Wet June doesn't deter Glacier visitors

June visitation numbers for Glacier National Park were down from last year — but not by much, considering Logan Pass was closed to motor vehicles all month and the weather was miserable for a solid two weeks.

Overall park visitation was 2.8 percent lower than last year, with 334,074 total visitors this June compared to 343,560 last year. Heavy rain and snow during the last two weeks of June contributed to the lower numbers.

Year-to-date numbers, however, show visitation for 2014 is keeping pace with 2013.

Through June, total park visitation was 510,495 compared to 511,462 a year ago.

Since Logan Pass opened July 2 and the weather improved markedly, Glacier is now in the full bloom of its visitor season.

July and August are the busiest months for visitors — in 2013 nearly 1.3 million people came to the park during those two months.

June 2014 visitor numbers show the east side had a big drop — visitation at St. Mary was 26.2 percent lower than the previous June. St. Mary had 77,132 visitors last year compared to 55,482 this year. Road construction affecting a major portion of the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and heavy rains that closed parts of the St. Mary Campground for several weeks were contributing factors.

Overnight stays in Glacier Park were down 10.3 percent in June, with 50,270 overnight stays this year compared to 56,016 last year. The backcountry was particularly quiet, with just 741 campers compared to 2,317 last year — a 68 percent drop.

The numbers were up in some locations. Polebridge was up 13.6 percent over last June and Goat Lick was up 28.9 percent. 

Camas Road also was a popular drive, up 32.4 percent.