Spring Plowing to Begin in Yellowstone National Park

With the impending arrival of spring comes the end of the winter season and over-the-snow travel in Yellowstone National Park. 

Park roads will begin to close to snowmobiles and snowcoaches in preparation for spring plowing.  Beginning at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, groomed roads from Mammoth to Norris will be closed, followed by the closure of Norris to Madison and Norris to Canyon at 9:00 p.m., on Tuesday, March 4.  All remaining groomed roads will close to oversnow vehicles at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 9. 

The road from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to Cooke City, Montana, at the park's Northeast Entrance, is open all year to automobiles, weather permitting.
 
Visitor facilities will also close for the winter season according to the following schedule:

Saturday, March 1 
Last night for lodging at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

Sunday, March 2 
Mammoth Hot Springs Dining Room closes after breakfast
Mammoth and Indian Creek warming huts and Mammoth fuel station close at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 8 
Last night for lodging at Old Faithful Snow Lodge

Sunday, March 9 
Old Faithful Snow Lodge Dining Room closes after breakfast 
Old Faithful Geyser Grill & Gift Shop close after dinner 

The following facilities will close at 5:00 p.m.:  warming huts at Madison, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Old Faithful and West Thumb; fuel stations at Old Faithful, Fishing Bridge and Canyon; and the Old Faithful Visitor Center.

At Mammoth, the Yellowstone General Store, clinic, campground, and Albright Visitor Center are open all year. 

Plowing operations will begin this Friday on the road from Tower Junction to Tower Fall to allow for administrative travel in order to conduct rehabilitation of the Tower Fall restrooms.  The plowing of this segment will affect cross-country skiing access to the Lost Lake Trail and the Tower Fall/Chittenden Loop.  Although no public vehicle access will be allowed, the road will be accessible on foot or bicycle.   Please watch for falling rock along this segment of road. 

The road beyond the Tower Fall Store will not be open to bicycles until conditions allow, after May 8.  

Weather permitting, the roads will begin opening again to vehicles on Friday, April 18, from Mammoth to Old Faithful; Madison to the West Entrance and Norris to Canyon.  The roads from Canyon to Lake and from Lake to the East Entrance are scheduled to open on Friday, May 2; Lake to the South Entrance and West Thumb to Old Faithful, Tower to Tower Fall on Friday, May 9; and Tower Fall to Canyon over Dunraven Pass on Friday, May 23.

New upgrades - Maps Directory has been upgraded to include interactive maps, satellite view and some video.

Beta Test - http://yellowstonenationalpark.com/bears.htm. What do you think? Want more.....

Just added - Wildlife Photos in our Wildlife Directory both in Flash (high speed required) and non-flash

Seasons

The North Entrance to Northeast Entrance at Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana is open all year. Please note that this road is closed to east/west travel just east of Cooke City from late fall to early spring.

Once an Entrance/Road opens, it is open 24 hours a day. The only exceptions are caused by road construction and weather-related restrictions.

Spring:

April 20, 2007 West side roads open to motor vehicles. Mammoth to Norris Junction to Madison Junction to Old Faithful; Madison Junction to West Entrance; Norris Junction to Canyon
May 4, 2007 Canyon to Lake; Lake to East Entrance
May 11, 2007 Tower to Tower Fall; Lake to West Thumb; West Thumb to Old Faithful; South to Old Faithful.
Cooke City via Colter Pass to the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway intersection to the Long Lake gate shall be open as soon thereafter as possible.

May 25, 2007: Tower Falls to Canyon via Dunraven Pass; Long Lake Gate to Red Lodge via Beartooth Pass.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer:

Park Areas, Entrances and Roads open on different dates. Detailed information is listed above and on the Opening and Closing Dates for Facilities. The Summer Season runs from approximately mid-April to the beginning of November.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fall:

Fall weather is unpredictable; roads may be closed temporarily by snow or other weather conditions. Snow tires or chains may be required. Weather and snow conditions permitting, road closing dates for vehicles are on the following schedule:

Please Note: The section of the Beartooth Highway (Highway 212), between the junction of Highway 296 and Red Lodge, Montana, closes in winter on a schedule determined by amount of snowfall. Travel between Red Lodge and the Northeast Entrance is not possible on Highway 212 until it opens again in the spring.

