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Many of the country's most popular national parks have moved toward a reservation system to better manage crowds during periods of high visitation. 2024 will be a continuation of this trend as several of the most high profile parks look to limit crowding and wait times for the public.
Glacier National Park in Montana began accepting vehicle reservations last week for the spring and summer season for access to the west side of the popular Going-to-the-Sun Road. Glacier Superintendent Dave Roemer said the park’s goal “is to learn how effective these systems are at improving visitor experiences and protecting park resources.”
In Washington's Mount Rainier, park officials say visitation has increased 40 percent in the last ten years. Mount Rainier Superintendent Greg Dudgeon said it is common for visitors “to sit in idling cars for a couple of hours at the entrance stations and then make laps through the parking lots hoping for an empty parking space.”
It's not just national parks that are drawing crowds—reservations for heavily sought after backpacking permits and hiking destinations have already opened, and the window for securing permits can close quickly. Visiting "The Wave" sandstone formation on the border of Arizona and Utah, or the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota this summer may require securing permits now, or better yet, yesterday.
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By now we have all heard how vital it is for the health and well-being of our youth to be active in the outdoors. Not only that, but nature immersion helps our youth develop resiliency and confidence—what kid doesn’t need more of that these days?”
