There will be three major road improvement projects in Yellowstone National Park beginning in 2022. All three projects will cause major delays (Lewis River Bridge, Old Faithful to West Thumb and Yellowstone River Bridge) and two projects (Old Faithful to West Thumb and Lewis River Bridge) will have overnight closures.
The National Park Service (NPS) decided to begin the Old Faithful to West Thumb and Lewis River Bridge project simultaneously to complete both in the same two-year time window. Otherwise, impacts to visitors would have occurred over four to five years.
"It's important the visiting public understand the major delays that will occur in 2022 and 2023 and impacts to the South Entrance Road,” said superintendent Cam Sholly. "While we always strive to execute projects in the least impacting way, the Old Faithful to West Thumb and Lewis River Bridge projects will seriously disrupt travel entering and exiting the park’s south entrance and visitors should plan accordingly. We very much appreciate the funding received through the Great American Outdoors Act to complete these critical projects."
Addressing the deferred maintenance backlog is part of the NPS core mission to preserve national parks and provide a world-class visitor experience. In 2018, Yellowstone reported a conservative backlog estimate exceeding $586 million, more than half of which is related to park roads. With the completion of these three projects, the park will reduce its deferred maintenance backlog by about $103 million.
For more information, please click here.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Sunday, February 27, 2022
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Grand Teton National Park to conduct aerial operations to cull non-native mountain goats
Beginning today, February 23, the National Park Service will cull non-native mountain goats using aerial methods in Grand Teton National Park in order to conserve a native and vulnerable population of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in the Teton Range.
During aerial operations an area encompassing the northern portion of the Teton Range from Cascade Canyon to Berry Creek and extending from the base of the range west to the park boundary will be closed. Additional locations may be closed if mountain goats are located in other areas of the park.
Bighorn sheep have occupied the Teton Mountain Range for thousands of years, but today this native population is small, isolated from other nearby populations, and at risk of local extinction. As one of the smallest and most isolated herds in Wyoming, currently estimated at approximately 125 animals, the native Teton Range bighorn sheep herd is of high conservation value to the park, the Jackson Hole Community, and millions of visitors from around the world who visit the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The National Park Service has a responsibility to protect native species and reduce the potential for local extinction of a native species within the park. Mountain goats are not native to Grand Teton National Park.
Mountain goats were introduced into the Snake River Range in Idaho and over the years their population expanded and reached the Teton Range, numbering more than 100 animals before removal efforts were initiated in 2020. Mountain goats can carry bacterial diseases that are lethal to bighorn sheep. The Teton Range bighorn sheep population has been relatively isolated and are therefore likely ‘naïve’ to these diseases.
As part of the park’s 2019 Mountain Goat Management Plan, the park removed 36 mountain goats using aerial lethal means in February 2020, 43 mountain goats using qualified volunteers in Fall 2020, and an additional 20 mountain goats using qualified volunteers in Fall 2021.
In consultation with partners, the NPS has determined that the continued use of qualified volunteers would be neither safe nor effective in removing the remaining 25-35 nonnative mountain goats located in the remote terrain of the Teton Range. During the Fall 2021 qualified volunteer program, a team attempting to recover culled mountain goats was stranded overnight in technical terrain and required climbing assistance to descend the area the next day. The safety risks and difficulty in ground-based removal efforts would continue to increase given there are fewer non-native mountain goats and most of those that remain occupy the least accessible areas of the Teton Range. As such, aerial removal is a safer and more effective method.
Lethal removal activities will be performed by contractors with appropriate training, certifications, and skills in aviation operations and the safe use of firearm protocols.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
During aerial operations an area encompassing the northern portion of the Teton Range from Cascade Canyon to Berry Creek and extending from the base of the range west to the park boundary will be closed. Additional locations may be closed if mountain goats are located in other areas of the park.
Bighorn sheep have occupied the Teton Mountain Range for thousands of years, but today this native population is small, isolated from other nearby populations, and at risk of local extinction. As one of the smallest and most isolated herds in Wyoming, currently estimated at approximately 125 animals, the native Teton Range bighorn sheep herd is of high conservation value to the park, the Jackson Hole Community, and millions of visitors from around the world who visit the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The National Park Service has a responsibility to protect native species and reduce the potential for local extinction of a native species within the park. Mountain goats are not native to Grand Teton National Park.
