June visitation was down in Glacier Park

June visitation numbers for Glacier National Park were down compared to last year, but not by much considering that the Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed to motor vehicles later than normal and the weather was miserable for a solid two weeks.

Overall Park visitation was 2.8 percent less 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.

The east side saw a big drop — visitation at St. Mary was 26.2 percent less than the previous June. St. Mary saw 77,132 visitors last year compared to 55,482 this year. Road construction on the east side of 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 the Goat Lick was up 28.9 percent. The Camas Road was also a popular drive, up 32.4 percent. With the Sun Road closed over the pass, people were likely looking for alternate routes for sightseeing in the Park.