Glacier National Park has seen a 40% growth in visitation since 2012. This unprecedented increase in popularity has implications for protecting natural and cultural resources, as well as for providing a quality visitor experience.
Thanks in part to your generous donations, social scientists from the University of Montana’s College of Forestry have been helping park managers understand visitor use patterns and trends in Glacier National Park over the past decade. The data was recently compiled into a story map to help show where, when, and how many people are hiking on the trails throughout the park. This allows managers to know if there are any shifts in hiker patterns on trails, and to make science-based decisions to protect for a range of opportunities: from very popular areas with many people and amenities to areas where visitors can experience more solitude. Managing for this range of opportunities also ensures quality visitor experience and protection of resources.
