Going-to-the-Sun Road, the entry to Glacier National Park in Montana, posted a 41% increase in the number of vehicles on Going-to-the-Sun Road over opening day in 2019.
The seasonal opening of Going-to-the-Sun Road, which took place June 25, marked the beginning of a new phase of the ticketed entry system, designed to reduce vehicle congestion on the road. The National Park Service (NPS) said the system is working well, but park officials continue to evaluate and make changes to manage visitation levels.
Because of the ticketed entry system, park officials have avoided implementing West Entrance closures to relieve severe congestion. Data suggests congestion and gridlock would have required the West Entrance to temporarily close at least 15 times from Memorial Day weekend through the end of June without the ticketed entry system. Overall, the number of vehicles on Going-to-the-Sun Road during the same period was up 20% from 2019 levels.
Glacier National Park is seeing expected changes in visitation patterns, NPS stated, with traffic more spread out throughout the day.
