The South Entrance to Yellowstone National Park opens for automobile travel at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 13, allowing spring visitors from the Jackson, Wyoming, area access to Lake and Old Faithful. The roads from the park’s North and West Entrances opened as scheduled on April 15, and the East Entrance opened May 6.

Visitors should be aware that spring in Yellowstone is very unpredictable and often brings cold temperatures, high winds and falling snow. Even cleared sections of roads can be narrow and covered with a layer of snow, ice and debris. Drivers should use extreme caution as road clearing operations can be ongoing at any time throughout the park.

In the case of extreme weather conditions, temporary road closures are also possible with little or no advance warning, and some facilities and campground openings could be delayed. Due to the deep snow, walking on trails including those along the Canyon Rim or on boardwalks through thermal areas may also be difficult or impossible for several more weeks.

By Friday, most visitor facilities will be open at Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful, and limited facilities will be available at Canyon, Fishing Bridge and Grant Village. The opening of popular campgrounds and trails, especially those in the backcountry, could be delayed. A complete list of facility and road closures can be found on the web at http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/open_closedates.htm.

Each spring, Yellowstone National Park crews clear snow and ice from 198 miles of main road, 124 miles of secondary roads and 125 acres of parking lots inside the park as well as 31 miles of the Beartooth Highway outside the park’s Northeast Entrance to prepare for the summer season.

Updated Yellowstone National Park road information is available 24 hours a day by calling 307-344-2117.

For information on roads outside of the park from Cooke City over Colter Pass to the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway, travelers in Wyoming may dial 511; those outside of Wyoming may call 1-888-996-7623, or visit the Wyoming Department of Transportation website at http://www.wyoroad.info/.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2011 03:03PM by eeek.