Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails - Wyoming State Parks Surpasses Five Million Visitors in 2025

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Feb. 24, 2026 –Wyoming State Parks is thrilled to announce that system-wide visitation surpassed the 5-million-visitor milestone in 2025. With an estimated 5,048,419 total visitors, the agency saw a 5% increase over 2024, marking its highest visitation levels since the 2020-21 recreation surge.

This continued growth reaffirms Wyoming’s reputation as a premier destination for recreation, history, and culture. High-traffic hubs like Hot Springs State Park led the system with over 1.2 million visitors, while sites like Curt Gowdy State Park recorded nearly 600,000 visitors—the second-highest total in its history.

“Surpassing five million visitors is a testament to the vital role our parks, historic sites, and recreation areas play in Wyoming’s communities,” said Dave Glenn, director of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources. “Whether it is local families escaping for a weekend at Glendo or international travelers stopping at Buffalo Bill on their way to Yellowstone, these sites are essential to our state’s quality of life and economic resilience.”

The 2025 data shows a healthy balance of use, with Wyoming residents accounting for 53% of all reserved nights, underscoring the role our state parks play in everyday recreation close to home. Out-of-state visitors, led by the Colorado Front Range and travelers heading to national parks, also played a vital role in driving overall system revenue and supporting park operations statewide.

The agency’s commitment to “more than just a campsite” was further demonstrated through its expanding interpretive and educational services. In 2025, Wyoming State Parks provided 552 opportunities to engage the public through interpretive programs, special events, and outreach activities statewide, including 329 interpretive programs, 176 events, and 47 outreach or tabling efforts. Programs were offered at 22 state park and historic site locations, as well as at schools, libraries, senior centers, and other community venues beyond park boundaries.

Wyoming State Parks staff also led 169 field trips for 11,780 students across the state and collaborated with more than 50 partner organizations to deliver meaningful educational experiences. Program topics ranged from birding, wildflower hikes, and night-sky programs to history demonstrations, geology talks, kayak programs, and art and photography classes.

The agency’s interpretive services program began in 2021 with the creation of its first Interpretive Ranger position. Over the past five years, the program has expanded to include five year-round Interpretive Rangers and a corps of seasonal interpreters. In addition to these dedicated positions, dozens of Wyoming State Parks staff, including superintendents, maintenance technicians, fee collectors, law enforcement officers, and volunteers, also contribute to education and interpretation efforts across the state.

To learn more about Wyoming state parks, historic sites, and recreation areas, visit wyoparks.wyo.gov.