Glacier Park visits down from last year

Glacier National Park visitation was down sharply through June, a drop that can largely be attributed to weather and last year’s record-breaking visitation statistics.

The National Park Service reports that 266,263 people entered the park in June, down 21 percent compared to the same month last year. The park had 408,827 visitors through the first six months of the year, down 18.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

But this year’s unusually deep high-elevation snow that still persists, blocking popular trails, played a big part in the latest opening on record, July 13, for Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass. The previous record was July 10, set in 1943.

The park also had unseasonably cool and wet weather well into June, probably discouraging people from visiting the park.

This year’s visitor statistics are also going up against last year’s record high total of 2.2 million visitors, a number that was supported mostly through the busy summer months.

Through June of this year, overnight stays in the park were down 34 percent, a drop that can also partially be attributed to snow delaying the opening of campsites and lodges. Concession lodging stays were down 31 percent for the month of the June, while tent overnight stays were down 34 percent, backcountry stays were down 36 percent, group camping was down 38 percent and RV stays were down 27 percent.