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

What happened to the other 7 backcountry chalets in Glacier National Park?

Did you know that there were a total of nine backcountry chalets in Glacier National Park at one point? You're probably already aware of Sperry and Granite Park Chalets. So, what ever happened to the other seven chalets?

In the early 1900s, some Americans were becoming alarmed over the increased spending of American dollars on European travel. While discussing Glacier one day, Senator "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman of South Carolina stated: "It is very ridiculous to me to see the amount of money spent by Americans to see the scenery of Europe without having first seen what we have at home." This concern provided one of the motivations for creating a national park at Glacier. Having an "American Alps," or a "Switzerland of the United States," such as Glacier, allowed America to compete against Canadian and European resorts and tourist attractions.

The Great Northern Railway also played an extremely important role in the establishment of Glacier as a national park during this time period. The Great Northern had constructed a rail line along the southern edge of Glacier, and saw the establishment of a national park as a way of increasing passengers on their trains, which in-turn would help to increase their revenues.

So, it was against this backdrop that the president of the Great Northern Railway, Louis W. Hill, began building a number of hotels and chalets throughout the park in the 1910s as a way of promoting tourism. These buildings were modeled on Swiss architecture as part of Hill's plan to portray Glacier as the "American Alps" or "America's Switzerland." Included in this project was a network of nine European-style chalet complexes. Thus, leaving from one of Hill's luxury lodges in the frontcountry, guests could hike or ride to one these rustic chalets in less than a day.

Two Medicine Chalet:

The chalets, built between 1910 and 1915, included Sperry, Granite Park, Cut Bank, Belton, Going-to-the-Sun (Sun Point), St. Mary, Gunsight Lake, Many Glacier, and one of the Two-Medicine Chalets (the other was converted into a store, which is still in use today). In their prime, several of the Chalets would host as many as 100 to 150 guests per night.

The Sun Chalets:

Today, only Sperry and Granite Park remain. Both owe their survival to the use of native stone as their primary construction material. The masonry of these chalets made it possible to withstand Montana’s brutal winters. In contrast, the wooden structures of the other chalets deteriorated so badly that many had to be razed during the late 1940s.

Granite Park Chalet:

The first chalet to meet its demise was Gunsight Lake when it was destroyed by an avalanche in 1916. The Many Glacier Chalets burned down during a massive forest fire in 1936. During WWII, the remainder of the chalets were closed. The lack of use during the war years forced a reassessment of the facilities, and by 1944 park officials agreed that the St. Mary Chalet was no longer necessary, and was subsequently destroyed. Similarly, the chalets at Cut Bank and Sun Point were regarded as "beyond repair" and an "eyesore," and were destroyed by 1949. Finally, the structure used for lodging at Two-Medicine was razed and burned in 1956.

St. Mary Chalet:


Cut Bank Chalet:

It’s a shame that America had to lose these historic structures. Too bad the Great Northern Railway didn’t have the foresight to build more of the chalets out of native stone. Modern day hikers would have even more overnight destinations from which to consider - without having to rough it!.



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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.

Update on bear attack north of Columbia Falls

Evidence at the scene of a grizzly bear attack near Columbia Falls reveal the bear involved was a female with at least one cub of the year.

The attack occurred around 7 p.m. on Aug 31. The victim was a woman walking with her dog on the Cedar Flats trail complex north of Columbia falls. The woamn sustained significant injuries and was transported to Logan Health Medical Center for treatment.

Investigators also located a cached whitetail deer carcass approximately 100 yards off the trail. Given the presence of the cub, the nearby food resource, and other information, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks specialists have concluded the incident was a surprise defensive encounter. Because of the circumstances and the nature of the attack, no further action will be taken to locate the bear. For public safety, the area will remain closed until further notice. The victim’s dog sustained no injuries and has since been reunited with family.

“This unexpected defensive encounter is truly unfortunate,” said FWP Director, Christy Clark. “Our thoughts are with the victim and their loved ones during this difficult time.”

FWP cannot release the identity or health status of the victim.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Services at Logan Pass come to an end after Labor Day

Glacier National Park posted this on their social media today:

With Glacier’s 2026 summer season winding down, a lot of things are changing in the park! Before heading to Glacier, make sure to check for updates, closures, and other information that may impact your visit.

Here are some upcoming changes to be aware of:

🚐The Logan Pass shuttle service is ending for the season. Labor Day (9/7) is the last day of shuttle service up to Logan Pass. If you are planning a trip after September 7 and you are going to be coming to the park in an oversized vehicle or RV, check out our Going-to-the-Sun Road General Info page before arriving to learn about the vehicle size restrictions!

⏱️The three-hour parking limit at Logan Pass will also end on Labor Day (9/7). Be prepared for possible congestion and short-term closures at the Logan Pass parking lot.

💦Water filling stations and flush toilet access at Logan Pass will become unavailable beginning on 9/8. If you are planning on doing any of the hikes in the area, make sure you bring enough water with you. You will not be able to fill up at Logan Pass!

🚽Vault toilets will still be available at Logan Pass until Going-to-the-Sun Road closes for the season.

Check the park’s website or stay tuned here to see what other changes are happening in the park!

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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking