New bike-shuttle service planned for Glacier

Glacier National Park officials will likely start a new bike-shuttle service May 7 to ease congestion and parking at Avalanche Creek this spring.

The Park Service bought two new bike trailers with funds raised by the Glacier National Park Conservancy. The shuttle will run from Lake McDonald Lodge up to the gate at Avalanche, provided the road is open. So once the Avalanche Parking area is full, people can park at Lake McDonald Lodge, put their bikes on the trailer and the shuttle will give them a ride to Avalanche. It’s about 5.5 miles from the Lodge to Avalanche.

The May 7 target date coincides with the Mother’s Day weekend, which is usually a popular time for locals to visit the Park. The shuttle is weather dependent.

The local business community has long asked the Park Service for an expanded shuttle presence in the spring.

The exact shuttle schedule hasn’t been worked out yet, but two shuttles will run on the weekends and one during the week, if need be.

The Conservancy donated $52,000 to the project, said Amy Dempster of the Conservancy. The cost wasn’t just for the bike trailers, which are made in Montana by Huck Wagon, but for several bike racks that will be placed at popular trailheads. The bike racks will be put at Apgar Amphitheater, Avalanche Creek restroom area, the Logan Creek restroom area, Fish creek and the Quarter Circle Bridge Road.

The grant will also improve bike path signage along the Park’s bike path from West Glacier to Apgar.