Oliver’s Blog

Glacier National Park 2024 Vehicle Reservations Opened January 25

Here is the press release from Glacier National Park that came out this week. Hope this is helpful:

Date: January 23, 2024 
Contact: Autumn Sifuentes, 406-888-7921 

WEST GLACIER, Mont. [January 23, 2024] – Glacier National Park reminds visitors that advance vehicle reservations become available on Recreation.gov starting January 25, 2024 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time.   

Vehicle reservations will be available on Recreation.gov through two types of booking windows; A portion of vehicle reservations will be available 120 days or approximately four months in advance on a daily rolling basis, beginning January 25 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time. Next day vehicle reservations will be available at 7 p.m. Mountain Time for next-day entry, starting May 23, 2024 on a daily rolling basis.

Going-to-the-Sun Road 
New in 2024, Apgar Village will be accessible to visitors without a reservation. This includes Apgar Visitor Center and the free park shuttle. Lodging, camping (including front country developed campgrounds and wilderness camping permits), transportation, or commercial activity reservations originating in Apgar will no longer provide access beyond the Apgar reservation checkpoint just past the Apgar Campground turn off. A full list of which commercial lodging, and camping reservations providing access beyond Apgar can be found on the park website.  

Vehicle reservations are required for east bound traffic on Going-to-the-Sun Road past the reservation checkpoint May 24 through September 8, 2024, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. New in 2024, reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road are good for one day only.  

Visitors without reservations will be detoured at the checkpoint and routed back through Apgar Village. The village is expected to experience heavy traffic and parking will be in high demand. 

Also new in 2024, visitors will be able to access Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east side beyond Rising Sun without a vehicle reservation. Visitors will also have access to the St. Mary Visitor Center and shuttle stop on the east side of Glacier National Park, as in 2023.  

North Fork  
Vehicle reservations are required for the North Fork area May 24 through September 8, 2024 from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are good for one day.  


Many Glacier Valley 
Reservations are needed for Many Glacier starting July 1 through September 8, 2024 from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Advanced reservations for Many Glacier will be available beginning March 3, 2024, at 8 a.m. These will be released 120 days or approximately four months in advance on a daily rolling basis at 8 a.m. Mountain Time. Next day vehicle reservations will be available at 7 p.m. Mountain Time for next-day entry, starting on June 30, 2024 on a daily rolling basis. Reservations for Many Glacier are good for one day.  

Booking A Reservation 
Each of the specified areas of the park will require a separate reservation. Vehicle reservations will be available on https://www.recreation.gov/, or the Recreation.gov mobile app. Visitors will need to set up an account on Recreation.gov to obtain reservations and are encouraged to do so prior to the day reservations open. The cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.  

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 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mountain Time and the processing 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  

Below is a table detailing an example of when a portion of the 120-day rolling vehicle reservations will be released, beginning with January 25, 2024:   

Date of Desired Reservation Date Reservation Can Be Booked 
May 24, 2024 January 25, 2024 
May 25, 2024 January 26, 2024 
May 26, 2024 January 27, 2024 
May 27, 2024 January 28, 2024 
May 28, 2024 January 29, 2024 
May 29, 2024 January 30, 2024 
May 30, 2024 January 31, 2024 

During May and June, it is likely only a portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road will be open. Check the park website for road status or sign up for text alerts

Entrance Pass
In addition to a vehicle reservation, each vehicle entering the park is required to have an entrance pass for any entry point into the park. These passes could include any of the following: a $35 vehicle entrance pass, good for seven days; a valid Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass; or a Glacier National Park Annual Pass. A vehicle reservation does not include an entrance pass, and the park entrance pass does not serve as a vehicle reservation. 

Like previous years, visitors with lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations within the specified reservation areas can use proof of their reservation for entry instead of a Recreation.gov reservation to gain access to the portion of the park for which they have a reservation.   

Pursuant to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, vehicle reservations are not required for tribal members throughout the park.     

Visitors are encouraged to plan their visit outside of peak hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). As in past years, entry may be temporarily restricted in areas of the park that don’t require reservations, such as Two Medicine, if they become too congested for visitor safety and resource protection. Visitors with service reservations (e.g., boat tours, lodging, horseback ride, guided hikes) in these areas will be permitted entry during temporary restrictions.    

