Wyoming State Parks Surpasses 5 Million Visitors in 2025

Record-breaking visitation highlights Wyoming's appeal as a top recreation destination.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Wyoming State Parks is celebrating a major milestone, with system-wide visitation surpassing 5 million visitors in 2025. This represents a 5% increase over 2024 and the highest visitation levels since the 2020-21 recreation surge. The continued growth reaffirms Wyoming's reputation as a premier destination for outdoor recreation, history, and culture.

Why it matters

The record-breaking visitation underscores the vital role Wyoming's state parks, historic sites, and recreation areas play in the state's quality of life and economic resilience. It demonstrates the appeal of Wyoming as a destination for both local residents and out-of-state travelers heading to national parks and the Colorado Front Range.

The details

Key highlights from the 2025 visitation data include Hot Springs State Park leading the system with over 1.2 million visitors, and Curt Gowdy State Park recording nearly 600,000 visitors - its second-highest total. Wyoming residents accounted for 53% of all reserved nights, showcasing the importance of these sites for everyday recreation close to home. The agency also expanded its interpretive and educational services, providing over 550 programs, events, and outreach activities at 22 state park and historic site locations, as well as in schools, libraries, and other community venues.

  • In 2025, Wyoming State Parks system-wide visitation surpassed 5 million visitors.
  • This represents a 5% increase over 2024 visitation levels.

The players

Dave Glenn

Director of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources.

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What they’re saying

“Surpassing five million visitors is a testament to the vital role our parks, historic sites, and recreation areas play in Wyoming's communities.”

— Dave Glenn, Director of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources

What’s next

The agency plans to continue expanding its interpretive and educational programming to engage visitors and local communities across Wyoming.

The takeaway

Wyoming's state parks, historic sites, and recreation areas have become essential to the state's quality of life and economic resilience, attracting both local residents and out-of-state travelers and demonstrating the enduring appeal of the state's natural and cultural assets.