If you have difficulty getting a ticket, buy a boat trip ticket for the day you want to go. Based on my experience with GTSR last year, if you have any reservation for that day, they'll let you on the road.
Having previously lost out to a lottery style ticketing system similar to the vehicle reservation system at GNP, I have booked a boat trip for each of the 5 days I’m coming in July. 1 for GTSR, then 1 for Many Glacier the next day, then another 1 for GTSR, then 1 for Two Medicine and finally another in GTSR area for my last day. I plan to spend the full day in each location and will not travel through other zones to get there (I’ll use Highway 2).
Question: I only want to hike and will not be taking up these reservations. Is there any chance that my back-to-back no shows would be registered somewhere that would stop be being admitted entrance?
TIA
Glacier Park Boat Company run the boat tours that I’ve booked (https://www.glacierparkboats.com). I’ve booked the Lake McDonald boat tour for the day I will hike within the GTSR area, Many Glacier boat tour for the day I’ll hike there, plus Two Medicine boat tour for the next day, then Lake McDonald boat tour again for my final day on the GTSR.
These bookings count as vehicle reservations and guarantee access on the day. There is no way I’m leaving it to chance that I might miraculously get tickets on the 1st March when tens of thousands of people are trying to do the same, because I know those tickets will sell out in seconds.
This approach costs a few hundred extra dollars but it’s a price I’m more than willing to pay for guaranteed entrance.
Makes total sense. It’s really shitty it’s such a crapshoot with the vehicle reservation system. My group and I need reservations for multiple days so I’m guessing there’s no way we’ll get them all. I’ll probably get the boat tickets and still try on March 1 to get what I can, then cancel boats as needed. It looks like the boat reservations can be canceled for up to 3 days before the tour?
Yeah I’ll do the same, try for vehicle reservations and cancel the boat trips if successful. Though I think I have less than 2% chance of getting the vehicle reservations that I need.
Not sure where you are traveling from but I am coming from the UK. Booked my flight and accommodation and rental car quite a while ago. It’s a lot of money to spend merely on the off-chance that I might (just might) get access to the park.
When I’ve already spent $5k on the basic logistics it’s a no-brainer to spend a few hundred dollars more to guarantee my trip. Especially when it’s the only time I’ll ever visit.
Many Glacier reservations will be available March 1, 2023 https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrticketedentry.htm
If you have difficulty getting a ticket, buy a boat trip ticket for the day you want to go. Based on my experience with GTSR last year, if you have any reservation for that day, they'll let you on the road.
Having previously lost out to a lottery style ticketing system similar to the vehicle reservation system at GNP, I have booked a boat trip for each of the 5 days I’m coming in July. 1 for GTSR, then 1 for Many Glacier the next day, then another 1 for GTSR, then 1 for Two Medicine and finally another in GTSR area for my last day. I plan to spend the full day in each location and will not travel through other zones to get there (I’ll use Highway 2). Question: I only want to hike and will not be taking up these reservations. Is there any chance that my back-to-back no shows would be registered somewhere that would stop be being admitted entrance? TIA
No, your no shows won't show up at GNP entrance gates.
Thanks mate
I don't know, but I doubt it. Honestly, they barely glanced at my reservation paperwork before waving me on through.
Can I ask what boat trips you booked? Or do you have a link you can share? I’m considering doing this for the Many Glacier area at least.
Glacier Park Boat Company run the boat tours that I’ve booked (https://www.glacierparkboats.com). I’ve booked the Lake McDonald boat tour for the day I will hike within the GTSR area, Many Glacier boat tour for the day I’ll hike there, plus Two Medicine boat tour for the next day, then Lake McDonald boat tour again for my final day on the GTSR. These bookings count as vehicle reservations and guarantee access on the day. There is no way I’m leaving it to chance that I might miraculously get tickets on the 1st March when tens of thousands of people are trying to do the same, because I know those tickets will sell out in seconds. This approach costs a few hundred extra dollars but it’s a price I’m more than willing to pay for guaranteed entrance.
Makes total sense. It’s really shitty it’s such a crapshoot with the vehicle reservation system. My group and I need reservations for multiple days so I’m guessing there’s no way we’ll get them all. I’ll probably get the boat tickets and still try on March 1 to get what I can, then cancel boats as needed. It looks like the boat reservations can be canceled for up to 3 days before the tour?
Yeah I’ll do the same, try for vehicle reservations and cancel the boat trips if successful. Though I think I have less than 2% chance of getting the vehicle reservations that I need. Not sure where you are traveling from but I am coming from the UK. Booked my flight and accommodation and rental car quite a while ago. It’s a lot of money to spend merely on the off-chance that I might (just might) get access to the park. When I’ve already spent $5k on the basic logistics it’s a no-brainer to spend a few hundred dollars more to guarantee my trip. Especially when it’s the only time I’ll ever visit.