Montana State Parks See Decrease in Early-year Visitation – Flathead Beacon

If early-season numbers are any indication, Montana State Parks are as soon as once more poised to be common locations for recreation, based on new statewide information tallying visits to state parks through the first three months of 2022.

Officers with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) on Could 11 reported first-quarter visitation exceeded 358,230 statewide, amounting to an 8.6% lower from 2021’s all-time excessive, however nonetheless a 62% enhance over the identical time interval in 2019.

“We’re grateful for the cooler temperatures and a few moisture together with the profit that has for the habitat and assets at our websites,” mentioned Hope Stockwell, administrator of the Parks and Outside Recreation Division at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. “Whereas which will have contributed to a lower in visitation this quarter, our numbers stay excessive in comparison with historic ranges.

Throughout Northwest Montana’s 13 state parks, officers reported greater than 71,980 guests, down 13.5 p.c from 2021. The report famous that a number of late winter chilly snaps might have depressed early spring visitation.

Flathead Lake State Park’s six items drew the very best visitation within the area, and third highest within the state, with an estimated 28,612, virtually on par with 2021.

At its peak in 2020, the six items that comprise Flathead Lake State Park — Wayfarers, Yellow Bay and Finley Level on the east aspect of the lake, and West Shore, Large Arm and Wild Horse Island on the west aspect — had a complete visitation approaching a half-million guests. Final yr’s numbers had been reportedly smaller as a result of closure of the Finley Level and Yellow Bay items for a number of weeks as a result of Boulder 2700 fireplace.

Visitation to Flathead Lake might get a lift this yr with the official opening of a seventh unit, Somers Seaside State Park, on Could 12. The brand new 106-acre park affords entry to a half-mile stretch of shoreline. By the point FWP finishes constructing the park’s facilities, there shall be roughly 50 parking areas and a restroom.

With the addition of Somers Seaside, Flathead Lake has 14 public entry websites alongside its roughly 185 miles of shoreline, 89% of which (excluding islands) is predominantly non-public land.

Two parks, Whitefish Lake State Park and Lake Mary Ronan noticed file early-year numbers, exceeding 9,172 and 6,154 guests respectively. Lake Mary Ronan noticed a very giant bounce, breaking 2020’s file by 51%.   

Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell noticed the biggest lower in first-quarter visitation, logging 13,015 guests, down 41% from final yr, and 1,700 fewer guests than in 2019. Nonetheless, Lone Pine was the eighth most visited park statewide.

The busiest months for state park visitation are June, July and August, and northwest Montana’s parks’ proximity to water helps gas that development — all 13 parks are alongside lakes with the singular exception of Lone, which notably noticed the smallest lower in guests between 2020 and 2021.

Of the six administrative areas within the Montana State Parks system, solely the jap area noticed elevated development in comparison with final yr.