Parking at Logan Pass, Apgar Village, and other areas may be congested or temporarily unavailable. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of free shuttles for hiker access to Logan Pass although waits for shuttles may be long depending on the time and location. Visitors are encouraged to check the park website frequently for updates and additional information.   

For more information visit the park website. 

Glacier National Park Announces a Pilot Vehicle Reservation System in 2024

Graphic: Title Glacier National Park 2024 Vehicle Reservation Areas. Map with reservation areas highlighted. Area details provided in PR below

News Release Date: November 9, 2023

Contact: Gina Icenoggle, 406-888-5838

WEST GLACIER, Mont. [November 9, 2023] – Glacier National Park will implement a pilot vehicle reservation system in 2024, beginning May 24 for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork and on July 1 for Many Glacier.

“Our balanced approach for the 2024 pilot reflects feedback from Tribes, the public, partners, and stakeholders, particularly regarding access to the Apgar Village area and Two Medicine,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer. “We also heard that knowing what park operations and access will look like sooner, rather than later, is important.”

West Entrance
One reservation per vehicle will be required to travel Going-to-the-Sun Road beyond the Apgar Village area from May 24 through Sept. 8, 2024, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can enter before 6 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. New in 2024, vehicle reservations will be valid for one day only, down from three days in 2023. Data from 2023 indicates that only two percent of three-day reservations were used for all three days. By changing to a one-day reservation, consistent with other park areas, a greater number of reservations can be made available.

Also new in 2024, visitors will be able to access Apgar Village amenities, including the Apgar Visitor Center, without a vehicle reservation. Lodging, camping (including front country developed campgrounds and backcountry camping permits), transportation, or commercial activity reservations originating in Apgar will no longer provide access beyond the Apgar filter check point.

North Fork
One reservation per vehicle will be required at the entrance station May 24 through Sept. 8, 2024, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are good for one day. Visitors can enter before 6 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. There are no changes in the North Fork from 2023.

Many Glacier Valley
One reservation per vehicle will be required at the entrance station July 1 through Sept. 8, 2024, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are good for one day. Visitors can enter the valley before 6 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. There are no changes in Many Glacier from 2023.

Also new in 2024, visitors will be able to access the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east side beyond Rising Sun without a vehicle reservation. Visitors will also have access to the St. Mary Visitor Center and shuttle stop on the east side of Glacier National Park, as in 2023.

“We will be testing vehicle reservations proactively in areas where congestion most frequently occurs – the North Fork, Many Glacier, and through the West Entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road – and will take a wait-and-see approach at other locations and manage adaptively if needed,” said Roemer. “In all locations, our goal is to learn how effective these systems are at improving visitor experiences and protecting park resources.”

Vehicle reservations and entrance passes
Vehicle reservations will be available on https://www.recreation.gov/, the Recreation.gov mobile app, or the Recreation.gov Call Center (Reservation Line: 877-444-6777). Each of the specified areas of the park will require a separate reservation. Visitors will need to set up an account on Recreation.gov to obtain reservations. The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.

Pursuant to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, vehicle reservations are not required for tribal members throughout the park.

Vehicle reservations will be available through two booking windows.    

  • A portion of reservations will be available 120 days or approximately four months advance, starting on Jan. 25, 2024, at 8 a.m. MST on a rolling basis on Recreation.gov.    
  • New in 2024, the remaining vehicle reservations will be available at 7 p.m. MDT for next-day entry starting on May 23, 2024.    

In addition to a vehicle reservation, each vehicle entering the park is required to have an entrance pass for any entry point into the park. These passes could include any of the following: a $35 vehicle pass, good for seven days; a valid Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass; or a Glacier National Park Annual Pass. A vehicle reservation does not include an entrance pass, and the park entrance pass does not serve as a vehicle reservation.

Like previous years, visitors with lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations within the specified reservation areas can use proof of their reservation for entry in lieu of a Recreation.gov reservation to gain access to the portion of the park for which they have a reservation.

As in past years, entry will be temporarily restricted in areas of the park that become too congested for visitor safety and resource protection. Parking at Logan Pass, Apgar Village, and other areas may be unavailable. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of free shuttles for hiker access to Logan Pass although waits for shuttles may be long depending on the time and location. Visitors are encouraged to plan their visit outside of peak hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Visitors with service reservations (e.g., boat tours, lodging, horseback ride, guided hikes) in these areas will be permitted entry during temporary restrictions.

