Three Major Parks End Entry Reservations
Arches, Glacier, and Yosemite National Parks have ended their timed entry requirements for summer visits, making spontaneous hiking trips easier for outdoor enthusiasts. The change is expected to increase visitation and reduce planning stress for visitors. Meanwhile, a hiker was injured by a falling rock on the Signal Mountain Trail, highlighting unpredictable risks on even popular routes.
- The timed entry system at Arches National Park began in 2022 after a 74% increase in visitation between 2011 and 2021 led to frequent gate closures and overcrowding. The park's decision to end the program came after leaders in surrounding Grand County expressed concerns that it was harming the local economy. - Glacier National Park is replacing its vehicle reservation system, in place since 2021, with a pilot program that includes a ticketed shuttle and three-hour parking limits at the popular Logan Pass. A stated reason for the change was to eliminate the safety risks associated with wildlife and dark conditions caused by visitors arriving before dawn to beat the reservation window. - Yosemite's reservation system was first introduced during the pandemic to manage over 4 million annual visitors and was nearly made permanent. The park will now rely on real-time traffic monitoring and active parking management, a decision some conservation groups have criticized as a "terrible decision" that will lead to traffic jams and resource damage. - While these parks are lifting restrictions, other major parks are not. Rocky Mountain National Park is continuing its timed entry system during peak months, and Zion National Park uses a competitive lottery system for permits to hike the popular Angels Landing trail. [
