Park visitation sets July record, best since 1983

July was a record month in Glacier National Park as visitation surged 8.4 percent over last year.

A total of 699,650 visitors turned the gates, according to figures released by the Park Service. That’s the most July visitors to the Park since at least 1983, when about 689,000 visitors came to Glacier.

Glacier Park is also on pace to beat visitation numbers for 2010, a record year. A total of 673,359 people entered the gates in July 2010, as the Park celebrated its centennial.

The centennial year set a record with 2.2 million visitors — the most recorded since at least 1979.

The biggest increase this year came at Two Medicine, where 60,193 people visited, compared to 43,474 people last year, a 38.5 percent increase.

Even the St. Mary’s entrance saw increased numbers, despite construction on the east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. St. Mary was up 3.5 percent, with 166,800 visitors compared to 161,137 last year.

Total visitation is 4.6 percent over last year, with 1.210 million visitors compared to 1.156 million last year.

The July numbers were higher despite a late opening of the Sun Road, which fully opened on July 2 after a mid-June snowstorm hampered snowplowing efforts.

Some visitation categories saw lower numbers. Fewer people spent the night in Glacier Park compared to last year. Recreational vehicle stays were down 7.9 percent, about 3,000 campers less than last July, and overnight tent stays were down about 3,000.

Backcountry use was down slightly as well, by less than one percent or about 60 campers. An above-average snowpack in the Park lingered well into August.

Weather plays a big role in Park visitation. After a wet June, the weather was much improved in July, with warm temperatures and just a few days with rain. August has been hot and dry as well for the most part.