Planning on visiting a National Park soon? With the increase of Covid-19 cases from the omicron variant, international travel has been restricted, and health and safety protocols have increased across the US. So where is everyone turning to, you may ask. Well the great outdoors, of course. National Park attendance throughout Covid has seen skyrocketing increases compared to previous years, but some parks are reducing capacity via a reservation system. You'll need a reservation to visit the following National Parks:
Acadia National Park (Maine)
Acadia National Park is one of the top ten most visited national parks in the United States annually. While you don't need a reservation to enter Acadia National Park, you do need a vehicle reservation for its most popular area, Cadillac Summit Road. This area of the park closes to guests every winter, making it in more demand for the operational season. From May 25 through October 22, vehicle reservations will be required to enter Cadillac Summit Road. Reservations are $6 per vehicle and must be made online in advance, they are not sold in Acadia National Park. 30% of reservations are available starting 90 days out, and the remaining 70% are released at 10:00 AM EST two days before the eligible day, so if you can't make one 90 days out do not give up hope. Reservations for Cadillac Summit Road in Acadia National Park can be made here: Cadillac Summit Reservations
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests (Colorado)
Two areas within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests will require guests to make advanced reservations to visit. These areas are Mount Evans Recreation Area and Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Mount Evans Recreation Area uses a Timed-Entry reservation system in order to limit crowds, and guests must enter during their two-hour timeframe, but can stay for the rest of the day. Reservations become available starting 30 days out and can be made here: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests Mount Evans Recreation Area Timed-Entry Reservations. The Brainard Lake Recreation Area uses Day-Use reservations, that are timed-entry specific, but good for the rest of the day. Reservations for this area become available starting at 8:00am MT the Thursday before Memorial Day Weekend and will be continually released on a 14-day rolling window. Reservations for this area can be made here: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests Brainard Lake Recreation Area Reservations.
Arches National Park (Utah)
Throughout the pandemic Arches National Park did not require reservations for entrance, but due to the high traffic the park has experienced, a new reservation system has been implemented for 2022. If you plan to visit Arches National Park between April 3 and October 3, you will have to make a Timed-Entry reservation. Timed-Entry Reservations can be made here: Arches Timed-Entry Reservations. The released schedule for these reservations are as follows:
January 3 at 8 am MST: April reservations (April 3–30)
February 1 at 8 am MST: May reservations (May 1–31)
March 1 at 8 am MST: June reservations (June 1–30)
April 1 at 8 am MDT: July reservations (July 1–31)
May 1 at 8 am MDT: August reservations (August 1–31)
June 1 at 8 am MDT: September reservations (September 1–30)
July 1 at 8 am MDT: October reservations (October 1–3)
Credit: NPS
El Yunque National Forest (Puerto Rico)
El Yunque National Forest implemented a Timed-Entry reservation system to limit crowds in La Mina Recreation Area for the health and safety of guests during the pandemic. Reservations to visit this area of the Forest must be made in advance and can be made starting a month out from the date of visit. Guests who have a reservation must enter La Mina Recreation Area between 8:00am and 3:00pm, and there is a chance the road into the area may be closed due to hazardous weather during your visit. Reservations can be made here: El Yunque National Forest La Mina Recreation Area Timed-Entry Reservations.
Haleakala National Park (Hawaii)
Haleakala National Park is home to Maui's highest peak, known as "house of the sun". This peak has been a popular destination to view the sunrise since the 1800s. This sunrise viewing location has become so popular that guests must make an advanced reservation to visit the park before sunrise, 3:00 am to 7:00 am. Reservations are not required for guests visiting at any other time, just for sunrise viewers. Reservations are available starting 60 days out and can be made here: Haleakala National Park Summit Sunrise Reservations.
Muir Woods National Monument (California)
Starting in 2018 Muir Woods National Monument implemented a parking and shuttle reservation system. If you visited before then, you would have experienced the insanity that was the roads outside of Muir Woods. With a lack of parking compared to the large crowds of guests going daily, it became a safety issue. Cars parked illegally everywhere, people running across traffic- in short, it was a nightmare. You can now book a parking and shuttle reservation for Muir Woods starting 90 days out. Reservations can be made here: Muir Woods National Monument Parking and Shuttle Reservations
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (Nevada)
For guests visiting Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and planning to do the beautiful Scenic Drive between October and May, they will need to make a reservation. Guests must enter the Scenic Drive during their one-hour window, and will have the rest of the day to enjoy. Reservations become available 30 days out and can be made here: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Scenic Drive Reservations.
Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
While reservations are not required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park during the off season, if you plan to go between May 27 and October 10, you will need to make a reservation in advance, they will not be available in the park itself. For this park there are two types of reservations you can make, either a Timed-Entry reservation or a Service reservation (which would include camping, guided trips, and tours). Service reservations, such as for camping, can be made here: Rocky Mountain Service Reservations. Timed-Entry Reservations can be made here: Rocky Mountain Timed-Entry Reservations. The released schedule for these reservations are as follows:
Reservations will become available on May 2 at 10 a.m. (MDT) for reservations to enter the park from May 27 through June 30.
Reservations will become available on June 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) for reservations to enter the park during the month of July (and any remaining days that have not been booked for June).
Reservations will become available on July 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) for reservations to enter the park during the month of August (and any remaining days that have not been booked for July).
Reservations will become available on August 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) for reservations to enter the park during the month of September (and any remaining days that have not been booked for August).
Reservations will become available on September 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) for reservations to enter the park during the month of October (and any remaining days that have not been booked for September).
Credit: NPS
Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
Starting in the 2022 busy season, Shenandoah National Park will require all guests who wish to enter the Old Rag area of the park to make advanced reservations. If you plan to visit the Old Rag area of Shenandoah National Park between March 1 and November 30, you will need to make a Day-Use reservation. You do not need a reservation to visit the park itself, just the Old Rag area. Day-Use reservations open February 1, and can be made here: Shenandoah Old Rag Area Day-Use Reservations.
Zion National Park (Utah)
For guests visiting Zion National Park that plan to hike Angels Landing after April 1, 2022, they will need to make an advanced reservation to be able to access this area of the park. Reservations for Angels Landing are distributed via a lottery system. These reservations are issued both seasonally (1-3 months prior) and day-before (1 day prior), and each reservation is broken into a time slot which notes the timeframe the hike must start from the Grotto in Zion Canyon. There are three timeframes per day: before 9:00 am, between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm, and after 12:00 pm. Lottery reservations can be made here: Zion National Park Angels Landing Reservations. The released schedule for these reservations are as follows:
January 3 - January 20: Seasonal lottery for spring dates (April 1 – May 31)
January 25: Notification of results of spring seasonal lottery
April 1 - December 31: Day-before lotteries (apply one day in advance of desired hiking dates)
April 1 - April 20: Seasonal lottery for summer dates (June 1- August 31)
April 25: Notification of results of summer seasonal lottery
July 1 - July 20: Seasonal lottery for fall dates (September 1 – November 30)
July 25: Notification of results of fall seasonal lottery
October 1 - October 20: Seasonal lottery for winter dates (December 1 – February 28, 2023)
October 25: Notification of results of winter seasonal lottery
Credit: RECREATION.gov