Visiting Glacier National Park 2026
Visiting Logan Pass in 2026: What's Changed and How to Plan Your Elopement or Couples Session
If you're planning an elopement, couples session, or even just a visit to Logan Pass this summer, there are some big changes you need to know about. The National Park Service has completely reworked how access to Logan Pass works for 2026 — no more vehicle reservations anywhere in the park, but a brand-new parking limit and ticketed shuttle system specifically for Logan Pass.
As a Glacier National Park elopement and wedding photographer based right here in the Flathead Valley, I want to break all of this down for you so we can plan your day with zero stress and zero surprises.
No More Vehicle Reservations — Anywhere in the Park
This is the big headline. For the first time since 2021, you won't need a vehicle reservation to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, enter Many Glacier, Two Medicine, or the North Fork. You just show up with your park pass and drive in.
That said — popular areas can still hit capacity during peak hours (roughly 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), and when they do, vehicles will be temporarily diverted until things thin out. If you have a lodging, camping, boat tour, horseback ride, guided hike, or backcountry reservation, you'll still be allowed entry during those temporary restrictions, though expect some delays.
The New 3-Hour Parking Limit at Logan Pass
Starting July 1 through September 7, 2026, private vehicles can only park at Logan Pass for a maximum of three hours. This is a 24-hour rule — it applies day and night.
Here's how it works: after you park, you'll need to grab a free, timestamped parking permit from a kiosk and display it on your dashboard. Three hours gives you enough time to hike to Hidden Lake Overlook, visit the Logan Pass Visitor Center, or take in an interpretive program — but it's not enough for longer hikes like the Highline Trail.
A parking spot is never guaranteed. It's still first-come, first-served, and the lot has historically filled before dawn on busy summer days. Early mornings remain your best bet.
Exceptions to the Parking Limit
Backcountry permit holders with itineraries starting or ending at Logan Pass can park overnight. You'll pick up a hangtag with your wilderness permit.
Granite Park Chalet guests can park overnight at Logan Pass during their stay with proof of reservation displayed in the vehicle.
The New Ticketed Express Shuttle
If you want to spend more than three hours at Logan Pass — say, for the Highline Trail to Granite Park Chalet or all the way to the Loop — you'll need to take the new express shuttle.
This replaces the old first-come, first-served shuttle system entirely. In 2026, every seat requires a $1 ticket purchased in advance through Recreation.gov (or by calling 877-444-6777). You'll need a Recreation.gov account, and every passenger age 2 and older needs their own ticket. Infants under 2 ride as lap children with a ticketed adult.
Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable, though you can cancel within 24 hours of your scheduled time (you'll forfeit the $1 fee, but it frees up the seat for someone else).
Shuttle Routes
West Side: Departs from Apgar Transit Center and Lake McDonald Lodge, with afternoon stops at the Loop, then Logan Pass.
East Side: Departs from St. Mary Visitor Center and Rising Sun Picnic Area, heading straight to Logan Pass.
You can transfer between the west and east routes at Logan Pass. Important note: Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars will not be accessible by shuttle in 2026.
When to Book Shuttle Tickets
There are two booking windows:
60 days in advance, on a rolling basis, starting May 2, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. MDT.
Next-day tickets released at 7:00 p.m. MDT each evening, starting June 30, 2026.
When you purchase a ticket, you'll select a specific date, time, and boarding location. Plan to arrive at your boarding location at least 30 minutes before departure. Your ticket will be validated, and you'll receive a wristband that allows you to board a return shuttle back to your original boarding location.
Good to Know
All shuttles are wheelchair accessible.
Visitors with oversized vehicles (longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet) who want to visit Logan Pass can use the shuttle as an alternative.
Cell service inside the park is spotty to nonexistent — download or screenshot your tickets before you head in.
What This Means for Your Elopement or Couples Session
If you're eloping at or near Logan Pass this summer, here's how I'd approach the planning:
For sunrise elopements and couples sessions: We arrive early — really early — and park with the 3-hour window. A sunrise ceremony at Logan Pass or Hidden Lake Overlook fits beautifully within that time frame, and we avoid the crowds entirely. This has always been my recommendation, and the new system actually rewards it.
For Highline Trail elopements: We'll coordinate shuttle tickets together so we can hike out to one of the most jaw-dropping backdrops in the park without worrying about the parking clock. I'll walk you through the booking process and make sure we're all on the same shuttle.
For couples who want flexibility: Many Glacier, Two Medicine, Lake McDonald, and dozens of other stunning locations in the park don't have these restrictions at all. Some of my favorite elopement spots are quieter, more intimate, and just as breathtaking — and I know them all by heart.
No matter what, I handle the logistics so you can focus on each other. That's the whole point.
Quick Reference: Logan Pass 2026
Vehicle reservations: Not required anywhere in the park
Logan Pass parking limit: 3 hours, July 1 – September 7, 2026 (24/7)
Parking permit: Free, grab from kiosk upon arrival, display on dashboard
Shuttle tickets: $1 per person via Recreation.gov, required for longer visits
Advance booking opens: May 2, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. MDT (rolling 60-day window)
Next-day tickets: Available nightly at 7:00 p.m. MDT starting June 30
Boarding locations: Apgar, Lake McDonald Lodge, St. Mary, Rising Sun
Shuttle does NOT stop at: Avalanche Lake or Trail of the Cedars
Overnight parking: Only with backcountry permit or Granite Park Chalet reservation
Park entrance fee: Still required separately from shuttle ticket