MOOSE, Wyo. — Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) announced Tuesday that it had 3.4 million recreation visits in 2023, an increase of 22% from 2022 visitation. Data also suggests that peak visitation is occurring a little later in the summer.
The year to beat remains 2021, when park visitation hit a record high of 3,885,230 recreation visits.
“In recent years, Grand Teton has experienced changing visitation trends,” GTNP’s announcement reads. “Recreation visits in 2023 are most similar to the number of visits in 2019. While 2019 and 2023 had similar overall numbers in visitation, how that visitation occurred throughout the year was different. In 2019, Grand Teton had higher levels of visitation in the summer, with peak months being June, July and August; while in 2023 the peak months shifted later in the year to July, August, and September (see graph below).”
The park reported a 34% increase in trail use over the last decade, using data collected from eight trail counters at “key summer destinations.”
The park service shared findings from its “Socioeconomic Research Study of Grand Teton National Park,” which analyzes visitor data from 2022. According to the study, GTNP visitors represented “nearly all 50 states during the summer sampling period, with only 5% of visitors being permanent residents of the local area.” Visitors said they came to the park for the scenery and wildlife, by and large.
Other visitor research conducted by GTNP yielded critiques of the park experience, with visitors citing challenges including “finding lodging that is not too expensive, the park was too crowded, long lines at entrance stations and not enough parking at trailheads and in the park in general.” GTNP says its staff will conduct further visitor use and experience research this summer.
Also included in the announcement were visitation numbers for the entire National Park Service, which reported 325.5 million recreation visits last year across 400 national park units, an increase of 13 million visits (or 4%) over 2022.
For more National Park Service statistics, see its dedicated website.