Mountain goats were introduced into the Snake River Range in Idaho and over the years their population expanded and reached the Teton Range, numbering more than 100 animals before removal efforts were initiated in 2020. Mountain goats can carry bacterial diseases that are lethal to bighorn sheep. The Teton Range bighorn sheep population has been relatively isolated and are therefore likely ‘naïve’ to these diseases.
As part of the park’s 2019 Mountain Goat Management Plan, the park removed 36 mountain goats using aerial lethal means in February 2020, 43 mountain goats using qualified volunteers in Fall 2020, and an additional 20 mountain goats using qualified volunteers in Fall 2021.
In consultation with partners, the NPS has determined that the continued use of qualified volunteers would be neither safe nor effective in removing the remaining 25-35 nonnative mountain goats located in the remote terrain of the Teton Range. During the Fall 2021 qualified volunteer program, a team attempting to recover culled mountain goats was stranded overnight in technical terrain and required climbing assistance to descend the area the next day. The safety risks and difficulty in ground-based removal efforts would continue to increase given there are fewer non-native mountain goats and most of those that remain occupy the least accessible areas of the Teton Range. As such, aerial removal is a safer and more effective method.
Lethal removal activities will be performed by contractors with appropriate training, certifications, and skills in aviation operations and the safe use of firearm protocols.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Yellowstone to improve telecommunications systems in developed areas
The National Park Service (NPS) signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for an environmental assessment (EA) to improve telecommunications systems in the developed areas of Yellowstone National Park. The FONSI was approved in 2021. Although the environmental review process was completed last year, the park continued to evaluate other impacts and needs of this significant project prior to implementation.
The selected action described in the FONSI allows for the installation of 187 miles of fiber optic cable in previously disturbed areas along park roads. Work by the applicant, Diamond Communications LLC, is not authorized to begin until a right-of-way (ROW) permit is approved and issued. The park is evaluating issuance of a ROW permit this year, and if approved, work would begin in the spring of 2023.
The park’s existing microwave radio system was originally installed between 1979-1990. Telecommunications and data services carried on the system are highly unreliable and do not adequately support the park’s needs for emergency communications, operations, and other forms of communications. The telecommunications services provider repaired the current system a total of 66 times in 2021.
Installation of fiber along the road corridor will enable the park to remove 25 (five reflector panels and 20 antennas) pieces of antiquated and obsolete telecommunications equipment currently located on numerous mountain tops and backcountry sites, while substantially improving the connection speeds needed for management and operations of the park.
The park encouraged public comment on this project in October 2020 and March 2021 and received in total 288 pieces of correspondence. All substantive comments received during the comment periods were considered during the decision process. Park responses to comments can be found on Page 12 of the FONSI.
Additional project details include:
* Telecommunication systems can be considered a utility and, like other utilities, are authorized on NPS lands using the ROW permit process. About 8% of the park is currently covered by cellular service which is intended to provide service only in developed areas and not along roadways or in the backcountry.
* There is no plan to expand authorized cellular coverage beyond existing coverage areas.
* Fiber will allow for a better quality of service within existing coverage areas.
* This project is consistent with Yellowstone National Park's Wireless Communications Services Plan that was completed through an EA in 2009.
* Plans are proceeding to relocate cell towers from ridgetops to less visible sites in developed areas at Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs.
* No new cellular towers will be installed under this project.
* The applicant will pay for all up-front construction costs.
* Most of the fiber optic cable will be buried in a 1-¼" conduit along park roadways.
Benefits to NPS staff, partners and visitors include:
* Improved telephone, cellular phone, park computer networks and broadband internet services to meet critical park operations, safety and emergency services and visitor information needs and expectations in developed areas.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
The selected action described in the FONSI allows for the installation of 187 miles of fiber optic cable in previously disturbed areas along park roads. Work by the applicant, Diamond Communications LLC, is not authorized to begin until a right-of-way (ROW) permit is approved and issued. The park is evaluating issuance of a ROW permit this year, and if approved, work would begin in the spring of 2023.
The park’s existing microwave radio system was originally installed between 1979-1990. Telecommunications and data services carried on the system are highly unreliable and do not adequately support the park’s needs for emergency communications, operations, and other forms of communications. The telecommunications services provider repaired the current system a total of 66 times in 2021.
