Glacier moves wilderness reservations to Recreation.gov

Glacier National Park announced Thursday the launch of a revamped permitting system for backcountry campsites.

The digital system, first floated earlier this year, comes as park officials report a marked increase in applications for backcountry campsites in recent years. The new process for the park’s advance wilderness camping permits replaces a manual lottery system that officials said employees could no longer maintain.

Members of the public had a Feb. 17 deadline to weigh in on the overhaul, which will see permit applications handled via Recreation.gov. In response to the submissions, officials added a tutorial video and description of the refund policy to the park’s website.

Seventy percent of backcountry campsites will be available for advanced reservation on Recreation.gov, leaving 30% available for walk-up permits the day before or the day of a desired trip start date.

Permit offices are located in Polebridge, Apgar, Two Medicine, St. Mary and Many Glacier. A valid wilderness camping reservation from Recreation.gov doubles as a vehicle reservation for the day before or the day of a trip starting date.

Backcountry campsites will be released for advance reservations on Recreation.gov at 8 a.m., March 15.

The online system only accommodates groups of one to four campers per permit. Making advance reservations for groups larger than that requires seeking two separate permits with two separate group leaders. Groups of nine to 12 campers require three permits and three group leaders.

To offer an alternative way of obtaining a permit for groups larger than four, the park will retain its previous backcountry reservation system, Pay.gov, for a one-day application period for mid-size and large group permits. The application period for permits through Pay.gov occurs March 1, from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Group applications submitted to Pay.gov will be placed into a lottery and reservations for successful applicants will be booked on Recreation.gov by park staff. Camping reservations will be awarded to 30 groups of five to eight campers and five groups of nine to 12 campers. Those selected will be notified via email and given five days to submit payment.

The application period for mid-size or large group permits via Pay.gov will occur before advance reservations are available on Recreation.gov. That lets visitors planning wilderness camping trips for groups larger than four to first apply using the one-day Pay.gov opportunity, followed by the Recreation.gov site, if unsuccessful.

Owing to high demand, officials urged backpackers to prepare three or four different itineraries in the event a preferred trip is unavailable.

For more information, visit the Wilderness Camping Advance Reservations webpage on the park website at https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/backcountry-reservations.htm