Public input sought to improve visitor experiences at Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is seeking public input on the future of how visitors access and travel around the park. 

The park is sharing initial ideas for addressing traffic congestion, visitor movement challenges, transportation and related issues that affect visitor experience and park resources that will be used to inform a long-term plan. The public is invited to comment through Jan. 6.

Over the past two decades, annual visitation at Glacier National Park has increased from about 1.5 million to around 3 million. Much of this use is concentrated along Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor and other front-country destinations during the peak season of June through August, a press release said.

Different pilot reservation systems were implemented in summers 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and the park will again pilot a reservation system in 2025. The pilots were initiated in summer 2021 as a response to increasing issues with traffic congestion.

Prior to piloting reservation systems, the park relied on temporary and unplanned closures of parking lots, park roads or entire valleys to mitigate vehicle congestion.

“It is our collective priority to provide a park experience at Glacier that is enjoyable and safe,” said Park Superintendent Dave Roemer. “We have learned a lot by piloting solutions, listening to feedback and adapting on an annual basis. Now, we want to start the conversation of what a long-term plan looks like at the park. Everywhere I go, I hear so much passion and pride in Glacier. I hope that everyone will take this opportunity to share their input.”

The public can visit the project website, parkplanning.nps.gov, to submit input. This site also provides a summary of key issues, project goals, the history of visitation, transportation and vehicle reservations in the park, and the initial ideas for the park’s long-term plan.