Fall Road Closures:

October 10, 2007: gates close at 8:00 am for Dunraven Pass and Long Lake via Bear Tooth Pass to the Montana State Line.
November 5, 2007: all park roads close to the public at 8 a.m. except from the North Entrance to Upper Mammoth Terrace, and Mammoth via Tower Junction to Northeast Entrance. Cooke City via Colter Pass to the Long Lake gate is not maintained for wheeled vehicle travel.

"The Wonders of Yellowstone" - 98 Minutes - ~Telly Award Winner for Nature and Wildlife~ Two years in the making and just released, "The Wonders of Yellowstone" video has been highly requested, produced in DVD format and is now available. Take a complete tour of Yellowstone National Park as our Narrator Cathy Coan guides you to all the wonders of the park including all the geyser basins, wildlife, waterfalls and much more. "The Perfect Video Trip Planner" More Info or Order Online

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Winter:

The season runs from approximately mid-December to mid-March. The only park road that remains open to wheeled-vehicle use year-round is the road from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to the Northeast Entrance at Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana. Snow tires and/or chains may be required. Only over-snow vehicles are allowed on other park roads.

2007-2008 Oversnow Vehicle Road Opening and Closing Schedule

December 19, 2007- All roads open to oversnow travel (except North to Northeast Entrance which is open year-round to wheeled vehicles). THIS DATE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE WINTER USE PLAN.

Park roads close to oversnow travel at

9:00 pm on Sunday March 3, 2008: Mammoth to Norris Junctio
9:00 pm on Tuesday March 5, 2008: Norris Junction to Madison Junction and Norris Junction to Canyon
9:00 pm on Sunday March 10, 2008: All groomed roads in the park are closed

Facilities' Opening & Closing Dates
facilities' opening & closing dates includes:

The North Entrance road to Upper Mammoth Terrace and Mammoth, to Tower Junction, and to the Northeast Entrance remains open to wheeled vehicles year-round.The North Entrance road to Upper Mammoth Terrace and Mammoth, to Tower Junction, and to the Northeast Entrance remains open to wheeled vehicles year-round.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- New Release for 2007 - "The Wildlife of Yellowstone" - 94 Minutes - The Wildlife of Yellowstone DVD presents to you the most popular and prominent wildlife inhabiting Yellowstone National Park. This dvd, taped in digital format, has the highest quality scenes of grizzlies, black bears, moose, wolves, otters, owls, fox and much more including their young. Inside this dvd you will find · 94 Minutes on the Wildlife of Yellowstone. · Three Chapters : Large Mammals, Small Mammals and Birds · Narrated by Yellowstone Tour Owner and Specialist - Ken Sinay · Where, When and How to Spot the Wildlife of Yellowstone More Info or Order Online

Please Note: All road and facility opening and closing dates are weather dependent. Changes in this schedule may occur.

SPRING ('07)

March - Roads Close to Winter Over-snow Vehicles
Mar 4 Mammoth to Norris groomed road will close to over-snow vehicles (snowmobile and snowcoach) for spring plowing at 9 pm
Mar 6 Madison to Norris to Canyon groomed road will close to over-snow vehicles (snowmobile and snowcoach) for spring plowing at 9 pm
Mar 11 All other park roads will close to over-snow vehicles (snowmobile and snowcoach) for spring plowing at 9 pm
April - Facility or Service Opening Dates
Apr 11 Canyon Village - Yellowstone Adventures (store)

Apr 20 Old Faithful - Geyser Grill (fast food) & Gift Shop;

May - Facility or Service Opening Dates
May 4 Canyon Village - Service Station(credit card service available at the pumps all season)
Old Faithful - Snow Lodge Rooms and Restaurant; Upper Store; Lower Service Station (credit card service available at the pumps all season)
Madison Campground (concession)
Mammoth - Hotel and Dining Room; Terrace Grill Fast Food

May 11 Fishing Bridge - General Store
Old Faithful - Inn, Gift Shop & Food Service
Mammoth - Trail Rides; Service Station

