The temporary timed-entry permit reservation system implemented at Rocky Mountain National Park last year to reduce crowding and congestion will be back again this year, park officials announced Wednesday, but they are making more permits available per two-hour entry window than last year.
The number of reservations last year was based on 75% to 85% of the park’s parking lot capacity. This year, that number will be 90%, according to a news release.
Timed reservation entry permits will be required from May 27 (the Friday before Memorial Day) through Oct. 10. Permits for May 27 through the end of June will go on sale at 10 a.m. on May 2. Permits for July will go on sale June 1, and so on (that is, July 1 for August permits, Aug. 1 for September permits and Sept. 1 for October).
Reservations can be made through recreation.gov.
Like last year, park officials are calling it a temporary pilot program while they continue the process of developing what they call “long-range visitor access strategies.” Park officials say those are necessary to counter “increased negative impacts to visitor and staff safety, resource protection, visitor experience and operational capacity” caused by crowding in the nation’s third-busiest national park. Informational meetings were held last year, followed by a public comment period.
This year’s reservation system will look a lot like last year’s, with two kinds of reservations available. Entry reservations for the Bear Lake corridor (and the rest of the park) will be required from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations for the rest of the park (excluding access to the Bear Lake corridor) will be required from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each permit is for entry anytime during a designated two-hour window.
Some permits will be held back and be made available for purchase at 5 p.m. the day before. Initially, that number will be 30%, according to the release.
