Visitors to national parks have spiked in recent years, causing traffic jams, parking lot squabbles and harming natural resources. To try and deal with the problem, Muir Woods National Monument recently announced that it’s instating a parking reservation system.

Beginning in January, cars that do not have a reservation will be turned away at the gate. It’s the first national park in the country to use a reservation system.  The U.S. National Park Service spent five years researching the problem and holding public meetings to try and find the best solution. It's a delicate balance between reducing congestion and preserving the tranquility of park experience while still making it accessible to the general public. 

Visitors can still walk, bike and take shuttle to the park. Take Two spoke with National Park Service spokesman Andrew Muñoz for the Pacific Region Andrew Munoz who explained the new parking reservation system and what it could mean for parks here in So Cal.

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