Yellowstone sets new visitation record through first half of 2024

Yellowstone National Park hosted more than 900,000 visitors in the month of June, up 8% from June of 2023, according to a press release from the National Park Service.

“What we’re seeing based on the June visitation statistics is that it is another busy year in Yellowstone,” said Linda Veress, a spokesperson with Yellowstone National Park. “This trend has continued into July, which generally is the busiest month in the park. Visitors should plan ahead for their trips, pack their patience and follow these tips in order to have safe and enjoyable visits to the park.”

The park saw temporary closures in 2020 and 2022 due to COVID and historic flooding that destroyed sections of the North and Northeastern entrances into the park, according to the NPS website , which brought numbers down both years.

With the total number of visitors up to 1,633,739 this year, however, the park has seen a 9% increase from the statistics in 2023 and the highest total in years through June.

Visitation numbers are looking positive in Bozeman as well, according to Briana Wolfe, the director of tourism and sales for the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce. One of the main attractions of the area is its proximity to Yellowstone National Park, Wolfe said.

“Bozeman, Montana, attracts people for a variety of reasons — unique combination of natural beauty, outdoor activities, cultural attractions, and quality of life,” Wolfe wrote in an email to the Chronicle. “Bozeman serves as a gateway to Yellowstone, attracting nature lovers and adventure seekers.”

Other attractions to the area include outdoor recreation, natural beauty, and educational opportunities, according to Wolfe, who added that seasonal changes, weather conditions, and events and festivals can also influence visitation. A Spartan Race held last month at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, for example, garnered a total of 11,248 participants.

As visitors plan trips to Yellowstone, Veress said they should be mindful of the fire danger, which was bumped up to high in the park as of a week ago.

“One of the things visitors can do to help prevent wildland fires is build campfires only within the fire rings in campgrounds (or backcountry sites where they are allowed) and attend to them at all times,” Veress said. “They should make sure campfires are completely out before abandoning them — soak, stir, feel, and repeat until out cold.”

The three biggest wildfires in and around Montana right now are the Miller Peak Fire near Missoula, the Horse Gulch Fire near Helena, and the Deadman Fire north of Sheridan, Wyoming, the last of which hit 31,102 acres as of noon Tuesday, according to InciWeb .