For summer 2026, the U.S. National Park Service has announced specific access rules for Arches, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, and Yosemite to expand visitation during the peak season while managing the flow of people. The decision was announced on February 18, 2026; it specifically pertains to the summer season of 2026.
At Arches National Park, a timed entry system will not be implemented in 2026. Visitors are advised to arrive early, be prepared to change their itinerary if certain locations are overcrowded, and consider nighttime visits as the park is an international dark sky park.
In Glacier National Park, a park-wide vehicle reservation system will not be required in 2026. However, the park will maintain spot management of congestion: active regulation on Going-to-the-Sun Road, parking restrictions at Logan Pass, and temporary traffic flow deviations if safety limits are reached.
Rocky Mountain National Park, on the other hand, will retain a timed entry system during peak months—from late May to mid-October 2026. Yosemite National Park will not require advance reservations in 2026, particularly in the summer and during the firefall period in February-March; instead, the park will use operational traffic management, temporary traffic deviations, and additional seasonal staff in the most heavily trafficked areas.