Installation of fiber along the road corridor will enable the park to remove 25 (five reflector panels and 20 antennas) pieces of antiquated and obsolete telecommunications equipment currently located on numerous mountain tops and backcountry sites, while substantially improving the connection speeds needed for management and operations of the park.
The park encouraged public comment on this project in October 2020 and March 2021 and received in total 288 pieces of correspondence. All substantive comments received during the comment periods were considered during the decision process. Park responses to comments can be found on Page 12 of the FONSI.
Additional project details include:
* Telecommunication systems can be considered a utility and, like other utilities, are authorized on NPS lands using the ROW permit process. About 8% of the park is currently covered by cellular service which is intended to provide service only in developed areas and not along roadways or in the backcountry.
* There is no plan to expand authorized cellular coverage beyond existing coverage areas.
* Fiber will allow for a better quality of service within existing coverage areas.
* This project is consistent with Yellowstone National Park's Wireless Communications Services Plan that was completed through an EA in 2009.
* Plans are proceeding to relocate cell towers from ridgetops to less visible sites in developed areas at Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs.
* No new cellular towers will be installed under this project.
* The applicant will pay for all up-front construction costs.
* Most of the fiber optic cable will be buried in a 1-¼" conduit along park roadways.
Benefits to NPS staff, partners and visitors include:
* Improved telephone, cellular phone, park computer networks and broadband internet services to meet critical park operations, safety and emergency services and visitor information needs and expectations in developed areas.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Friday, February 18, 2022
Yellowstone recruiting for 2022 Youth Conservation Corps program
How would you like to work, learn, play and serve in Yellowstone’s wonderland on its 150th anniversary? Yellowstone National Park is currently recruiting for the 2022 Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), a residential work-based education program for people between the ages of 15 and 18. Visit the YCC program to apply. Completed application materials must be postmarked by March 1, 2022.
Two month-long YCC sessions will be offered from June 12-July 13 and July 17-August 17. Thirty-six youth will be randomly selected from across the country to participate in the program. Applicants must be citizens of the United States and 15 years of age by June 12, but not over 18 years of age by August 17. Yellowstone recruits youth from all social, economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds for the program. COVID-19 mitigation measures will be implemented to offer as safe a program as possible this summer.
No previous wilderness experience is necessary, but enjoying camping is a plus since it will be required during work assignments. Applicants should possess a positive attitude, a willingness and ability to work and learn in a physically active outdoor program, and get along well with others. Participants will be required to live in the park, and a minimal fee will be charged for room and board. Wages will be set at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
YCC is designed to develop an appreciation for the nation’s natural resources and heritage through unique educational, recreational, and work experiences. Corps members work together with National Park Service staff to complete conservation projects such as trail rehabilitation, campground restoration, and a wide variety of resource management, visitor support services and maintenance projects.
Participants develop their job and leadership skills while exploring personal values, gaining self-esteem, expanding their awareness of work ethics, and learning firsthand about environmental and conservation issues. Corps members also participate in evening and weekend recreational activities and discover the many options for careers in the National Park Service and other land management agencies.
Questions may be directed to YELL_YCC_Office@nps.gov.
The Yellowstone YCC Program is funded by park entrance fees and generous donations to Yellowstone Forever, the park’s official nonprofit partner.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Two month-long YCC sessions will be offered from June 12-July 13 and July 17-August 17. Thirty-six youth will be randomly selected from across the country to participate in the program. Applicants must be citizens of the United States and 15 years of age by June 12, but not over 18 years of age by August 17. Yellowstone recruits youth from all social, economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds for the program. COVID-19 mitigation measures will be implemented to offer as safe a program as possible this summer.
No previous wilderness experience is necessary, but enjoying camping is a plus since it will be required during work assignments. Applicants should possess a positive attitude, a willingness and ability to work and learn in a physically active outdoor program, and get along well with others. Participants will be required to live in the park, and a minimal fee will be charged for room and board. Wages will be set at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
YCC is designed to develop an appreciation for the nation’s natural resources and heritage through unique educational, recreational, and work experiences. Corps members work together with National Park Service staff to complete conservation projects such as trail rehabilitation, campground restoration, and a wide variety of resource management, visitor support services and maintenance projects.
