The impact of the Wuhan pneumonia (novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19) outbreak has made it difficult for Americans to travel abroad and has closed attractions around the country, but recently, as vaccination levels continue to rise and immunizations are loosened, people in the United States are starting to have places to visit, with Yellowstone hitting an all-time high for visitors in April.
According to the Associated Press, Cam Sholly, head of Yellowstone, said more than 34,000 people entered through the north entrance and another 33,000 came in through the west entrance in April, a 40 percent jump from the same month in 2019.
The previous record for April admissions held by Yellowstone was 59,000 in April 2016. In fact, Grand Teton National Park, near Yellowstone, also set a record for April visitors, with a total of 87,700 people visiting.
Prior to that, Grand Teton’s highest April visitor count was set in 2018, when it reached 60,500, and now surges by more than 20,000 in one breath.
Also, Glacier National Park saw 53,000 people enter the park in April, a 50 percent increase over the same month in 2019 and just shy of the all-time high of 55,000 in 2016.
Smalley predicts more visitors will flood in during the summer as more people get vaccinated, and the park is considering limiting or controlling visitation to protect the park’s environment and wildlife.
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