3 major national parks are ditching time entry reservations this summer

WASHINGTON — Visitors to three major national parks will no longer need timed entry reservations this summer, the National Parks Service said Wednesday.

NPS said in a news release that the change is intended to expand public access while still maintaining safe and responsible management during peak visitation months.

“Our national parks belong to the American people, and our priority is keeping them open and accessible,” said Kevin Lilly, acting assistant secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. “We’re expanding access where conditions allow and using targeted tools only where necessary to protect visitor safety, maintain emergency access and preserve these extraordinary places for future generations.”

The parks that will not use a timed entry reservation system this summer are Arches, in Utah; Glacier, in Montana, and Yosemite, in California.

One park that will keep the reservation system in place May through mid-October is Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The park has operated with a reservation system for several years in coordination with Colorado officials, NPS said.

All four parks will increase seasonal staffing and operations for the summer. When parking areas or roads reach capacity, they may implement short-term traffic management measures, NPS said.

“We are committed to visitor access, safety, and resource protection, and will continue active traffic management strategies to ensure a great visitor experience,” said Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden in a news release. “While reservation systems are one valuable management tool, our data demonstrates that a season-wide reservation requirement is not the most effective approach for the coming season.”