Superintendent Says Yellowstone Not Affected by High Visitation

In spite of record visitation the last five years, the Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park says officials there will not limit attendance or require reservations.

Superintendent Cam Sholly visited the Park County Commissioners in Cody Tuesday. According to reporter Penny Preston, Sholly told the commissioners the Park is in the best shape it’s been in 150 years, assuring them that the four million visitors to Yellowstone each year are not hurting the ecosystem.

While Sholly says there are impacts on the Park’s infrastructure, including roads, wastewater systems, staffing and operations, Park officials have no plans to limit visitation in any way.

Yellowstone National Park has seen upwards of four million people in the park each year for the last five years. Year-to-date, visitation is almost five percent higher than it was five years ago, according to Park statistics. Due to the high numbers, visitors are urged to anticipate delays or limited parking at popular destinations.