Visitors are encouraged to check the park website frequently for updates and additional information.

This will be the fourth year of piloting vehicle reservations in the park. The pilots help test the effectiveness of different approaches to manage high traffic volumes within the park while delivering quality visitor experiences. During an open comment period for 2024 Visitor Use Management Strategies, a total of 1,408 comments were received. Input from these comments has helped inform strategies for how visitors will access park areas in the summer of 2024. The comments along with a summary report can be found on the park’s 2024 Visitor Use Management Strategy web page.

2023 Major Construction Areas in Glacier

2023 Major Construction Areas. Map of GNP with 2 pop out areas with lines and cones pointing to construction. North Fork: Kintla, Ford, Akokala, and Bowman bridges & Glacier Drive in Polebridge. West Glacier: GTSR, Camas, Fish Creek & Upp. McDonald Cr.
park map of major construction area

Here is a Glacier Park News Release – very relevant this summer.

On top of reservations there will be a lot of construction going on. I highlighted the relevant parts for visitors to the North Fork. This year it is especially important to plan ahead! Please don’t hesitate to send a message to the hostel with questions regarding your stay and I try to answer them as good as I can. Your trip might not be a smooth one this summer but I promise it will be an adventure!

News Release Date: March 20, 2023 

Contact: Gina Kerzman, 406-888-5838

WEST GLACIER, Mont. [March 20, 2023] –Glacier National Park has announced plans for major construction areas during the 2023 summer season. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and prepare for traffic delays at the West Entrance and closures in the North Fork due to construction.

Bridge Preservation Project

Glacier National Park is continuing a construction project to rehabilitate 13 bridges throughout the park. The work will take place over the next year. This is the continuation of a two-year project that began last summer.

Due to bridge construction and road conditions, all roads in the North Fork area of the park are expected to be closed to vehicle traffic until May 25, 2023. Early season work is proposed to complete bridge approach excavations in the Spring. All spring work is dependent on weather conditions and site accessibility.

The Bowman, Kintla, Akokala and Ford bridges, located in the North Fork, are anticipated to have short delays May 26 to early September 2023. Kintla, Akokala and Ford bridges will likely be closed to all traffic starting September 5 through mid-November. The Bowman Bridge is expected to be closed to all traffic September 11 through mid-November. The park anticipates visitors will not have access to Bowman and Kintla areas during the construction closures, including campgrounds and trailheads. In addition to the Bridge Preservation Project, the GNP Road Crew will also be grading the last five miles of the road to Kintla Lake July through fall 2023. Visitors need to use caution as there will be heavy truck traffic and minor delays. Roads in the North Fork area typically close at the end of November due to winter conditions.

If early season work is completed in spring, Bowman Creek Bridge will only require a short duration closure in the fall.

The Fish Creek Bridge will be paved in late May before Fish Creek Campground opens for the season. The bridge is anticipated to have limited delays in traffic until its expected closure to motorized, pedestrian, and bicycle access May 1 through May 25, 2023.

The North Fork Bridge, located on the north end of Camas Road, will be resurfaced and the roadway leading up to the bridge will be milled, paved, and graded. Work on the North Fork Bridge is expected to start in April and go through late fall 2023. Visitors should expect short delays when crossing the bridge.

The Lee Creek Bridge, located along Chief Mountain Highway, will have short delays starting September through late fall 2023.

Since the last construction season, work has been substantially completed on the Anaconda, Camas, Dutch Creek, Quartz and Logging Creek bridges located on the Inside North Fork Road.

Improvements to the bridges include bridge deck and approach repairs, timber pile replacement and repairs, timber curb replacement, painting, concrete repair, erosion control measures, and more. The work is being completed to preserve the existing bridges and ensure continued usage by preventing failure which would require full bridge replacement.

Lake McDonald Utilities Project Construction on the Lake McDonald Utilities Project is expected to continue along Going-to-the-Sun Road from the south end of Lake McDonald near Apgar Campground to Sprague Creek Campground until May 15, 2023; however, the park anticipates visitors will have vehicle and recreational access on Going-to-the-Sun Road up to Lake McDonald Lodge by May 5 at 6 a.m. Visitors should drive and bike with caution in this area due to uneven surfaces and potholes.

