Glacier visitation up over last year
A man swims in McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park in this photo from earlier this year.
Despite an even broader reservation system in 2023, visitation to Glacier National Park is up slightly over last year through August, the Park Service is reporting.
Glacier added a reservation from July 1 through the second weekend in September for Two Medicine and Many Glacier this year.
Even so, overall visitation through August was 2.249 million, which is up 1.7% over last year’s 2.212 million through August. But for the month, visitation in August was down 3.1% compared to last year. Two Medicine was down just 2.5% over last August and Many Glacier was down 16.7%. Polebridge really took a dive, down 27.6% as road construction on Glacier Drive likely contributed to fewer visitors. The Polebridge entrance also requires a reservation. One of the most popular reservations in Glacier during the summer months, they often get snapped up quickly.
For the year, Two Medicine is down 18% overall and Many Glacier is down 13%. Polebridge is down 16.1% for the year.
Visitation appeared to have shifted on the east side to St. Mary, which was up 6.4%, or just over 9,000 more visitors in August compared to last year. Visitors didn’t need a reservation to enter St. Mary and drive to Rising Sun. Also, visitors found out that they could get to Logan Pass quicker after 3 p.m. by waiting at the east side, as it’s only 12 miles, whereas it’s about 33 miles from the west entrance. Still, the west entrance is up 4.4% for the year through August, at 1.02 million.