Park visitation down, but picking up with better weather

Hungry Horse News

With the entire length of the Sun Road opening later than usual, Park visitation numbers were down sharply compared to last May.

Overall, visitation in the month of May to Glacier was down about 23 percent, from about 100,842 visits this year compared to 131,566 visits last year.

Last year, however, the Sun Highway opened its entire length in late May. This year, the entire length didn't open until June 23 - last week.

Heavy rains and washouts caused the road opening to be delayed about a week.

Logan Pass opened from the east side this year on June 10. But the bulk of the traffic into the Park comes from the west side.

Statistics for June or this past weekend were not available, said Park Spokeswoman Melissa Wilson.

For the year, visits to Glacier are down about 29 percent compared to last year, with 158,067 visits this year compared to 223,296 visits last year by the end of May.

Weather seems to be playing a larger role than gas prices. The weather in May and the first part of June was rainy.

Now that the area has entered a more summer-like weather pattern, with highs in the 80s and 90s, folks seem to be flocking to the Park.

Over the weekend, the line of cars at the West Entrance went nearly to Park headquarters.

Wilson reminds folks that there are a host of things to do in Glacier. For example, the Park has free guided hikes. Schedules for those hikes are handed out at every visitor center and entrance station. The Logan Pass Visitor Center is now open until 7 p.m.

All of the commercial services are available as well. There are boat tours on Lake McDonald, St. Mary Lake, Waterton Lake, Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes and Two Medicine Lake. Horseback rides are available and the Granite Park Chalet opens to visitors June 30.

Sperry Chalet opens to visitors July 8.

For more information on Park activities, check out the Park's Web site at http://www.nps.gov/glac/.