April 6, 2010 –
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — The total number of winter visitors to Yellowstone National Park was up over 8 percent compared to the previous year, but was still 6 percent lower than the 2007-2008 season.
The total number of oversnow visitors remained flat, with a small drop in snowmobile visitors offset by a small increase in the number of snowcoach visitors. Limited snowpack at the beginning and end of this past winter may have contributed to the flat oversnow travel figures, and the increase in people who visited by car through the park’s North Entrance from December through March.
The total number of visitors this winter was 93,838 compared to last winter’s 86,784.
Yellowstone is currently operating under a temporary winter use plan, allowing for up to 318 commercially guided, best available technology (BAT) snowmobiles and 78 commercial snowcoaches a day in the park. The park will operate under the temporary plan again for the winter 2010-2011 season. Public scoping has just concluded on a new Winter Use Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. A draft is expected to be released a year from now, with a final plan in place for the 2011-2012 winter season. More information on the winter use plan is available at
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