Glacier National Park puts 3-hour parking limit at its most popular spot this summer

Glacier replaces reservations with shuttles and limits

Glacier National Park announced on Feb. 18 that it will not require vehicle reservations anywhere in the park this summer.

The move ends a pilot program that started in 2021 and changed every year as the park tried different approaches across its valleys and entrances.

Starting July 1, weather permitting, visitors will instead use a ticketed express shuttle to Logan Pass and follow a three-hour parking limit for private vehicles at the summit.

Early arrivals created safety problems

Superintendent Dave Roemer said the reservation system pushed visitors to show up before sunrise, creating safety risks from low visibility and wildlife on the roads.

The park wants to improve short visits to Logan Pass and make its shuttle system more reliable. That need has grown urgent.

Glacier’s annual visitation has jumped from about 1.5 million to more than 3 million over the past two decades, putting heavy pressure on the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor.

Interior Department ended reservations at three parks

Glacier was not the only park to make the switch. The Interior Department also ended reservation systems at Yosemite National Park in California and Arches National Park in Utah.

Kevin Lilly, acting assistant secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said the priority is keeping national parks open and accessible.

The decision came after what the National Park Service (NPS) called a review of traffic patterns, parking availability, and visitor use during the 2025 season.

Logan Pass parking gets a three-hour cap

Starting July 1, private vehicles at Logan Pass will face a three-hour limit.

The park says that gives visitors enough time to hike to Hidden Lake Overlook, visit the Logan Pass Visitor Center, or attend a ranger program.

Anyone planning a longer hike, like the Highline Trail to Granite Park Chalet, will need to take the shuttle instead.

Overnight parking will only be allowed for backcountry permit holders or registered guests of Granite Park Chalet.

Shuttle tickets cost $1 and go fast

The new express shuttle runs on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors can grab tickets through the NPS booking site or by calling 877-444-6777.

The only cost is a $1 processing fee per ticket. Everyone age 2 and older needs their own ticket, and tickets cannot be transferred.

You will need an account on the booking site to reserve, and tickets are not sold inside the park, so plan ahead.

Two windows open for booking

Some tickets will drop 60 days in advance starting May 2 at 8 a.m. MDT on a rolling basis. The rest will go live at 7 p.m. MDT for next-day entry starting June 30.

Cell service inside Glacier is spotty at best, so visitors should print their tickets or save a digital copy before arriving. Park staff will check tickets before boarding, and a photo ID may be requested at that point.

Shuttles run from both sides of the park

West side express routes will leave from Apgar Transit Center and Lake McDonald Lodge, with a stop at the Loop in the afternoon. East side routes will depart from St. Mary Visitor Center and Rising Sun.

Riders can transfer between the two sides at Logan Pass. One notable change: the park shuttles will not stop at Avalanche or Trail of the Cedars in 2026.

Updated route details, boarding times, and stop locations will come later in the season.

Full areas may turn visitors away temporarily

The park will not require reservations for Many Glacier, Two Medicine, or the North Fork in 2026. But when any area fills up, rangers may temporarily turn vehicles away at the entrance.

Visitors who hold reservations for lodging, camping, boat tours, horseback rides, guided hikes, or backcountry trips will still get in during those temporary closures, though they may face delays getting through.

Conservation group raises concerns about crowds

Not everyone is on board with the change. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) said it has serious concerns about Glacier’s ability to manage traffic on peak days without reservations.

The group said pilot programs proved reservation systems work and that scrapping them removes the chance to build long-term visitor management plans.

Visitors also posted questions on the park’s Facebook page about shuttle hours, parking enforcement, and whether three hours is really enough for longer hikes.

Construction will close some areas in 2026

Two Medicine Road will close during spring and fall 2026 for utility and road work, and Two Medicine Campground will stay closed all year.

Utility work at St. Mary Campground should cause partial closures from fall 2026 through spring 2027, though the visitor center will keep its normal hours.

The Polebridge Ranger Station area will see water system work starting in August, with a full road closure toward Logging Creek expected in October. Access to Bowman Lake and Kintla Lake will not be affected.

Many Glacier reopens with more parking

There is good news in the Many Glacier valley. The Swiftcurrent area sat closed through all of 2025 while crews replaced the water system and repaired roads.

That work is now finished, and the area should reopen by mid-May 2026. The project added more than 170 new parking spaces to ease crowding.

No further construction is planned in Many Glacier for the rest of 2026.

Sun Road opening depends on snowpack

Snow removal begins in early April and usually continues until Logan Pass opens between mid-June and early July. Road crews work across about 40 avalanche paths, and the timeline depends on snow and avalanche conditions.

The shuttle system launches July 1, but the park cannot predict when Logan Pass trails will open. Popular routes like the Highline Trail may stay closed for dangerous snow even after the road opens.

Visitors can check conditions on the park’s trail status page.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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