Participants develop their job and leadership skills while exploring personal values, gaining self-esteem, expanding their awareness of work ethics, and learning firsthand about environmental and conservation issues. Corps members also participate in evening and weekend recreational activities and discover the many options for careers in the National Park Service and other land management agencies.
Questions may be directed to YELL_YCC_Office@nps.gov.
The Yellowstone YCC Program is funded by park entrance fees and generous donations to Yellowstone Forever, the park’s official nonprofit partner.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
44 national parks set visitation records in 2021
While some of the most well-known national parks again had record visitation in 2021, numbers across the entire National Park System remained below pre-pandemic totals. These findings were released today as the National Park Service published its official annual visitation statistics for 2021.
Of 423 parks in the National Park System, just 25 received more than 50 percent of the system’s total 297.1 million recreation visits in 2021. Last year’s visitation increased by 60 million over 2020 when COVID-19 shuttered facilities in most parks for at least part of the year.
“It’s wonderful to see so many Americans continuing to find solace and inspiration in these incredible places during the second year of the pandemic,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “We’re happy to see so many visitors returning to iconic parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite, but there are hundreds more that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Whatever experience you’re looking for in 2022, national parks are here to discover.”
As you plan your travel, take advantage of the search feature on the NPS website to search by state, activity and topic– you're sure to discover a hidden gem or two. Also be sure to download the NPS App from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store to find up-to-date information about all 423 national parks.
Inside the 2021 visitation report:
* Forty-four parks set a record for recreation visits in 2021.
* Six parks broke a visitation record they set in 2020.
* Blue Ridge Parkway remained the most-visited park in the National Park System.
* Great Smoky Mountains National Park set a visitation record in 2021 and passed 14 million recreation visits for the first time.
* Five parks began reporting official visitor statistics for the first time: Alagnak Wild River (Alaska), Camp Nelson National Monument (Ky.), Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument (Miss.), Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (Nev.), and World War I Memorial (District of Columbia).
* In 2021, some parks operated with limited capacities or indoor space restrictions, but most were open to visitors. Seven parks—all of them historic sites in urban areas—remained closed throughout 2021 due health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.
* Recreation visitor hours dipped from 1.43 billion in 2019 to 1.36 billion in 2021, a 5% decrease.
2021 by the numbers:
* 297,115,406 recreation visits
* 1,356,657,749 recreation visitor hours
* 12,745,455 overnight stays (recreation + non-recreation)
* Three parks had more than 10 million recreation visits – Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Golden Gate National Recreation Area
* Eleven parks had more than five million recreation visits – up from seven parks in 2020 and equal to the number of parks in 2019
* 73 parks had more than one million recreation visits (19% of reporting parks) - up from 60 parks in 2020 and down from 80 parks in 2019
* 25% of total recreation visits occurred in the top eight most-visited parks (2% of all parks in the National Park System)
* 50% of total recreation visits occurred in the top 25 most-visited parks (6% of all parks in the National Park System)
Top 10 most visited parks in the National Park System:
* Blue Ridge Parkway: 15.9 million
* Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 14.1 million
* Golden Gate National Recreation Area: 13.7 million
* Gateway National Recreation Area: 9.1 million
* Lake Mead National Recreation Area: 7.6 million
* George Washington Memorial Parkway: 6.8 million
* Natchez Trace Parkway: 6.4 million
* Lincoln Memorial: 5.8 million
* Gulf Islands National Seashore: 5.5 million
* Zion National Park: 5 million
For an in-depth look at visitation statistics, please visit the National Park Service Social Science website.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Of 423 parks in the National Park System, just 25 received more than 50 percent of the system’s total 297.1 million recreation visits in 2021. Last year’s visitation increased by 60 million over 2020 when COVID-19 shuttered facilities in most parks for at least part of the year.
“It’s wonderful to see so many Americans continuing to find solace and inspiration in these incredible places during the second year of the pandemic,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “We’re happy to see so many visitors returning to iconic parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite, but there are hundreds more that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Whatever experience you’re looking for in 2022, national parks are here to discover.”
