Three Parks End Timed Entry

- The reservation systems were largely implemented as pilot programs after the post-pandemic travel surge to manage traffic and protect park resources. Yosemite first introduced a system in 2020, Glacier began reservations for the Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2021, and Arches launched its program in 2022. - While these parks are ending their broad reservation requirements, Rocky Mountain National Park will continue to use its timed entry system during peak months, a strategy it has employed for multiple seasons. - In place of park-wide reservations, Glacier is launching a new pilot program that includes a ticketed shuttle system for Logan Pass and will enforce a three-hour parking limit at the popular destination. - The decision has drawn sharp criticism from groups like the National Parks Conservation Association, which warned the move "chose chaos over conservation" and will likely lead to renewed traffic jams and potential damage to park ecosystems. - The change follows years of debate in nearby gateway towns, where some business owners and officials expressed concern that the reservation systems hurt local economies by deterring spontaneous travel. - When Yosemite briefly paused its reservation system in the summer of 2023, the park experienced an immediate return of "horrendous traffic jams" and parking problems, which were then brought back under control when the system was reinstated for 2024. - Without the entry systems, park officials will rely on "real-time traffic management," which may include temporarily closing park gates or diverting traffic when parking lots at popular trailheads reach capacity, a common practice at Arches before its system was implemented.