MOOSE, Wyo. — Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) recently released June visitation rates and as expected, by the large crowds in the town of Jackson, GTNP hosted the most visitors in June on record.
An estimated 752,114 recreation visitors entered the park in June, up 61% from June 2020 and 20% from pre-pandemic visitations in 2019.
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.
Camping in the park increased 36% in June 2021 compared to June 2019, while backcountry camping increased 73%. Trail use in the park increased 38% in June, compared to June 2019, on trails that use is counted.
Park staff are collecting data and conducting studies to understand changing visitation trends in Grand Teton National Park.
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.
According to the park, this study will help park managers 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.