As you plan your travel, take advantage of the search feature on the NPS website to search by state, activity and topic– you're sure to discover a hidden gem or two. Also be sure to download the NPS App from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store to find up-to-date information about all 423 national parks.
Inside the 2021 visitation report:
* Forty-four parks set a record for recreation visits in 2021.
* Six parks broke a visitation record they set in 2020.
* Blue Ridge Parkway remained the most-visited park in the National Park System.
* Great Smoky Mountains National Park set a visitation record in 2021 and passed 14 million recreation visits for the first time.
* Five parks began reporting official visitor statistics for the first time: Alagnak Wild River (Alaska), Camp Nelson National Monument (Ky.), Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument (Miss.), Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (Nev.), and World War I Memorial (District of Columbia).
* In 2021, some parks operated with limited capacities or indoor space restrictions, but most were open to visitors. Seven parks—all of them historic sites in urban areas—remained closed throughout 2021 due health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.
* Recreation visitor hours dipped from 1.43 billion in 2019 to 1.36 billion in 2021, a 5% decrease.
2021 by the numbers:
* 297,115,406 recreation visits
* 1,356,657,749 recreation visitor hours
* 12,745,455 overnight stays (recreation + non-recreation)
* Three parks had more than 10 million recreation visits – Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Golden Gate National Recreation Area
* Eleven parks had more than five million recreation visits – up from seven parks in 2020 and equal to the number of parks in 2019
* 73 parks had more than one million recreation visits (19% of reporting parks) - up from 60 parks in 2020 and down from 80 parks in 2019
* 25% of total recreation visits occurred in the top eight most-visited parks (2% of all parks in the National Park System)
* 50% of total recreation visits occurred in the top 25 most-visited parks (6% of all parks in the National Park System)
Top 10 most visited parks in the National Park System:
* Blue Ridge Parkway: 15.9 million
* Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 14.1 million
* Golden Gate National Recreation Area: 13.7 million
* Gateway National Recreation Area: 9.1 million
* Lake Mead National Recreation Area: 7.6 million
* George Washington Memorial Parkway: 6.8 million
* Natchez Trace Parkway: 6.4 million
* Lincoln Memorial: 5.8 million
* Gulf Islands National Seashore: 5.5 million
* Zion National Park: 5 million
For an in-depth look at visitation statistics, please visit the National Park Service Social Science website.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Monday, February 14, 2022
Rangers respond to fatality in Apocalypse Couloir
Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call the afternoon of February 13, about a skier involved in a fall in the Apocalypse Couloir in Death Canyon. Grand Teton National Park rangers and Teton County Search and Rescue jointly responded to the incident.
A climber in Death Canyon reported witnessing an individual fall in the Apocalypse Couloir, who appeared to be unresponsive. Park rangers, Teton County Search and Rescue personnel and the Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter responded to provide medical care.
Radcliff Spencer, a 27-year-old Jackson, Wyoming resident, suffered a fatal fall while attempting to ski the couloir. Resuscitation efforts were attempted but proved unsuccessful due to the nature of injuries sustained.
The remains of the deceased were flown from the backcountry and transferred to the Teton County Coroner. The four remaining members of Spencer’s party were transported out of the canyon via helicopter.
While the snowpack remains generally stable, hazards still exist and may carry high consequence in technical terrain.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
A climber in Death Canyon reported witnessing an individual fall in the Apocalypse Couloir, who appeared to be unresponsive. Park rangers, Teton County Search and Rescue personnel and the Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter responded to provide medical care.
Radcliff Spencer, a 27-year-old Jackson, Wyoming resident, suffered a fatal fall while attempting to ski the couloir. Resuscitation efforts were attempted but proved unsuccessful due to the nature of injuries sustained.
The remains of the deceased were flown from the backcountry and transferred to the Teton County Coroner. The four remaining members of Spencer’s party were transported out of the canyon via helicopter.
While the snowpack remains generally stable, hazards still exist and may carry high consequence in technical terrain.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Monday, February 7, 2022
Vehicle Reservations for Glacier National Park Go Online March 2 at 8 am MST
Glacier National Park announces that vehicle reservations, formerly known as “tickets,” required to access Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) and the North Fork area via the Polebridge Entrance Station from May 27 to September 11, 2022 will become available on Recreation.gov starting March 2 at 8 am MST/10 am EST. Other areas of the park can be accessed without a reservation.
