In spite of – perhaps because of – the pandemic, Yellowstone National Park had its second-busiest August this year, welcoming more than 881,000 visitors, which is 7.5 percent more than the same non-COVID tainted month in 2019.

However, park officials say overall tourism is still down substantially this year at the 9.065-sq-km wilderness area, which is located mainly in Wyoming, but spills into Montana an Idaho, and is known for its dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful.

The coronavirus prompted the park’s closure in March and Yellowstone’s five entrances opened for spring automobile traffic a few weeks later than usual. The two Wyoming entrances opened May 18, followed by the three Montana entrances June 1.

Park services including some restaurants and lodges gradually reopened over the summer season and much later than usual.

From January through August, Yellowstone had 2.5 million visitors, down 18 percent from the same period in 2019, however, the August surge made it the second busiest August on record after 2017 when tourists flocked to Wyoming to see a solar eclipse.

Tourism in Yellowstone tapers off in September and October. Most lodges, restaurants, stores and other services close for the year in October, followed by all park roads in early November.