Three National Parks Drop Reservations

- The reservation systems were first introduced as pilot programs to combat the consequences of soaring visitation numbers. Arches' visitation grew by over 73% between 2011 and 2021, while Glacier saw an increase of about 1.5 million annual visitors from 2008 to 2017. - Yosemite first implemented a reservation system in 2020 to manage the influx of visitors during the pandemic, with Arches and Glacier following with their own pilot programs in 2022 and 2021, respectively. - The decision to end the reservation systems has been met with criticism from conservation groups. The National Parks Conservation Association stated the move "chose chaos over conservation" and will lead to traffic jams, damage to park resources, and a worse visitor experience. - While these three parks are dropping reservations, other popular sites will not. Rocky Mountain National Park, for instance, will continue to use its timed-entry system to manage vehicle entry during peak months. - In place of reservations, the parks will use other traffic management strategies. Yosemite plans to use real-time traffic monitoring and temporary diversions, while Glacier may temporarily restrict access to areas like Many Glacier and the North Fork when they reach capacity. - Glacier National Park will also implement new pilot programs to manage congestion, including a ticketed shuttle service to the popular Logan Pass and a three-hour parking limit at the pass, effective July 1. - The removal of the system at Arches came after the Grand County Commission sent a letter to the Interior Secretary requesting alternatives for managing park visitation. - Despite some local opposition, a study by Utah State University during the first year of the timed-entry system at Arches found that 84% of visitors surveyed supported having a reservation system for future visits.