Mount Rainier is already on Stacey Slamka’s hiking resume. Glacier National Park is on her 2026 list. But both parks just made a major change that affects anyone planning a visit this summer. On the surface, it sounds like a win. No advance reservations, just show up whenever you want. But the reality unfolding on the ground is a bit more complicated than that.
What Changed and Why
Earlier this year, the Department of the Interior announced that four of the country’s most-visited national parks (Yosemite, Glacier, Arches, and Mount Rainier) would no longer require timed-entry reservations for the 2026 season. The stated goal is simpler, more open access. According to The Points Guy, the move is meant to expand access “where conditions allow.”
Conservation groups aren’t buying it. The national park system had 331.9 million visits in 2024. The National Park Service has simultaneously seen its permanent staff reduced by roughly 25 percent. More visitors and fewer rangers is a combination that has a lot of people in the outdoor community genuinely worried about what summer is going to look like.
What No-Reservation Actually Looks Like in Practice
During President’s Day weekend in February, Yosemite dropped reservation requirements for its famous Firefall event at Horsetail Falls.
The result?
Parking lots were full by mid-afternoon. Shuttle buses were so packed they blew past designated stops. Families stranded four miles from the viewing area with no good way to get there. And that’s in February, a slow time of year. Summer crowds will make these conditions even worse.
Arches, for what it’s worth, has historically closed its gates entirely when parking fills. In the busy summer season, that can happen before 8 a.m.
Tips for Hiking These Parks in 2026
A little planning still goes a long way, even without a reservation system. Stacey Slamka and fellow hikers planning summer trips should keep these in mind:
- Arrive before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
- Weekdays are significantly less chaotic than weekends
- Use shuttle systems wherever the park offers them–Glacier is piloting a new ticketed shuttle for Logan Pass starting July 1
- Sign up for real-time parking alerts (Yosemite has a SMS notification system)
- Check each park’s website, as management plans are still being updated
Conclusion: Planning Your National Park Trip
The trails aren’t going anywhere, and these parks remain some of the most extraordinary places in the country to hike. But this summer, a bit of strategy is the difference between a frustrating day stuck in traffic and the kind of hike that sticks with you for years.
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