Going-to-the-Sun Road Rehabilitation

The west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road, from the foot of Lake McDonald to North Lake McDonald Road, will undergo three phases of rehabilitation work. 9.3 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road is expected to be milled and repaved starting May through fall 2023, weather permitting.

“The pavement structure is over 27 years old. Given the edge conditions along the road, we could not add anymore pavement thickness without creating unsafe pavement edge drop offs for vehicles and impacting historic headwalls, drainage chutes, and having negative impacts to vegetation,” said Federal Highway’s Michael Traffalis.

Visitors should anticipate up to a 30-minute wait due to construction on Going-to-the-Sun Road along Lake McDonald starting in May. Entry to Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West Entrance before the 6 a.m. reservation period will not be possible due to construction activities. To avoid congestion-related delays, visitors are encouraged to use the St. Mary Entrance to access Going-to-the-Sun Road, including popular attractions such as Logan Pass and Avalanche, when the road fully opens for the season.

All pull-outs in the construction zone along Lake McDonald are anticipated to be closed through late fall 2023. Visitors should drive and bike with caution in this area due to uneven surfaces and potholes.

The construction zone is anticipated to be closed nightly until late fall with opportunities to go through at scheduled times. Please check our website for the latest construction updates.

Upper McDonald Creek Bridge

In early April, bridge replacement will begin on upper McDonald Creek. The bridge provides access to the northwest shore of Lake McDonald including private homes, the Lake McDonald Ranger Station, and trailheads. The new bridge will be built approximately 30 feet upstream of the existing bridge, requiring a realignment of the road approaches.

“The existing bridge is 58 years old. Repairs in recent years have resulted in improvements, but deterioration will continue with the structure’s age, continued use, and environmental conditions,” said Traffalis. “If the bridge is not replaced, progressive failure will cause further load restrictions, and the bridge will eventually become unsafe for vehicle access and will need to be closed and/or removed for safety reasons.”

There will be a full closure during construction to North Lake McDonald Road at the intersection with the Going-to-the-Sun Road. There will be no public access, including vehicles, hiking, or biking and no parking at this intersection. Visitors intending on hiking the Johns Lake Loop Trail will need to turn around where trail closed signs are posted. Hikers will not be able to complete the loop.

Bridge construction is expected to go through the entire 2023 construction season and conclude in late 2024.

Outside the Park

Polebridge

Starting July 10, 2023, a portion of Glacier Drive, which is just north of the Polebridge businesses to the bridge entering the park, will be under construction.

Construction within the business area of Polebridge will begin on August 14, 2023. Parking will be restricted to outside the work area until construction is completed.

Visitors to the Polebridge area should expect 30-minute delays before arriving at and departing the park entrance. Updates for the construction project can be found on Montana Department of Transportation’s website. Visitors should know, this 30-minute construction zone will be in addition to construction zones inside the park. Please see the “Bridge Preservation Project” above.

U.S. Highway 2

Paving and chip reseal work will resume in the Marias Pass area of U.S. Highway 2 in spring 2023. Expect some traffic control, with single lane restrictions and short delays through summer 2023. More information about the construction project can be found on Montana Department of Transportation’s website.

U.S. Highway 89

The section of U.S. Highway 89 immediately east and south of St. Mary, MT will be under construction this summer. This is the continuation of a multi-year project that has been ongoing for the last few summers. Expect some traffic control, with single lane restrictions and short delays between Hudson Bay Divide and Kiowa. More information about the construction project can be found on Montana Department of Transportation’s website.

Ticketed Entry/ Vehicle Passes for North Fork

Here are a few excerpts from Glacier National Park press release regarding ticketed entry and vehicle passes for the North Fork. Please go to Glacier’s website to get more details.

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.

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.

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.

