US EditionNational Parks Set Record for Visitation in 2024; Operational Challenges Looming
MONTANA, UNITED STATES, JUL 11 – Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks face record visitation increases despite a 24% National Park Service staff reduction, straining resources and services, officials said.
- In mid-2025, Yellowstone reported 1,690,922 visits, while Glacier logged 346,437, a 12% increase, indicating a record-setting year for the parks.
- Following 2021 policy changes, Glacier's reservation system and a July 2023 executive order raising foreign entry fees have contributed to record visitation growth, despite staffing cuts.
- Reports show the NPS lost 24% of its permanent staff since January, while Yellowstone's June visits increased by 14,000 to 928,250, highlighting capacity challenges.
- As visitation surges, overcrowding and maintenance delays have led to safety concerns and service cuts, with dispatch staffing dropping to 60%.
- In 2025, Yellowstone and Glacier's record visitor numbers highlight growing demand that outpaces staffing and resources, risking service quality and safety.
15 Articles
15 Articles
National parks set record for visitation in 2024; operational challenges looming
The year 2024 was record-breaking for the National Park Service, with about 331.9 million recreational visits, a nearly 2% increase from the previous year and surpassing the previous all-time high in 2016.
Yellowstone, Glacier national parks on track for record years • Daily Montanan
A packed parking lot at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park. (NPS/Jacob W. Frank)Fresh off of a year that saw Yellowstone and Glacier national parks notch their second-highest visitation years ever, the two anchors for Montana’s tourism sector are on an even hotter pace this summer, which could see new all-time records. Officials with Yellowstone National Park announced this week that the park hosted 928,250 visitors in June, up 14,000 from the…
ABC FOX Montana
Yellowstone, Glacier national parks on track for record years
Fresh off of a year that saw Yellowstone and Glacier national parks notch their second-highest visitation years ever, the two anchors for Montana’s tourism sector are on an even hotter pace this summer, which could see new all-time records. Officials…
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