Recently released figures indicate that visitors have been flocking to Glacier National Park this summer. Park officials say that visitation in June 2010 was 2.9 percent higher than in June 2009. Meanwhile, year-to-date visitation in 2010 is 3.8 percent higher than in 2009.
According to a National Park Service press release, the 337,120 visitors recorded during June 2010 is the highest June visitor count since 2003 when the park tallied 370,119 visitors. Meanwhile, the year-to-date visitor count through June 2010 is 503,010, the highest since 2005.
When the Going-to-the-Sun road opened this year on June 24, it was the earliest the entire roadway had opened since 2006 when Logan Pass opened on June 23. In 2007 and 2008, late spring snow accumulation and road damage delayed the opening of the pass until early July.
Visitors to the million-acre park can take advantage of three more fee-days or weekends this year: Aug. 14-15, Sept. 25 (Public Lands Day) and Nov. 11 (Veterans Day). While no entrance fees are charged these days, camping and other fees still apply.
A calendar of centennial events can be found online at www.glaciercentennial.org while other information about the park can be found at www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/index.htm.