While no official word has yet to be released on Glacier National Park’s summer operations, Superintendent Dave Roemer told the crowd at the North Fork Interlocal meeting on Wednesday that it’s safe to assume there will be no reservation system to enter the park this summer.

Roemer said the vehicle reservation system didn’t do anything to keep people from almost immediately filling the Logan Pass parking lot and other coveted trailhead locations in Glacier. He also said it wasn’t alleviating backups on U.S. Highway 2 at West Glacier. 

The problem was that many people were already accessing the park outside the reservation system. They had various reservations already, whether it was campgrounds, hotels, boat tours, etc., or they were coming in early (before 7 a.m.) before park staff were there to enforce a reservation system. 

“We were only managing a small slice of the pie,” he said. 

Roemer reiterated a plan that would put a 3-hour parking limit at Logan Pass and would institute a direct shuttle to the pass which would, in effect, be a permit to hike the Highline Trail. 

The shuttle would, however, have a reservation system to ensure people wouldn't have long wait times. It would also begin runs early -- at 6 a.m. 

Roemer said the previous shuttle system with no reservations resulted in long wait times -- sometimes five and six hours and was unreliable. 

Glacier staff have a press release waiting in the wings that details summer operations, but have yet to be given the OK by Washington to release it, Roemer noted. He said the hope is to get an answer soon. 

“If our plan is approved, stay tuned,” he said. 

Roemer noted that under a Secretary of Interior Order issued by Doug Burgum last year, he is now the “Gateway Community Coordinator,” meaning park outreach is largely up to him in communicating with gateway communities. 

“The buck stops here,” he quipped. 

Still, if places become congested, people will not be allowed in. That routinely happens In the North Fork, most notably Bowman Lake when available parking fills up, noted North Fork District Ranger Ty Cheatum. 

The reservation system also previously included the North Fork as well. Without it, coveted places like Bowman and Kintla Lakes are sure to fill up quickly. 

Cheatum said they won’t allow people to hang around and save spots at the entrance. That hasn’t worked in the past. They’ll just open the gates when parking spots open up and people who are in line at the time will be allowed in. 

From a staffing standpoint, Cheatum said the North Fork is looking good, but it could use volunteers, particularly for parking control at Bowman. 

Roemer also spoke to cuts in permanent staff made last year, where about 25% of positions remain open. 

“So far it hasn’t affected our ability to achieve our mission,” he said. 

But it will eventually have impacts in the longer term, he noted.