OK, everyone, here’s your chance to weigh in on how Glacier Park plans to handle tourist season congestion, especially at the North Fork, Many Glacier and Two Medicine entrances and within the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor.
Continue reading Glacier Park seeks public input to improve visitor experience
Here we go again. Short version: The 2025 Glacier Park vehicle reservation system is the same as it was this year, except that reservations will be for a specific entry “time block”as well as a date.
From the official press release… Continue reading Glacier National Park announces timed entry vehicle reservation pilot for 2025
Before the October 13th NFLA membership meeting, we enjoyed a presentation on the geology of Glacier Park by Teagan Tomlin. Teagan is a very animated and entertaining speaker. Everyone had a good time learning about some of the unique geological characteristics of the park.
Here are a few photos from the event…
From the official press release includes a map of how Going-to-the-Sun Road access will be controlled . . .
WEST GLACIER, Mont. [May 10, 2024] – Glacier National Park staff are gearing up for the season and while full park operations are still a month off, visitors will see an increase in recreational opportunities throughout May.
The west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road will undergo the last phase of construction work that began in May 2023. The last 2.8 miles of construction will focus on paving Going-to-the-Sun Road, starting west of Sprague Creek Campground up to North Lake McDonald Road. Construction resumed in April 2024, and is expected to be completed in late May to early June 2024, weather permitting. Construction will cause delays along Going-to-the-Sun Road, including weekends through Memorial Day weekend. Visitors should anticipate up to a 30-minute wait. Visitors should drive and bike with caution. Continue reading Glacier National Park Announces 2024 Spring Operations
Glacier National Park 2024 Vehicle Reservations Open January 25
Reservations Required May 24 through September 8, 2024
[Link to official press release posting.]
WEST GLACIER, Mont. [January 23, 2024] – Glacier National Park reminds visitors that advance vehicle reservations become available on Recreation.gov starting January 25, 2024 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time.
Vehicle reservations will be available on Recreation.gov through two types of booking windows; A portion of vehicle reservations will be available 120 days or approximately four months in advance on a daily rolling basis, beginning January 25 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time. Next day vehicle reservations will be available at 7 p.m. Mountain Time for next-day entry, starting May 23, 2024 on a daily rolling basis. Continue reading Press release: Glacier National Park 2024 Vehicle Reservations Open January 25
Glacier Park has already posted details of their reservation system for next year!
The big news is the changes to the reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) access via the West Glacier entrance. They will be one-day only, but a reservation will no longer be required to access the Apgar Village complex. However, reservations for facilities in the Apgar area will no longer provide access beyond the “Apgar filter check point.” GTSR reservations will be required from May 24 through September 8, 2024, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Polebridge entrance will be the same as last year: a one-day reservation running from May 24 through September 8, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Many Glacier access will require a reservation from July 1 through September 8, 2024, between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m.
No vehicle reservation will be required to access Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east side!
Note that these new regulations should mean that we will no longer need a special “transit pass” (my term) to swing through the park via the Camas entrance.
From the official press release, here’s the word on Glacier Park’s fall schedule . . .
WEST GLACIER, Mont. [September 1, 2023] – As the autumn season approaches, operations in the park will start winding down. On September 10, the park’s 2023 vehicle reservation pilot will end.
Continue reading Glacier National Park Fall Operation Adjustments for 2023
OK, everyone. Here’s your chance to chime in!
From the official press release . . .
WEST GLACIER, Mont. [August 16, 2023] – Glacier National Park is seeking public feedback through September 30, 2023, on how visitors will access and experience the park in 2024. The park will host a series of virtual and in-person public meetings in late August to provide information from the past vehicle reservation pilot programs and answer questions. The public input from this process will be used to inform a strategy for summer 2024.
Over the past two decades, annual visitation at Glacier National Park has increased from approximately 1.5 million to over 3 million. Much of this use is concentrated along the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor and other front-country destinations during the peak season of June through September.
The park is in the third summer of piloting a vehicle reservation system for major park entrances. The pilots were initiated in summer 2021 as a response to increasing issues with traffic congestion including backups onto US Highway 2, infrastructure capacity, and impacts to park resources from high concentrations of people in the most popular areas of the park. Ongoing pilot reservation systems in summers 2022 and 2023 have provided opportunities to learn more and explore their viability in achieving desired conditions in the park.
