Glacier National Park starting ticketed Entry
https://flatheadbeacon.com/2021/03/31/glacier-national-park-unveils-ticketed-entry-system-for-sun-road/ I'm sure there are going to be questions and local pushback.
Forum Discussion
I think it is a good idea. We visited Glacier last summer. Basically drove over and back, no where to park...
I think we found 2 times where we could park but neither had hiking trails from that point so people only got out, took some pictures and drove off. Most of the roadside parking is full by early morning and you are lucky to get a spot. If you don't stick around, then you move on and might not find another place to park. We did decide we wanted to hike to a lake, so on our 3rd day, got up really early and went and found what seemed like the last spot. The trail was very overcrowded and we wore masks almost the entire hike due to people coming the other way the entire route.
We went to Zion this winter, the shuttle system isn't perfect, but you get a reservation, show up, get on a bus, get in the park, then it works great. We made 3 stops, hiked, enjoyed, then took the bus back to the main shuttle stop. I don't need to go back, but it was easy and didn't have to fight traffic the entire drive up and back.
Glacier was nice, but other areas of the country are just as nice and are not so crowded...
I think we found 2 times where we could park but neither had hiking trails from that point so people only got out, took some pictures and drove off. Most of the roadside parking is full by early morning and you are lucky to get a spot. If you don't stick around, then you move on and might not find another place to park. We did decide we wanted to hike to a lake, so on our 3rd day, got up really early and went and found what seemed like the last spot. The trail was very overcrowded and we wore masks almost the entire hike due to people coming the other way the entire route.
We went to Zion this winter, the shuttle system isn't perfect, but you get a reservation, show up, get on a bus, get in the park, then it works great. We made 3 stops, hiked, enjoyed, then took the bus back to the main shuttle stop. I don't need to go back, but it was easy and didn't have to fight traffic the entire drive up and back.
Glacier was nice, but other areas of the country are just as nice and are not so crowded...
