At long last, we have some clarity on how access to Glacier National Park will function during this swiftly-arriving 2026 summer! The reservation system has changed quite a bit, and while it is a much simpler design than previous pilot programs, it does come with challenges that can be met with a bit of preparation and planning.

Chief Mountain and Yellow Mountain, viewed from Chief Mountain Highway

Two young hikers take in the view from near Hidden Pass

The Good News, we think: there is no longer a ticketed entry program to access any entry to Glacier Park. I repeat, no tickets need to be purchased or presented in order to access the Sun Road, Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Cut Bank, or the North Fork. So that simplifies things! There may be issues with overcrowding at popular bottle necks like Many Glacier and Two Medicine, but luckily the PCC is one of the geographically closest lodging establishments for early entry to east-side entrances. Check this blog post out to learn about hikes that are great and usually not subject to closures: Hikes in Glacier National Park That Don't Require A Vehicle Reservation

The Stone family visits their favorite trail near Rising Sun

The Not Bad News, we think: There will be a pilot program designed to alleviate parking issues at Logan Pass. Private vehicles will only be allowed to park at the pass for a maximum of three hours- enough time to hike to Hidden Lake Overlook or cruise the High Line before turning the spot over to the next visitor. The alternative to hoping for a spot with your own vehicle is to book a (new for 2026) ticket on an express shuttle from the eastern or western entrances. The West side express shuttle will depart from Apgar and Lake McDonald and stop only at Logan Pass, as well as the Loop in the afternoon. The East side express shuttle (which is a good name for a band) will depart from the St. Mary Visitor Center as well as Rising Sun, and head straight to Logan Pass. You can ONLY book the express shuttle ticket through an account with Recreation.gov for the price of $1. Per NPS:

1) A portion of shuttle tickets will be available 60 days in advance, starting on May 2, 2026, at 8 a.m. MDT, on a rolling basis.
2) The remaining shuttle tickets will be available at 7 p.m. MDT for next-day entry starting June 30.

The Bad News: Gotcha, there really isn’t any bad news to report other than that we are once again dealing with a new system, and the Stone family here at the PCC is in the same boat as everyone else in learning how to navigate it. We anticipate our experience will be increasingly helpful to guests as we move through the season, and hope you’ll reach out to us or NPS if you have any questions. Here is the press release from NPS for all the current details.

Tips, Tricks, and Info for Visiting Glacier Park in 2026

The Park Cabin Company