Yellowstone Early Season Visitor Numbers Down

Above, Yellowstone elk grazing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Record numbers of people have visited Yellowstone National Park during the past two years and 2017 is expected to also see record numbers. But, so far, the early season visitor numbers is down.

According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle:

Visitation numbers are down for Yellowstone National Park so far this year, and park officials are blaming the weather.  

The park recorded 45,095 visits this April, a total that was 23 percent lower than in April 2016. So far, total visitation is 12 percent lower than it was last year at this time.  

Jonathan Shafer, a spokesman for the park, said cold weather and fewer days with open roads likely contributed to the decrease. And even with that drop, park officials expect end-of-year totals to approach the levels they’ve seen in each of the past two years.

Since the August 21 solar eclipse umbra will pass over nearby Grand Teton National Park, more people will be drawn to the area to view it, which will increase Yellowstone's seasonal numbers.

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