Glacier National Park has never been more popular. Visitation numbers peaked in July, when more than 800,000 people came.
A mix of phenomenally good weather, a strong marketing campaign for the centennial year of the National Park Service and Glacier’s eye-catching presence on social media fueled the record-breaking numbers of tourists.
July saw 17 percent more visitors than the park’s previous highest month, July, 2014.
About 1.5 million people have come to the park this year, says park spokesperson Tim Rains.
"People are here and visiting their legacies. They're making memories, they're having experiences. They're spreading the word about the importance of continuing to preserve these places."
But all these people mean extra wait times: 2-3 hours for the free shuttle service along Going-to-the-Sun Road, full parking lots at popular trailheads, and campgrounds at capacity.
It’s likely the boosted numbers will become the new normal. Park managers are currently working on a management plan for the Going-To-The-Sun Road corridor, which they’ll unveil later this fall.
