The natural beauty of Yellowstone National Park continues to draw visitors in record numbers, with almost 3.4 million people spending time in Yellowstone in 2011.
Last year was the fifth consecutive calendar year visitation topped the 3 million mark and the second highest annual numbers on record, bested only by the year prior when a record 3.6 million people visited the park.
In fact, the last time Yellowstone recorded fewer than 3 million annual recreational visits was 2006, with 2.87 million visits.
Overall, more than a quarter of the park's total 2011 visitation was during the month of July, with 906,934 recreational visits recorded.
December visitation was down 5% compared to year-ago levels, with 16,509 visitors recorded in 2011 compared to 17,386 during the same period in 2010.
Detailed park visitation information is available online at http://www.nature.nps.gov/stats/.
Yellowstone National Park - Annual Recreational Visitors:
| Rank | Year | Visitation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010 | 3,640,184 |
| 2 | 2011 | 3,394,321 |
| 3 | 2009 | 3,295,187 |
| 4 | 2007 | 3,151,343 |
| 5 | 1992 | 3,144,405 |
| 6 | 1999 | 3,131,381 |
| 7 | 1995 | 3,125,285 |
| 8 | 1998 | 3,120,830 |
| 9 | 2008 | 3,066,570 |
| 10 | 1994 | 3,046,145 |
Image of Old Faithful geyser in the winter and attendance chart courtesy of National Park Service
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