Three Major Parks Drop Entry Reservations
Arches, Glacier, and Yosemite National Parks ended their timed-entry and vehicle reservation requirements for the 2026 summer season. The rollback makes spontaneous backpacking and camping trips significantly easier for visitors who prefer last-minute plans. Other visitor management tools may still be implemented as needed.
- The now-removed reservation systems were first broadly introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to manage crowd sizes and protect park resources from overuse as visitation surged. - At Arches National Park, a timed-entry system had been in place during its high season since 2022 to combat historically dense crowds and long lines. Before the pilot program, overcrowding frequently forced staff to temporarily close the park entrance gates. - Yosemite National Park, which saw annual attendance climb above 4 million people, first implemented a reservation system in 2020. The system aimed to reduce hours-long waits and traffic jams in Yosemite Valley. - Glacier National Park's vehicle reservation system, which began in 2021, targeted congestion on the popular Going-to-the-Sun Road. - While the reservation systems are gone for 2026, some parks will use other methods to manage crowds. Glacier, for instance, will pilot a ticketed shuttle system and enforce three-hour parking limits at Logan Pass. - The decision to end the reservation requirements has drawn mixed reactions. While it allows for more spontaneous trips, conservation groups have expressed concern about the potential for increased traffic, overcrowding, and environmental strain. - Other national parks, such as Rocky Mountain National Park, will continue to use a timed-entry reservation system for the foreseeable future to manage high visitor numbers.
