Don’t miss out: This is when Glacier National Park reservations open for 2025

Sleep and you'll miss it! Going-to-the-Sun Road reservations open soon

By Sarah Joseph Published February 10, 2025

The Garden Wall along the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. — National Park Service

Glacier National Park is one of those other-worldly places that don’t seem real. Thousands of people from across the world flock to see these postcard-worthy sights, so it’s not a surprise that the National Park Service has seen to implementing a timed-entry reservation system for entering the park starting in 2021. While reservations can be a bit of a hassle to acquire, they have become necessary in order to manage crowds, protect important resources, and keep park amenities and infrastructures in good shape. If you’re looking to snag a coveted timed-entry reservation to Glacier National Park for this summer, don’t wait. Here’s what you need to know.

Glacier National Park allows visitors to reserve their timed-entry tickets 120 days in advance. Keep in mind, this is different than the entrance pass. Reservations are required from June 13 to September 28 this year. This means that on February 13, 2025, the first round of reservations will be released. You’ll need a reservation to go to the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork, but if you’re going through Apgar Village, Two Medicine, or St. Mary, you won’t need a reservation.

Recommended Videos

According to the National Park Service, there will be four different time blocks for Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork:

7 am to 9 am
9 am to 11 am
11 am to 1 pm
1 pm to 3 pm

Visitors without a reservation may enter after 3 pm, and those with lodging, camping, or commercial activity reservations within the Going-to-the-Sun Road area can enter with a proof of reservation. Keep in mind that this summer, there will be limited parking due to the Swiftcurrent area construction, so personal access to Many Glacier will be restricted.

Contributor

With a bright sense of adventure and a heart for the mountains, Sarah is always thrilled to share nature with others through…

Topics

Outdoors

Don’t let wet socks ruin your hike this spring — these tips will keep you dry

High-performance hiking socks that stand up to Seattle rain

Man in a red coat hiking in the rain

The Seattle area is famous for its rainy weather, particularly during the spring. Personally, I love the spring here, and I don't mind the gloomy weather. It's therapeutic to hit the trail on a rainy day, when the droplets patter from leaf to leaf. That said, when there is rain, there are also puddles. I've had to deal with my fair share of wet hiking socks.

Unfortunately, wet socks often come with blisters and even trench foot if your feet are constantly in a soggy condition over a several-day hike. Cleveland Clinic says that trench foot can happen in cold and damp conditions, causing symptoms such as numbness, pain, redness, and swelling, which restricts blood flow to your foot. Here's how to prevent it and avoid wet hiking socks.
Tips for preventing wet socks while hiking

Outdoors

Want to see wildlife up close? Head to these 7 national parks

Here are the nest national parks for spotting wildlife

A view of the grand canyon during the day

National Park Week is right around the corner, and to celebrate, the National Park Service has introduced a fee-free day for Easter Sunday on April 20th. If you're itching to explore a national park this spring, KÜHL has just released a new study that ranks the top U.S. national parks for wildlife spotting based on species diversity and visitor interest across eight categories: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and more. Here are the top seven!
Grand Canyon National Park

If you want to see the most wildlife this April, head to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, according to the study. This park ranks first for birdwatching, with 447 species in the area, including some rare finds like the California condor, peregrine falcon, and red crossbill. It also comes in second place for spotting mammals, with 91 different species. Reptile lovers will also appreciate 58 species like Gila monsters and short-horned lizards, and 142 species of arachnids like spiders and scorpions.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Outdoors

The best things to do in Big Bend National Park: An adventure you’ll never forget

A list of the must-see stops on your next trip to the popular Texan park

The Big Bend National Park Entrance Sign

Big Bend National Park is the jewel of the Chihuahuan Desert, brimming with life just under its rugged surface. The park straddles the border of the United States and Mexico, and even has a border crossing between the two. There are dozens of things to do in Big Bend National Park -- it's one of the best places for stargazing, exploring the Rio Grande, and enjoying days worth of breathtaking trails.
Need help deciding what to prioritize in this massive park, which spans over 1,250 square miles? I regularly visit Big Bend, and these five park features are always worth a stop. They're doable in a single day or easily extended if you're spending a longer period of time in Big Bend.

Hike through Santa Elena Canyon