Despite criticisms, Glacier National Park officials see upsides to ticketed entry system

Glacier National Park’s pilot vehicle reservation system has drawn criticism in recent months, most vocally from U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, but officials say data shows that locals are still getting in while visitor experience has improved.

Glacier National Park Public Affairs Specialist Brandy Burke said in an email they are hearing from visitors that their experiences in the park during the pilot program have improved but “appreciate that  opportunities to further refine access remain.”

Park officials have not yet made any decisions about long-term solutions to address access, visitor experience, resource protection and safety, according to Burke. She said they are dedicated to having transparent public engagement and will provide multiple opportunities for the public to weigh-in before “any decisions are made on long-term access.”

The park implemented a pilot reservation system for the Going-to-the-Sun Road during the 2021 season. It has since expanded to include entrances at the North Fork, Two Medicine and Many Glacier.

Zinke has raised concerns about the system since March, saying he has heard from locals that the change makes it hard for them to visit the park, though about 27 percent of all advance vehicle reservations were obtained by residents of Flathead County, according to park officials.

In recent months, Zinke has pushed to see the reservation system dropped. Those efforts include the addition last month of an amendment to the fiscal year 2024 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies funding bill that would end the pilot program.

Zinke has met with Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer several times this year to discuss the reservation system. He told the Daily Inter Lake in July that he understands the difficulties presented by the park’s popularity, but argued that it existed “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”

Burke said park officials are in regular communication with Zinke and appreciate his interest in Glacier National Park.

She said the pilot vehicle reservation system has proven advantageous in a few different ways.

Hazardous gridlock conditions have been mostly eliminated on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which improves access for emergency vehicles. Visitor experience also has improved, she said. Arriving at the gates of the park’s busiest entrances, visitors know they won’t be turned away as long as they have their required ticket.

In previous years, officials managed congestion with gate closures. There were 57 closures in Many Glacier in 2022 before it went to ticketed entry this summer. Similarly, the North Fork area of the park closed 87 times in 2021, the last year before officials implemented the reservation system there.

“The North Fork area has returned to the rustic conditions stated in our managing documents for that area,” Burke said.  

She cited results of a 2022 visitor survey that show viewing scenery, being close to nature, seeing wildlife, experiencing a wild place, seeing glaciers and glacial features are important for visitors coming to Glacier. She said that the 2022 survey also showed 80% of visitors experienced about the same traffic or less traffic than expected during their visit.

“Overall, we are hearing from visitors that their experiences in the park during the pilots have been improved. We continue to fine tune the system to deliver quality visitor experiences while protecting park resources,” Burke said.

In Zinke’s proposed funding bill amendment, he seeks to “defund and block the vehicle reservation system at Glacier National Park.” But the park doesn’t specifically budget for implementation of the reservation system, according to Burke.

“However, we do have employees and volunteers that manage vehicle congestion and parking through the use of vehicle reservations,” Burke said.

When asked if the park could give priority to locals, meaning Montana residents, Burke said

“it would be premature to speculate on future opportunities.”

She added that Montanans already enjoy increased access to Glacier National Park because they live nearby, can plan for weather and can visit the park year-round.

Burke said park officials see the results from surveys as indicators that the pilot vehicle reservation system is meeting or exceeding visitor expectations when it comes to crowding and congestion in Glacier.

“Ultimately, our goal is to provide the best possible access to outstanding experiences while preserving the resources that make Glacier so special,” Burke said. “The park would not make any future decisions on the optimal ways to address park access, visitor experience, resource protection and safety until after a robust and transparent public engagement process.”