This will be the second year of the reservation system pilot, designed to manage high traffic volumes within the park and avoid gridlock. Glacier National Park is consistently the tenth most visited national park in the country. The 2021 reservation system pilot reduced congestion during peak hours and circumvented the need to close vehicle access to GTSR an estimated 35 times. This was achieved despite 2021 visitation numbers currently indicating the second highest visitation on record for the park. Avoiding gridlock also ensured emergency vehicle access and prevented severe vehicle back-ups at the West Entrance.
The North Fork also saw record-setting visitation. By August 2021, visitation to the North Fork was 20% higher than in 2019. In contrast to GTSR, the North Fork is managed as a “wilderness threshold zone” with emphasis on solitude, a sense of history, difficulty of access, and limited support facilities. In order to maintain these values, the park will manage North Fork visitation levels to eliminate the need to temporarily restrict access, improve visitor safety, protect sensitive resources, and provide quality visitor experiences.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork vehicle reservations function as two separate reservation systems. Beginning March 2, 2022 at 8 am, vehicle reservations for both areas will be available 120 days in advance on a rolling window. Starting May 26, additional vehicle reservations will also be made available the day before the effective date.
The reservation system will require visitors to set up an account on Recreation.gov and obtain a vehicle reservation ($2 nonrefundable fee). Recreation.gov is the designated partner of 12 federal agencies for making reservations at 4,200 facilities and activities, and over 113,000 individual reservable sites across the country. While they are a close partner, their website is not operated by Glacier National Park.
Visitors may also make a reservation through the Recreation.gov call center. Contacting the call center does not provide an advantage towards securing a reservation but provides an alternative for those who don’t have access to the internet or are not as familiar with technology. Call centers are open every day from 8 am to 10 pm MST and the reservation fee remains $2.
The following lines are available for callers:
* Reservation line (Toll-Free) - (877) 444-6777;
* Reservation line (International) - (606) 515-6777;
* Reservation line (TDD) - (877) 833-6777
In addition to the vehicle reservation, each vehicle entering the park is required to have a park pass for any entry point into the park. These passes could include any one of the following: $35 Glacier National Park pass purchased at the gate or online (valid for seven days); Glacier National Park Annual Pass, or America the Beautiful Interagency Pass, including the annual, senior, military, access, volunteer, or 4th grade passes. Landowners inside the park (and their guests and employees) and tribal members are not required to have a vehicle or service reservation to access GTSR. Details regarding when and where reservations are needed can be found below:
Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR)
* One vehicle reservation per vehicle will be required to travel beyond the West Entrance Station and the Camas Entrance Station from 6 am to 4 pm from May 27 to September 11, 2022.
* New this year, a vehicle reservation will not be required at the St. Mary Entrance. Once snow removal and road preparations are complete and GTSR opens to vehicle traffic to Logan Pass, vehicle reservations will be required starting at the Rising Sun area, located 5 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance, through September 11, 2022.
* The park will offer three-day vehicle reservations for GTSR rather than the seven-day reservation offered in 2021. The $35 Glacier National Park pass remains valid for seven days.
* Visitors with lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations within the GTSR corridor can use their service reservation receipt for entry in lieu of the $2 vehicle reservation from Recreation.gov. This included reservation only applies to the date of your service reservation.
* The fare-free park shuttle will operate in the park this year on GTSR from Apgar Visitor Center to St. Mary Visitor Center. Unlike 2021, the shuttle system will not require a separate reservation and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
* In addition to Fish Creek and St. Mary campgrounds, Apgar and Sprague Creek campgrounds will require advance reservations. Reservations are available on Recreation.gov on a 6-month rolling basis. At this time, reservable campsites for Apgar and Sprague Creek campgrounds have not been released on Recreation.gov. The park anticipates releasing these sites in late March/early April. Rising Sun and Avalanche campgrounds will remain first-come, first-served. The park anticipates all campgrounds to operate in 2022.
* The park is currently working on details for a utility project this summer that may require the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road to be closed at night, except for emergency vehicles. More details on this project will be forthcoming, but visitors should anticipate nightly closures from Apgar to Lake McDonald Lodge from June to September.
