With the peak visitation season over, construction is starting in parts of Glacier National Park in Montana, and that means you'll have to adjust the way you explore the park this fall.

Glacier officials say access to the Going-to-the-Sun Road on the east side of the park has changed due to construction. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed to vehicle traffic just before the St. Mary Entrance Station due to the entrance station rehabilitation project. There is no parking at the St. Mary Visitor Center. Hikers, bikers, and campers accessing the Going-to-the-Sun Road or the St. Mary Campground should park in available roadside spaces along the Going-to-the-Sun Road or at the 1913 Ranger Station.

Campers will need to hike or bike to the campground from their parking spot. The campground is in primitive status. Loop C is open and has a functioning pit toilet year round. Camping fees are $10 per night through October 31. Starting November 1 camping is free with a valid entrance pass.

The St. Mary Visitor Center is closed for the winter season. For park information including road closures, campgrounds, and weather, please visit the park website.

Weather conditions permitting, bicycles and pedestrians can access the area beyond the entrance station on the newly completed bike path that extends from the park boundary at St. Mary to the visitor center and beyond to the St. Mary Campground. Hikers and bikers who are not visiting the campground do not need to detour all the way to the St. Mary Campground, and can take a short detour on the bike path before rejoining the Going-to-the-Sun Road just past the St. Mary Visitor Center.

Update on other fall and winter construction activities:

Other areas of the park are also under construction. Work crews are taking advantage of the fall season when visitation is typically lower than the summer season to accomplish priority projects.

Avalanche Creek:

At the Avalanche Creek area, visitors can use the boardwalk portion of the Trail of the Cedars leading to the Avalanche Lake Trailhead. However the south portion of the trail is closed to improve safety and construct a new pedestrian bridge over Avalanche Creek. Additionally, a restroom along the Trail of the Cedars will be rehabilitated to meet accessible standards. A portion of this project is being funded by the Glacier National Park Conservancy.

Many Glacier Area:

At Many Glacier Hotel, work continues on the 14.5-month rehabilitation project. One of the historic features, the helical stairway, removed in the 1950s to allow for expansion of the hotel gift store, is being built this winter locally in Kalispell and will be installed in the spring. Plans are in place to reinstitute other historic features including restoring historic finishes, lobby lighting, and hallway transom lighting. Essential electrical and plumbing systems will also be updated

The Many Glacier Road will be closed to public vehicle traffic on or before the third weekend in November, weather dependent. Administrative construction traffic will continue through December 31 as weather allows.

Spring and Summer 2017 Going-to-the-Sun Road Construction

The spring and summer of 2017 will bring the final phase of the Going-to-the-Sun Road rehabilitation project, including 14 miles of parking and signage improvements from the park boundary in West Glacier to beyond the Avalanche developed area. Paving improvements will occur from the park entrance station to the intersection with the Apgar Loop Road on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.