State parks report record 2 million visits

Montana's 54 state parks reported a record 2 million visits in 2009. State Parks Administrator Chas Van Genderen said water-based parks were the most popular, with more than a million visits, up 15 percent from 2008. Parks along Flathead Lake and Spring Meadow Lake State Park near Helena reported record-breaking seasons. Pictograph Cave near Billings and other parks with cultural features attracted more than 600,000 visits, a 12 percent increase while parks with outstanding natural features, such as Lewis & Clark Caverns near Whitehall, saw a 9 percent increase in traffic. Van Genderen said 83 percent of the visits were made by Montanans and 95 percent of visitors rated their experiences as good or excellent. Camping was also up, with a reported 32 percent increase in overnight visits in 2009.