It’s billed as the “crown of the continent” – a land of immense glaciers, dazzling lakes and jaw-dropping mountains carved out by ice rivers that’s a photographer’s paradise.
The wilderness area has been included on Fodor’s list of ‘No’ locations for next year, due to overtourism.
Thetravel guide publisher argues that the shrinking of the park’s glaciers has led to a surge in “last-chance tourism,” which is leading to congestion, the faster accumulation of garbage and a greater risk of wildlife disturbance.
In addition, the guide points out, increased carbon emissions are having a detrimental effect on air quality and backpackers are being jammed into trails by wildfire closures, making it harder to maintain them and for rescuers to reach people in trouble.
Glacier National Park is warming twice as fast as the global average, with only 27 of the 150 or so glaciers from the early 20th century remaining.
Michael Jamison,Northern Rockies campaign director for the National Parks Conservation Association, said: “No one has any meaningful data on the extent to which last-chance tourism is motivating travelers here, but anecdotally, there’s no doubt people are racing to see a glacier before they’re gone.”
He added that there’s a “staggering disconnect” between the desperation to see natural wonders before they vanish and the lack of concern over the damage surges in visitor numbers cause to the environment.
The other destinations on the No list are Antarctica; The Canary Islands, Spain; Isola Sacra, Italy; The Jungfrau Region, Switzerland; Mexico City, Mexico; Mombasa, Kenya; and Montmartre, Paris, France.
Should travelers strike these spots from their bucket lists permanently? Jeremy Tarr, Digital Editorial Director at Fodor’s Travel, stressed that the “No list” is not a call for boycotts.
He explained: “The No List is the rare travel list that encourages both desire and restraint in the same breath – a reality check wrapped in responsible wanderlust. It serves as a gentle but pointed nudge to ease up on a spot for now – not forever – and give a rest to any location that clearly needs a breather.”
So where should Americans visit instead?
Handily, Fodor’s also produces an annual ‘Go’ list, which this year includes Buncombe County, North Carolina; Coupeville, Washington; Indio, California; Keene Valley, New York; Key West, Florida; and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Buncombe County, says Fodor’s, is “riding a renaissance after weathering the challenges of 2024’s Hurricane Helene”; Coupeville is “making a new name for itself as a destination for creatives”; the desert town of Indio is now “humming with bars, boutiques and cafes”; Keene Valley in New York’s Adirondack Mountains is a “must visit for those who love nature”; Key West “greets you like a vibrant and welcoming mini-city”; and Martha’s Vineyard has “a laid-back charm that’s undeniable.”
Outside the U.S., other places on the Go list include Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Canberra, Australia; Greenland; Thessaloniki, Greece; Wurzburg, Germany; Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya; Orizaba, Mexico; The Azores, Portugal; and Saba, in the Dutch Caribbean.
Tarr added: “In recent months, travel has proved anything but relaxing. Between a government shutdown, FAA-mandated cuts in flights, and security lines that rival those snaking outside a Taylor Swift concert, we hope that next year’s travels will return to being an instrument of joy and a break from the stress of everyday life.”
The eight 2026 No List destinations
- Antarctica
- The Canary Islands, Spain
- Glacier National Park, USA
- Isola Sacra, Italy
- The Jungfrau Region, Switzerland
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Mombasa, Kenya
- Montmartre, Paris, France
America’s 2026 Go List destinations
- Buncombe County, North Carolina
- Coupeville, Washington
- Indio, California
- Keene Valley, New York
- Key West, Florida
- Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts