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Home / TRIP IDEAS / Destination of the Year / This summer, are you going to a national park? better prepare in advance

This summer, are you going to a national park? better prepare in advance

2023-01-03  Sophia Zackary

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Please note that this is a periodic topic that will be frequently updated with fresh content and new opportunities.

People grew anxious to get outside and discover nature as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, which contributed to the rise in the popularity of holidays in national parks. These kinds of vacations continue to be among the most sought-after travel alternatives.

 

On the other hand, because of the great demand, there are typically many people present during the busiest travel season, which is the summer. Because of this, many visitors have taken to getting up before the sun rises to have a head start on their day when visiting national parks such as Arches National Park in Utah. Because of their tremendous popularity, park officials in the United States are being forced to adopt measures to better control visitor numbers.

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The timed ticket system will be reinstated in Glacier National Park in Montana in the summer of 2023, as previously announced, and other entrances will be subject to further limitations as well.

Going-to-the-Sun Road is a well-known route across the Rocky Mountains that spans the Continental Divide and is a popular attraction for tourists. It is approximately 50 miles long. It has been called "probably the most picturesque route in the United States" and is one of the most well-known features of Glacier National Park. If you are interested in going, be sure to schedule your trip in advance.

Additionally, a comprehensive guide to Glacier National Park may be found here.

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If you are entering the park through the West entrance between the hours of 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day between May 26 and September 10, you will be required to have a reservation to enjoy the panoramic views and outlooks that are located along the route. In general, you'll find that the park is at its busiest around that time of the day. If you are thinking about going to Glacier National Park, you should know that tickets are likely to go on sale on February 1. Put a note in your calendar as a reminder to make sure you don't miss out on the opportunity to take in that breathtaking ride. According to a study by TPG, the number of people wanting to participate in any of the activities that are offered in Glacier National Park is significantly more than the number of spots that are available for reservations.

Visitors who already have reservations for lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity within specific areas, like the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor, the Many Glacier areas, or the Two Medicine area, can use those reservations to gain entry into the park instead of purchasing a $2 ticket. These areas include:

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Related: What you should know before you start making plans to visit a national park

New for the year 2023


This year, the reservation system for Glacier National Park was expanded to include more entries into the park. Officials from the park have stated that a study of the data gathered in the Many Glaciers and Two Medicine valleys over the preceding two years was the primary factor in deciding to include both valleys in the reserve system.

The St. Mary entry on the east side will also need reservations beginning on July 1, 2023, and continuing until September 10, 2023, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Visitors on the east side of the park who do not have reservations will still be able to reach Two Medicine and Many Glaciers between the hours of 6 a.m. and 3 p.m.; they will also be able to access complimentary shuttles to Going-to-the-Sun Road by visiting the St. Mary visitor centre.

Additionally new for the 2023 season is the addition of two distinct types of booking windows to make bookings for vehicles.

By utilising a technique known as block-release, a part of the bookings will become accessible around four months or 120 days in advance. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time on February 1, 2023, the first batch of advanced bookings will be made accessible on Recreation.gov. The Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork will both be open for reservations beginning on May 26 and continuing through June 30 as part of this round of bookings.

The subsequent release will take place on March 1, 2023, and it will cover the period beginning on July 1 and ending on July 31. This will include the reservation areas for Going-to-the-Sun Road, North Fork, Two Medicine, and Many Glaciers. On April 1, 2023, bookings will be open for all locations for the period beginning August 1 and ending August 31. On May 1, 2023, bookings can be made for any region for the period beginning September 1 and ending September 10. In the same manner, as the previous year, bookings for a fraction of all available spots in the park will become available on a rolling basis beginning at 8:00 am, twenty-four hours in advance.

A reform that took effect in 2022 will continue to limit the number of days that a ticket is valid for use to only three. The decision to take this action was made by park officials in the belief that it will enable a greater number of visitors to enjoy the breathtaking views and winding route that characterise Going-to-the-Sun Road.

If you don't stop along the way, the National Park Service estimates that the full journey may be completed in around two hours. This may help you choose how much time to set aside for it. Nevertheless, what exactly is the aim of that? To account for the fact that you will most likely pull over many times to take in the breathtaking scenery and snap some pictures for Instagram, you should plan to spend around four hours on the road.

You Should Go to These 15 of the United States Best National Parks
 


2023-01-03  Sophia Zackary