Glacier Park fall season schedule

Operating hours for many visitor services including campgrounds, concessions, boat inspections, and backcountry permits in Glacier National Park will begin to change after Labor Day weekend.

Autumn visitors to the Park will find less crowds, cooler temperatures, and changing vegetation colors. Area residents and visitors are reminded that the Park is open year-round and Park recreational opportunities can be found during all seasons.

• The free shuttle transportation service accessing Logan Pass and locations along the Going-to-the-Sun Road will operate through Labor Day, Sept. 2. The last day for visitors to utilize the free shuttle service during the 2013 season is Labor Day.

• Rehabilitation work on the Sun Road will continue through the fall season. Paving between Avalanche Creek and Logan Creek has been completed. Minor delays will continue in this area to accommodate striping, wheelstop and rumble strip installation, signing, rock placement, and other road work.

Rehabilitation work on the east side between Rising Sun and Siyeh Bend will continue with 20-minute maximum day-time delays. Night closures will continue in this area after 9 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. Sun Point is closed to the public and being used as a staging area for rehabilitation activities.

To allow accelerated fall season rehabilitation on the Sun Road, the last day to access Logan Pass by vehicle on the east side will be Sunday, Sept. 22. Vehicle traffic will be restricted on the east side near the St. Mary Campground beginning Monday, Sept. 23. Vehicle access to Logan Pass will be available from the west side of the park through Sunday, Oct. 20, weather permitting.

• Campground operating dates are as follows:

Apgar closes Oct. 13 primitive camping in picnic area Oct. 14-31, and April 1-May 2 $10 per night, Nov. 1-March 31 free with valid entrance pass

Avalanche Creek closes Sept. 2 no primitive camping

Bowman Lake closes Sept. 6 primitive camping Sept. 7- Oct. 31 (weather dependent) $10 per night Nov. 1 through closure, free with valid entrance pass

Cut Bank closes Sept. 8 operated in primitive status all season, closes noon Sept. 9

Fish Creek closes Sept. 1 National Recreation Reservation System Campground, no primitive camping

Kintla Lake closes Sept. 6 primitive camping Sept. 7- Oct. 31 weather dependent) $10 per night Nov. 1 through closure free with valid entrance pass

Logging Creek closes Sept. 22 operated in primitive status all season, closes noon Sept. 23

Many Glacier closes Sept. 22 primitive camping Sept. 23 -29 (weather dependent) $10 per night, closes noon Sept. 30

Quartz Creek closes Oct. 30 operated in primitive status all season, closes noon Oct. 31

Rising Sun closes Sept. 2 no primitive camping

Sprague Creek closes Sept. 2 no primitive camping

St. Mary closes Sept. 8 June 1-Sept. 1: National Recreation Reservation System $23 per night Sept. 2-8 $20 per night primitive camping Sept. 9-Oct. 31 $10 per night Nov. 1-March 31 free with valid entrance pass

Two Medicine closes Sept. 8 no primitive camping

Campgrounds in primitive status have pit toilets available, no potable or drinking water, limited number of sites, and fees are reduced to $10 per night. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and are reminded that any water taken from streams or lakes requires treatment before use. Current campground status is available online at http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm.

• Hours of operation for the Apgar Backcountry Permit Office will change from Labor Day through Sept. 30 to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during October hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Hours of operation to conduct boat inspections and receive permits will also change this fall:

West-Side Boat Inspections Sept. 8-30 from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  at the Apgar Backcountry Office,  Oct. 1-31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Apgar Backcountry Office and Nov. 1 – May 1 on Mondays-Fridays at the Headquarters office and weekends at the Apgar Visitor Center.

East-Side Boat Inspections Sept. 1 – Sept. 14 (St.Mary) from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 1-21 (Two Medicine and Many Glacier) from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from those closures through late May from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. but expect delays and call ahead at 888-7800

• Many concessioner services will begin closing mid-September, including lodging, transportation, food service, retail shops and boat rentals.

Belton Chalets, Inc. (1-888-345-2649 or www.sperrychalet.com or www.graniteparkchalet.com) Granite Park Chalet closes Sept. 9 (after breakfast) Sperry Chalet closes Sept. 9 (after breakfast)

Glacier Park Boat Company (406-257-2426 or www.glacierparkboats.com) Apgar (rentals only) closes Sept. 2 Lake McDonald closes Sept. 22 Many Glacier closes Sept. 15 Rising Sun (tours only) closes Sept. 2 Two Medicine closes Sept. 8

Glacier Park, Inc. (central reservations 406-892-2525 or www.glacierparkinc.com) Front country lodging, food and beverage services, retail, tour and transportation services Lake McDonald Lodge and Camp Store closes Sept. 29 (after breakfast) Jammer Joe’s Restaurant closes Sept. 2 (after dinner)Many Glacier Hotel closes Sept. 22 (after breakfast) Rising Sun Motor Inn and Camp Store closes Sept. 15 (after breakfast) Swiftcurrent Motor Inn closes Sept. 16 (after breakfast) Swiftcurrent Campstore closes Sept. 16 (closes at noon) Two Medicine Camp Store closes Sept. 8 (open all day) Village Inn closes Sept. 16 (after check-out) Red Bus Tours operate the same dates as the hotels, Hiker Shuttle closes Sept. 2 East-Side Shuttle closes Sept. 22

Glacier Guides, Inc. (1-800-521-RAFT or 406-387-5555 or www.glacierguides.com) day hikes and backpacking, closes October

Sun Tours (1-800-786-9220 or 406-226-9220 or www.glaciersuntours.com) road-based tours highlighting Blackfeet culture and history, closes Oct. 15

Swan Mountain Outfitters (1-877-888-5557 or www.swanmountainoutfitters.com/glacier) horseback rides Apgar closes Sept. 2 Lake McDonald closes Sept. 29 Many Glacier closes Sept. 15

Waterton Inter-Nation Shoreline Cruises, LTD (403-859-2362 or www.watertoncruise.com) Waterton Lake boat tours Goat Haunt Landing closes Sept. 22

• Ranger-led activities such as guided hikes and evening programs are offered throughout Septmber. For more information, visit online at http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/inforequest/inforequest3.cfm. For additional park information, visit the park’s website www.nps.gov/glac or call park headquarters at 406-888-7800.