Fire Update August 9, 2021

Hay Creek Fire

Flathead National Forest, Montana

STATISTICS

• Location: 4 miles west of Polebridge, MT

  • Date of Origin: July 21, 2021
  • Cause: Lightning
  • Total fire acres: 2,894 acres
  • Containment: 23%

August 9, 2021

INFORMATION

  • Phone: (406) 219-1013, 8 am to 8 pm
  • Email: 2021.HayCreek@firenet.gov
  • InciWeb:https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7712/
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertheflathead
  • Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlatheadNF

RESOURCES

• Engines: 14
• 1 Type 2 Crew
• 2 Heavy Equipment Task Forces (dozers, skidgines, excavators, water tenders)

• Helicopters: 2
• Personnel: 210

• Total gallons of water dropped: 754,940
• Fixed-wing flight hrs: 32 • Helicopter flight hrs: 110

INCIDENT UPDATE

An inch of rain fell across the fire over the weekend. Crews are using mechanical equipment to reduce fuels along the Spruce Creek Road and reinforcing shaded fuel breaks being used as contingency lines. Hand prep work is being done along the Red Meadow Road to use as an egress route in case of an evacuation in the area south of the fire. Aircraft did not fly yesterday due to weather.

No additional fire spread was seen on Sunday due to rain. Today the fire will continue to be active only in more sheltered areas that received less moisture, with heavy fuels that are still holding heat. A recon flight is scheduled to happen today to assess the fire. Resources at risk, including private structures and cultural and natural resources in both the Park and Forest continue to be assessed and protected. There will be a community meeting at the Sondreson Hall on Wednesday, August 11, at 6:00 pm.

Public Information Map

EVACUATIONS

Evacuation Warnings include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to Moose Creek Road and the community of Polebridge. Glacier National Park has issued an Evacuation Warning for the North Fork area of Glacier National Park north of Logging Creek. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park.

CLOSURES

Road and trail closures are in place. See details at InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7712/62192/.

WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY

The chance of rain decreases today, with clouds dissipating after morning. Highs will be in the upper 50s to upper 60s, warming into Tuesday. Expect morning fog Monday into Tuesday. The rest of the week is forecast to return to warmer, dryer weather.

Travelers should drive defensively, due to fire traffic and road construction in the area. For the most current fire weather forecast go to https://www.weather.gov/wrh/fire?wfo=mso. For smoke and air quality go tohttp://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/. For current visibility in Glacier NP seehttps://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.

INCIDENT BACKGROUND

The Hay Creek Fire was reported on the evening of July 21, 2021. It is burning in the North Fork area of the Flathead National Forest at 5,200 – 7,100 feet of elevation and is being managed under a full suppression strategy.

Public and firefighter safety is the number one priority. The fire has no reported injuries to date.

Fire History

Montana is experiencing EXTREME fire danger; Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect with campfires prohibited. Know Before You Go- Visit www.mtfireinfo.org for additional Montana fire restrictions.

VISITING THE NORTH FORK HOSTEL DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC:

Lower Your Expectations!

We are open by reservation only until September 15.

Please maintain Social Distancing while on Premises at all times.

Because of CoViD19 please read and follow these guidelines while at the North Fork Hostel:

  • No Walk-ins, reservations only
  • Only registered guests are allowed on premises
  • Always maintain social distance (6 feet or 2 meters)
  • Back out of a situation if that cannot be maintained or you feel uncomfortable
  • Wash or sanitize hands frequently
  • Wear face mask in common areas if there are other guests around
  • Limit your time in common areas
  • Bring mask, gloves and sanitizer in addition to your usual hosteling gear!

Additional in Kitchen Use:

  • Always request permission to enter if another party is using the kitchen
  • Only one party should use the kitchen at one time
  • Sanitize all surfaces and utensils before and after use

Additional in Shower and Washroom:

  • Wipe and spray all surfaces down before and after use
  • Communicate with other guests about shower use

Thanks and please contact Oliver with any questions or concerns.

The North Fork Hostel and the Pandemic

These are strange times calling for strange measures. I am still not quite sure how to deal with the new situation regarding the hostel. Here are my ideas so far and that is, of course, all depending on the situation and latest developments:

This year, 2020, the North Fork Hostel will probably reopen for the summer season on June 15 and close September 15. We will be open for reservations only. These reservations have to be made at least 3 days in advance. There will be no shared sleeping arrangements; if one party has booked into a dormitory it will essential become their private room. Shower and kitchen access will be limited, details still need to be worked out.

Everybody needs to insure to follow social distancing guidelines. Be also sure to follow all CDC and state recommendations and please wear a mask while in the common areas in the hostel.

Thanks and please contact Oliver with any questions or concerns.