Grand Teton National Park saw continued crowds in June/NPS file

Increased popularity of national parks is certainly continuing this year, as is clearly evident from the visitation numbers parks are releasing. At Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, for instance, June visitation was up 61 percent from last June and 20 percent from June 2019.

According to park numbers, Grand Teton counted an estimated 752,114 recreation visits in June, far more than the 468,201 tallied last June and above the 2019 count of 625,441. The list below shows June recreation visits over the last several years:

• June 2021        752,114            
• June 2020        468,201* COVID-19 pandemic
• June 2019        625,441
• June 2018        627,055
• June 2017        637,683            
• June 2016        603,154

Camping in the park increased 36 percent in June 2021 compared to June 2019, while backcountry camping increased 73 percent. Trail use in the park increased 38 percent in June, compared to June 2019, on trails that use is counted. Additional data on National Park Service visitor-use statistics is available at irma.nps.gov/STATS/.

Park staff are collecting data and conducting studies to better understand changing visitation trends in Grand Teton National Park. Historically, July and August have been the busiest months of the year at the park. Recent trends include increased visitation in the spring and fall. 

The park is initiating several studies this summer regarding changing visitation, including visitor use and experience studies at Colter Bay, Taggart and Lupine Meadow areas. These studies will survey visitors in these areas to gain a better understanding of visitor demographics, visitor expectations, and more. 

A transportation and visitor movement study is also being conducted in late July and early August to gain a comprehensive understanding of transportation and visitor movement to, through, and within the park. This study will help park mangers understand the relationships among the number of vehicles entering the park and the levels of use at key areas within the park. Identifying common visitor traffic patterns and understanding how visitors disperse and move throughout the parks is also part of this study.

Researchers will be surveying visitors and placing a variety of monitoring equipment in the park through mid-August. 

All visitors to Grand Teton are highly encouraged to plan ahead, recreate responsibly and help ensure this iconic landscape may be enjoyed by future generations. For a list of the Top 10 Tips for the visiting Grand Teton National Park and more helpful planning tools, visit the park’s Plan Your Visit webpage.