North Fork
* New for 2022, one vehicle reservation per vehicle will be required at the Polebridge Entrance Station to visit the North Fork area of the park from 6 am to 6 pm from May 27 to September 11, 2022.
* North Fork vehicle reservations will be valid for one day.
* The North Fork area does not offer lodging, transportation, or commercial services, and camping is first-come, first-served. Campsites will be assigned at the Polebridge Entrance Station.
Other Park Areas
* Vehicle reservations are not required for any other portions of the park (e.g., Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Cut Bank, or Chief Mountain Highway) but visitors are still required to possess a valid park pass.
* The park anticipates continued congestion at Two Medicine and Many Glacier valleys. As in past years, entry will be temporarily restricted when these areas reach capacity. Visitors are encouraged to plan their visit outside of peak hours (10 am to 2 pm). Visitors with service reservations (e.g., boat tours, lodging, horseback rides, guided hikes) in these valleys will be permitted entry during temporary restrictions.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
This will be the second year of the reservation system pilot, designed to manage high traffic volumes within the park and avoid gridlock. Glacier National Park is consistently the tenth most visited national park in the country. The 2021 reservation system pilot reduced congestion during peak hours and circumvented the need to close vehicle access to GTSR an estimated 35 times. This was achieved despite 2021 visitation numbers currently indicating the second highest visitation on record for the park. Avoiding gridlock also ensured emergency vehicle access and prevented severe vehicle back-ups at the West Entrance.
The North Fork also saw record-setting visitation. By August 2021, visitation to the North Fork was 20% higher than in 2019. In contrast to GTSR, the North Fork is managed as a “wilderness threshold zone” with emphasis on solitude, a sense of history, difficulty of access, and limited support facilities. In order to maintain these values, the park will manage North Fork visitation levels to eliminate the need to temporarily restrict access, improve visitor safety, protect sensitive resources, and provide quality visitor experiences.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork vehicle reservations function as two separate reservation systems. Beginning March 2, 2022 at 8 am, vehicle reservations for both areas will be available 120 days in advance on a rolling window. Starting May 26, additional vehicle reservations will also be made available the day before the effective date.
The reservation system will require visitors to set up an account on Recreation.gov and obtain a vehicle reservation ($2 nonrefundable fee). Recreation.gov is the designated partner of 12 federal agencies for making reservations at 4,200 facilities and activities, and over 113,000 individual reservable sites across the country. While they are a close partner, their website is not operated by Glacier National Park.
Visitors may also make a reservation through the Recreation.gov call center. Contacting the call center does not provide an advantage towards securing a reservation but provides an alternative for those who don’t have access to the internet or are not as familiar with technology. Call centers are open every day from 8 am to 10 pm MST and the reservation fee remains $2.
The following lines are available for callers:
* Reservation line (Toll-Free) - (877) 444-6777;
* Reservation line (International) - (606) 515-6777;
* Reservation line (TDD) - (877) 833-6777
In addition to the vehicle reservation, each vehicle entering the park is required to have a park pass for any entry point into the park. These passes could include any one of the following: $35 Glacier National Park pass purchased at the gate or online (valid for seven days); Glacier National Park Annual Pass, or America the Beautiful Interagency Pass, including the annual, senior, military, access, volunteer, or 4th grade passes. Landowners inside the park (and their guests and employees) and tribal members are not required to have a vehicle or service reservation to access GTSR. Details regarding when and where reservations are needed can be found below:
Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR)
* One vehicle reservation per vehicle will be required to travel beyond the West Entrance Station and the Camas Entrance Station from 6 am to 4 pm from May 27 to September 11, 2022.
* New this year, a vehicle reservation will not be required at the St. Mary Entrance. Once snow removal and road preparations are complete and GTSR opens to vehicle traffic to Logan Pass, vehicle reservations will be required starting at the Rising Sun area, located 5 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance, through September 11, 2022.
* The park will offer three-day vehicle reservations for GTSR rather than the seven-day reservation offered in 2021. The $35 Glacier National Park pass remains valid for seven days.
* Visitors with lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations within the GTSR corridor can use their service reservation receipt for entry in lieu of the $2 vehicle reservation from Recreation.gov. This included reservation only applies to the date of your service reservation.
