Pine trees grow on the mountain sides along the North Fork of the Flathead River on the western boundary of Glacier National Park near West Glacier, Mt., on Sept. 16, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Reservations will no longer be required at three of the country's most-visited national parks this year, making it easier for tourists to explore during the peak season.
The National Park Service (NPS) announced on Wednesday that Glacier National Park will end vehicle reservations in 2026. Arches and Yosemite National Parks will also eliminate the need for timed-entry reservations, allowing visitors to enter during normal operating hours without booking a time slot in advance.
Officials said the decision reflects a broader visitor management strategy.
"While reservation systems are one valuable management tool, our data demonstrates that a season-wide reservation requirement is not the most effective approach for the coming season," Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden said in a Feb. 18 press release.
NPS said the parks will closely monitor visitor numbers, traffic flow, and congestion throughout the season and will take additional measures if needed.
"These tools may include increased seasonal staffing, enhanced parking management, and piloting innovative technologies to improve visitor access while maintaining safe conditions," the agency said.
The new changes received a slew of mixed reactions on social media.
"I loved the timed entry. There were times when we felt like we had the park to ourselves," one person wrote on Facebook.
"When this was first implemented most comments were crying about it and claiming it would hurt outside vendors. And now? Crying about reversing it," another said, addressing the backlash.
"Just plan ahead and arrive early," a third person shared. "There are long lines at most popular attractions."
The El Capitan monolith in the Yosemite National Park in California on June 4, 2015. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images
Glacier National Park in the northwestern corner of Montana welcomed more than 3.2 million visitors in 2024. Arches in southeast Utah drew nearly 1.5 million people, while Yosemite in northern California saw more than 4.1 million people the same year.
Officials recommend planning ahead during the busy peak seasons, as popular areas may experience longer entrance lines and limited parking, especially during the weekends and holidays.
"We encourage visitors to arrive early, explore lesser-traveled areas if certain locations are busy, and be flexible when enjoying the park," Arches Superintendent Lena Pace said. "We look forward to working closely with local and state partners as we implement these adjustments and refine our approach to serve visitors while protecting park resources."
A handful of national parks currently require some form of timed-entry or vehicle reservation, including Acadia, Haleakalā, Carlsbad Caverns, and Shenandoah.
NPS said Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado will also continue its timed-entry system during peak visitations months, which span from late May to mid-October.
