Glacier visitor numbers soaring

The Daily Inter Lake

Despite a relatively late opening of Going-to-the-Sun Road and heavy construction on the historic highway, Glacier National Park's visitation through July is up 11 percent.

The National Park Service Statistics Office reports that 1,190,908 people have visited Glacier through July, an 11.4 percent increase over the number of visitors in the first seven months of 2006.

Sun Road did not open at Logan Pass until July 1, because of repairs to flood-damage sections of road just to the west and east of the pass. Soon after the opening, contractors started the first phase of a long-term road reconstruction with traffic delays on work section between the West Tunnel and Haystack Creek.

To ease impacts on visitors, however, the park also started a free shuttle service that has been well-used in its first month of operation.

Visitor numbers were up 5.7 percent for the month of July compared to the same month last year. There was a 22 percent increase in visitor numbers at the St. Mary entrance and a 9.5 percent increase at West Glacier for the month.

The statistics office is reporting a remarkable 197 percent increase in "group camping" parkwide for July, and a 167 percent increase for the year.

Total overnight stays, however, were down 7.3 percent for July and 2.2 percent for the first seven months of the year.

Concessions lodging stays were down 9 percent for July and 1.7 percent for the first seven months of the year.

Nearby forest fires have had little impact on Glacier Park except for occasional smoke. The park remains completely open.