WYOMING — State Parks in Wyoming saw over 5 million visitors in 2025, marking the highest visitation levels since the recreation surge of 2020 and 2021.
Wyoming State Parks announced in a news release on Tuesday that the agency saw 5,048,419 visitors at state-managed parks last year, which is a 5% increase over 2024. One of the more popular destinations — Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis — welcomed over 1.2 million people, while Curt Gowdy State Park near Cheyenne saw its second-highest visitor total ever, with 600,000 recreationists.
“Surpassing five million visitors is a testament to the vital role our parks, historic sites, and recreation areas play in Wyoming’s communities,” Director of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources Dave Glenn said in the statement. “Whether it is local families escaping for a weekend at Glendo or international travelers stopping at Buffalo Bill on their way to Yellowstone, these sites are essential to our state’s quality of life and economic resilience.”
Per Wyoming State Parks, data from 2025 shows that Wyoming residents accounted for 53% of overnight reservations. Travelers from the Colorado Front Range made up the majority of out-of-state visitors. Wyoming State Parks expanded its interpretive and educational services last year, offering 552 opportunities to engage with the public through programs, events and outreach activities. Programs were offered at 22 state park and historic site locations, as well as at schools, libraries, senior centers and other venues.
Staff from the state organization led 169 field trips for 11,780 students. Those trips focused on numerous topics, including birding, wildflower hikes, kayaking, night-sky exploration, history, geology, and art and photography.
