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Grand Canyon National Park Celebrates 6 Millionth Visitor Of 2016

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By NPT Staff - December 14th, 2016

Grand Canyon Superintendent Chris Lenhartz welcomed the Johnsons to the park/NPS, Michael Quinn

A family from Nevada had the distinction of including the 6 millionth visitor to Grand Canyon National Park this year.

The Johnson family, from Las Vegas, arrived Monday and were delighted to be part of the National Park Service's centennial celebration. James and Abigail Johnson and their kids Sophia, 10, and Elijah, 6, were first-time visitors to Grand Canyon National Park.

“At first, I didn’t think it was real,” exclaimed Sophia, “but I’m really happy we’re the 6 millionth!”

The Johnsons were greeted at the South Entrance Station and led to park headquarters, where Superintendent Chris Lehnertz, park staff, and community members welcomed them and presented them with gifts from the Grand Canyon Association, Xanterra, Tusayan Chamber of Commerce and Bright Angel Bikes.

Almost all Grand Canyon visitors are greeted by visitor-use-assistant staff at South Rim, Desert View and North Rim entrance stations, who on any given day may greet between 1,000 and 2,000 visitors. 

The 6 millionth visitor signifies a landmark for Grand Canyon National Park, which has seen a steady increase in visitation since 2011. This year alone, visitation has increased by 8.6 percent with help from national campaigns like Find Your Park, a social media public campaign to raise awareness of the NPS centennial. Since its establishment in 1919, Grand Canyon National Park has received more than 200 million visitors.

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