Northwest Montana’s state parks and fishing access sites, administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region One, are drawing increased numbers of visitors each year. According to Region One Parks Manager Dave Landstrom, visitation at the Region’s 12 state park sites totaled 417, 993 visitors for 2009, which is a 7% increase from 2008.
The five Flathead Lake State Park units accounted for the majority of the increases in visitor numbers, especially in the sites with campgrounds. Logan State Park on Middle Thompson Lake and Thompson Falls State Park on the Clark Fork River also experienced substantial increases in visitation over 2008. In addition to the state park sites, the Region’s 34 fishing access sites hosted 428, 717 visitors. This level of use is similar to 2008.
Montana’s 54 state parks are seeing increased visitation statewide, with about two million total visits in 2009. “Eighty-three percent of those visits were by Montanans,” said Chas Van Genderen, State Parks Administrator. “Overall visit numbers have grown five of the past six years. Only 2008, with its high gas prices, showed a slight decrease.” In another positive trend, 95% of visitors surveyed recently said their experience at a Montana state park was good or excellent.
Many state parks offer affordable vacations close to home and convenient getaways for those with a few minutes or hours to spend in the outdoors. Giant Springs State Park in Great Falls, with its trails along the Missouri River, reported a record 302,000 visits in 2009, making it the most visited park in the system.
Follow this link more information on Region One’s state parks and fishing access sites.