Is Glacier National Park Doing Away with Its Vehicle Reservation System?

Hundreds of vehicles are estimated to have entered the park during the timed entry window each day during the summer, often leaving people on the road. Removing the reservation program may drive more visitors to arrive later in the day, during safer hours.

Timed entry vehicle reservations are touted by some as a way of tamping down on overcrowded roads (Photo: dustin brown/500px/Getty Images)

After the COVID-19 pandemic, Montana’s Crown of the Continent park implemented a vehicle reservation system in 2021 to relieve congestion along the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. Now, officials are reconsidering whether limiting cars is still necessary.

Now, officials at the northern Montana park are considering potentially eliminating the timed reservation system.

News of the program ending was first reported by a northern Montana newspaper Daily Inter Lake. According to the publication, park superintendent Dave Roemer said in a December 9 chamber of commerce meeting that while the move broke up midday traffic, it also incentivized visitors to arrive at the park early in the day.

“We don’t think that people driving in the dark to get to Logan [Pass] is good for the park or good for the visitor,” he reportedly said at the meeting in Columbia Falls, Montana. “There’s wildlife on the road in those hours, and we don’t feel that you should have to get up at 4:30 in the morning to enjoy your day in the park.”

Between 600 and 700 vehicles were estimated to have entered the park before 7 A.M. every day this past summer. Removing the reservation program will drive more visitors to arrive later in the day, he says. Outside contacted the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce for meeting minutes, but did not receive them at the time of this publication. We will update the article if we receive a response.

But as of now, removing the system is purely speculative. Glacier National Park told Outside that it has not officially announced a decision involving the vehicle reservation system.

“The National Park Service continuously reviews Glacier National Park’s pilot operation programs to determine adjustments for the following year,” Autumn Sifuentes, public affairs specialist, said to Outside. “Visitor use data, gate counts, congestion monitoring, traffic operations, and feedback from the public and gateway communities help inform strategies the park uses to manage congestion, shuttles, parking, and visitor access.”

Once a decision has been made for the 2026 season, Sifuentes added that there will be a public announcement.

“Visitation has been on the rise in the last five years, with more and more people flocking to the park to enjoy its scenic splendor and opportunities for recreation in the great outdoors,” writes the National Park Service on its website.

Park recreational visits have steadily increased from around 1.6 million visitors in 2020 to over 3.2 million visitors last year, according to park data.

As it stands, vehicle reservations are typically required between mid-June and the end of September for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork, from 7 A.M. to 3 P.M. Visitors entering the park in a vehicle need a timed vehicle reservation and to have paid the park entrance fee. Timed block entry is required for those holding reservations, while those without can still enter after the entry period.