* The fare-free park shuttle will operate in the park this year on GTSR from Apgar Visitor Center to St. Mary Visitor Center. Unlike 2021, the shuttle system will not require a separate reservation and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
* In addition to Fish Creek and St. Mary campgrounds, Apgar and Sprague Creek campgrounds will require advance reservations. Reservations are available on Recreation.gov on a 6-month rolling basis. At this time, reservable campsites for Apgar and Sprague Creek campgrounds have not been released on Recreation.gov. The park anticipates releasing these sites in late March/early April. Rising Sun and Avalanche campgrounds will remain first-come, first-served. The park anticipates all campgrounds to operate in 2022.
* The park is currently working on details for a utility project this summer that may require the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road to be closed at night, except for emergency vehicles. More details on this project will be forthcoming, but visitors should anticipate nightly closures from Apgar to Lake McDonald Lodge from June to September.
North Fork
* New for 2022, one vehicle reservation per vehicle will be required at the Polebridge Entrance Station to visit the North Fork area of the park from 6 am to 6 pm from May 27 to September 11, 2022.
* North Fork vehicle reservations will be valid for one day.
* The North Fork area does not offer lodging, transportation, or commercial services, and camping is first-come, first-served. Campsites will be assigned at the Polebridge Entrance Station.
Other Park Areas
* Vehicle reservations are not required for any other portions of the park (e.g., Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Cut Bank, or Chief Mountain Highway) but visitors are still required to possess a valid park pass.
* The park anticipates continued congestion at Two Medicine and Many Glacier valleys. As in past years, entry will be temporarily restricted when these areas reach capacity. Visitors are encouraged to plan their visit outside of peak hours (10 am to 2 pm). Visitors with service reservations (e.g., boat tours, lodging, horseback rides, guided hikes) in these valleys will be permitted entry during temporary restrictions.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Advance reservations available in February for Yellowstone National Park visitors at additional campgrounds
Beginning Feb.14, 2022, visitors will be able to make advance reservations for additional campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park on Recreation.gov.
The new system is a direct response to public requests for a reservation system at park campgrounds and prompted a collaborative effort between the National Park Service (NPS) and Recreation.gov.
Reservations will go live on Recreation.gov Feb. 14 at 8 a.m. MST. Visitors will be able to book campsites up to six months in advance. Campgrounds are expected to fill quickly once sites are made available.
At Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Pebble Creek, Mammoth and Slough Creek campgrounds, 80% of sites will be reservable six months in advance, while the remaining 20% of sites will be available two weeks in advance. Being able to make reservations two weeks in advance will allow visitors the flexibility to reserve campsites closer to their arrival dates. The ability to make reservations will enable visitors to plan their trips ahead of time and provide assurance that they will have a campsite upon arrival. It will enrich the visitor experience by reducing traffic congestion at campgrounds, improving safety and eliminating uncertainty and frustration.
Advance reservations are also currently available at Bridge Bay, Madison, Canyon and Grant Village campgrounds and Fishing Bridge RV Park. To reserve campsites at these campgrounds managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges, visit Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
The last time the park placed campgrounds on an advance system was in March 2020. Learn more about camping in Yellowstone.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
The new system is a direct response to public requests for a reservation system at park campgrounds and prompted a collaborative effort between the National Park Service (NPS) and Recreation.gov.
Reservations will go live on Recreation.gov Feb. 14 at 8 a.m. MST. Visitors will be able to book campsites up to six months in advance. Campgrounds are expected to fill quickly once sites are made available.
At Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Pebble Creek, Mammoth and Slough Creek campgrounds, 80% of sites will be reservable six months in advance, while the remaining 20% of sites will be available two weeks in advance. Being able to make reservations two weeks in advance will allow visitors the flexibility to reserve campsites closer to their arrival dates. The ability to make reservations will enable visitors to plan their trips ahead of time and provide assurance that they will have a campsite upon arrival. It will enrich the visitor experience by reducing traffic congestion at campgrounds, improving safety and eliminating uncertainty and frustration.
Advance reservations are also currently available at Bridge Bay, Madison, Canyon and Grant Village campgrounds and Fishing Bridge RV Park. To reserve campsites at these campgrounds managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges, visit Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
The last time the park placed campgrounds on an advance system was in March 2020. Learn more about camping in Yellowstone.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)