BILLINGS, Mont. — For the first time since 1999, more than 3 million people have visited Yellowstone National Park in a single year.

According to figures released this week, 3,115,572 visitors had passed through the park's gates by the end of last month. That's more than 8 percent more than last year through October.

The latest figures for October show a 4.7 decrease from the same month last year, but that comes after a busy summer. On average, from June through September this year, Yellowstone visitation was up 10.3 percent.

In 1992, a record 3,144,401 people visited the park. To break that record, Yellowstone would need to see another 28,830 visitors by the end of the year.