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Glacier Visitation Climbs 13 Percent in August
There were more than 601,000 visits last month
The mountains of Glacier National Park, as seen from the Highline Trail. Justin Franz | Flathead Beacon
The final month of summer was a busy one in Glacier National Park as overall visitation continued to climb toward the 2 million mark.
The number of recreation visits inside Glacier Park increased almost 13 percent in August compared to a year ago, according to the National Park Service Public Use Statistics Office.
There were more than 601,000 visits last month. The year-to-date total through August was 1,722,212. That’s a 13.6 percent increase over a year ago, or more than 206,000 visits.
A majority of visits, 261,969, arrived through the park’s west entrance. That’s a 4.6 percent increase over 2011. Saint Mary’s, on the east side, experienced the largest percentage hike with 153,453 documented visits, or a 38 percent spike.
There were 131,495 total overnight stays in the park in August, an 8.8 percent increase. Concession lodging overnight stays experienced the steepest rise. There were 39,906, a 15.7 percent increase. Backcountry overnight stays were next, with 13,239, a 15.4 percent rise.
The last day to drive the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road this year is Sept. 16 before rehabilitation work resumes. Vehicle traffic will be restricted at Avalanche Creek beginning Sept. 17. Vehicle access to Logan Pass will be available from the east side of the park through Oct. 14, weather permitting.
The number of recreation visits inside Glacier Park increased almost 13 percent in August compared to a year ago, according to the National Park Service Public Use Statistics Office.
There were more than 601,000 visits last month. The year-to-date total through August was 1,722,212. That’s a 13.6 percent increase over a year ago, or more than 206,000 visits.
There were 131,495 total overnight stays in the park in August, an 8.8 percent increase. Concession lodging overnight stays experienced the steepest rise. There were 39,906, a 15.7 percent increase. Backcountry overnight stays were next, with 13,239, a 15.4 percent rise.
The last day to drive the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road this year is Sept. 16 before rehabilitation work resumes. Vehicle traffic will be restricted at Avalanche Creek beginning Sept. 17. Vehicle access to Logan Pass will be available from the east side of the park through Oct. 14, weather permitting.
Good for the park, bad for us locals. Twice this season I tried parking at Logan Pass. Once on a weekend, shame on me. The other, a week day after Labor day. Both times Logan Pass parking lot was full. I drove around for 30 minutes…
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