While no official word on Glacier National Park’s summer operations was released, 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. 2 at West Glacier. 

The problem was that many people were already accessing the park outside the reservation system. They already had reservations for campgrounds, hotels, and boat tours, or they were arriving early (before 7 a.m.), before park staff were on duty to enforce the reservation system. 

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

Roemer reiterated a plan to impose a three-hour parking limit at Logan Pass and to institute a direct shuttle to the pass, which would, in effect, serve as 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 to six hours and was unreliable. 

Glacier staff has a press release waiting in the wings that details summer operations but has 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 his responsibility. 

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

The reservation system previously included the North Fork. 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 open the gates when parking spots become available, and people in line at the time will be allowed in. 

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

Roemer also spoke to the permanent staff cuts made last year, noting that about 25% of positions remain open. 

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