Park posts higher May visitor count

Glacier National Park’s May visitation was 2.9 percent higher than May of last year, as the Many Glacier and the North Fork areas saw a surge in traffic.

Many Glacier’s visitation was up 28.4 percent, as more than 11,000 visitors entering the valley compared to about 8,500 last year.

Visitors entering at Polebridge increased 57.1 percent over last year, with 4,283 visitors compared to 2,737 in 2013.

Last year’s federal budget sequestration prevented some campgrounds in the North Fork from opening until later.

But visitation in other areas of the Park was down. The number of visitors passing through the west entrance was down 4.7 percent, about 54,000 visitors compared to 57,000 last year.

Visitation at Two Medicine was also down sharply, with 5,726 visitors compared to 7,517 last year.

Overall, visitation to Glacier Park through May was up 5.1 percent over last year, with about 112,000 visitors compared to a little less than 109,000 last year.

This June’s numbers will likely be lower because the Going-to-the-Sun Road has not completely opened to vehicles. Last year, the road completely opened June 15.

Most of the Park’s visitors are here from June through September. Visitation drops off sharply during the fall and winter months.