Since the park initiated the pilot, it has collected and analyzed visitor use data, as well as feedback from the local community and others, to refine the parameters of the reservation system and continue to improve the visitor experience.
“We have learned a lot from the last three years of pilot reservation systems,” said Park Superintendent Dave Roemer. “We’d like to hear from the public about what has worked, what hasn’t worked, and what ideas they have for managing high visitation at Glacier for 2024. We are listening, and truly need that input before we begin to develop a strategy for next summer.”
There are several opportunities to learn more about this public engagement process and ask park staff questions. Scheduled meetings include:
Wednesday, August 23-Virtual meeting from 6 to 8 pm. Join by following the link at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MeetingNotices.cfm?projectID=118357
Monday, August 28-Open house from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the St. Mary Visitor Center on the east side of the park.
Tuesday, August 29-Open house from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Cedar Creek Lodge in Columbia Falls.
“The goal of this effort is to provide the best possible access while protecting the park and ensuring visitors have meaningful and enjoyable experiences,” Roemer said. “This work is central to the National Park Service mission, and we are looking forward to continued engagement with our partners, communities, tribes, and park friends to make sure that happens.”
The project website provides a summary of key issues, the history of visitation and visitor use management in the park, and instructions for how to formally submit comments.
From the press release . . .
WEST GLACIER, Mont. [June 13, 2023] – Going-to-the-Sun Road officially opened this morning for the 2023 summer season. The road may now be accessed by motorized vehicles all the way through from both the West Glacier and St. Mary entrances. This is the earliest the road has opened since 2005.
Vehicle reservations are required May 26 through September 10, 2023, for those entering the park by vehicle or motorcycle from 6 am to 3 pm at west side entrances including the North Fork, Camas, and West entrances.
With Going-to-the-Sun Road fully open, the number of vehicle reservations available will be increased in the corridor. This increase will be executed through a series of additional reservation releases made available each morning starting today, June 13 at 8 am MDT. For opening day, a one-time release for additional Going-to-the-Sun Road vehicle reservations will also take place today at 6 am.
Continue reading Going-to-the-Sun Road Opens for the 2023 Season
Oh, joy… and just in time for the long holiday weekend . . .
GNP Vehicle Reservation System Begins May 26
24-hour advance reservations released on a rolling basis starting May 25 at 8 am MDT
WEST GLACIER, Mont. [May 24, 2023] – Glacier National Park reminds visitors that vehicle reservations are required May 26 through September 10, 2023 for those entering the park by vehicle or motorcycle from 6 am to 3 pm at west side entrances including the North Fork, Camas and West entrances.
For the east side of the park, vehicle reservations will not be required at Many Glacier, Two Medicine and St. Mary (at Rising Sun) entrances until July 1, 2023.
Visitors with lodging, camping, or commercial activity reservations (e.g., boat tours and horseback rides) do not need a vehicle reservation and can use their confirmation email to access the portion of the park for which their activity is booked.
Visitors who do not already possess a vehicle reservation can book 24-hour advance reservations at 8 am MDT on Recreation.gov the day before their visit. Vehicle reservations are only available at Recreation.gov.
The park is open 24/7 and visitors may enter the park before 6 am or after 3 pm without a vehicle reservation; however, entry to Going-to-the-Sun Road from the west side is restricted before 6 am due to construction activities requiring nightly closures.
For the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor, vehicle reservations will be checked at the Rising Sun check point (located 6 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance) beginning on July 1, 2023. Park shuttles at St. Mary Visitor Center are located outside of the vehicle reservation area and accessible without a vehicle reservation.
Additional vehicle reservation information and frequently asked questions are available on the park’s Vehicle Reservation page.
Glacier National Park is surrounded by a vast amount of additional recreational opportunities, including local tribal lands and national forests. Recreational activities on tribal lands such as hiking, boating, fishing, camping, etc. requires a permit through each tribe. Visitors can find more information on the Blackfeet Nation and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) websites. Information for recreation in the Flathead National Forest and Bob Marshall Wilderness can be found on the Forest Services’ website. Visitors should research and plan before visiting these areas.
Need help planning your trip? Visitors looking for travel guidance can visit the Glacier Country Tourism website for additional information about the areas and businesses surrounding Glacier National Park.