May 14 Grant Village Mini Store
May 17 Old Faithful - Clinic
May 18 Canyon Village - Wrecker Service
Fishing Bridge RV Park (concession)
Lake Yellowstone - Hotel & Cabins
Norris Campground
Old Faithful - Lodge, Cabins & Food Service; Gift Shop; Wrecker Service
Roosevelt/Tower - Tower Fall Store; Tower Fall Campground
May 19 Lake - General Store
May 20 Canyon - General Store
May 22 Old Faithful - Service Station (credit card service available at the pumps all season)
May 25 Bridge Bay - Dock Rental; Campground (concession)
Canyon Village - Repair Service
Fishing Bridge - Wrecker & Repair Service
Grant Village - Lodging & Main Restaurant; Lake House Restaurant; Grant General Store; Service Station; Wrecker & Repair Service
Lake - Lake Clinic
Old Faithful - Clinic; Repair Service
Slough Creek Campground

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMER ('07)

June - Facility or Service Opening Dates
Park is Open for Summer Activities
June 1 Bridge Bay- Scenicruisers; Marina Store
Canyon Village - Canyon Lodge; Dining Room; Picnic Shop; Dunraven & Cascade Lodges; Western Cabins; Pioneer/Frontier Cabins; Cafeteria

June 8 Canyon Campground (concession)
Indian Creek Campground (National Park Service)
Pebble Creek Campground (National Park Service)
Roosevelt/Tower - Roosevelt Lodge & Cabins; Horse Rides; Stagecoach; Tower Junction Service Station; Roosevelt Store
June 9 Roosevelt/Tower Cook-Out
June 10 Lake Lodge & Cabins
June 15 Bridge Bay - Guide Boats (outboards)
Lewis Lake Campground (National Park Service)
June 17 Canyon Village Horse Rides
June 21 Grant Village Campground (concession)
July
Park is Open for Summer Activities
July 15 Lake - Lodge Creek Cabins
August
Park is Open for Summer Activities

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FALL ('07)

September - Facility or Service Closing Dates
Sept 1 Canyon Village Horse Rides
Sept 2 Canyon Village - Pioneer/Frontier Cabins & Cafeteria
Roosevelt/Tower - Horse Rides; Cook-Out; Stagecoach; Roosevelt Store
Sept 3 Canyon Village - Repair Service
Fishing Bridge - Wrecker & Repair Service
Grant Village - Wrecker and Repair Service
Old Faithful - Upper Service Station (credit card available at the pumps all season); Repair Service
Roosevelt/Tower - Roosevelt Lodge & Cabins; Tower Junction Service Station
Sept 9 Canyon Village Campground (concession)
Bridge Bay - Marina Store; Guideboats/Outboards
Sept 16 Bridge Bay Campground (concession); Dock Rental; Scenicruisers
Canyon Village - Lodge; Dining Room; Picnic Shop; Dunraven & Cascade Lodges; Western Cabins
Fishing Bridge Service Station
Indian Creek Campground (National Park Service)
Mammoth - Trail Rides
Sept 23 Grant Village - Lake House Restaurant; Grant General Store; Mini Store; Service Station; Campground
Lake - Lake Lodge & Cabins; Lodge Creek Cabins

Sept 24 Norris Campground (National Park Service)
Pebble Creek Campground National Park Service)
Tower Falls (National Park Service)
Sept 25 Lake - Lake Clinic
Tower Fall Campground (National Park Service)
Sept 29 Roosevelt/Tower - Tower Fall Store
Sept 30 Fishing Bridge - RV Park
Grant Village - Lodging & Main Restaurant
Lake - Lake General Store
Old Faithful - OF Lodge, Cabins & Food Service

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FALL ('07)

October - Facility or Service Closing Dates
Oct 4 Old Faithful - Gift Shop
Oct 6 Grant Village - Mini Store
Old Faithful - Clinic
Oct 7
Fishing Bridge - General
Lake - Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins
Old Faithful - Lower Store

Oct 8 Mammoth - Hotel & Dining Room; Service Station
Oct 9 Canyon Village - General Store
Oct 14 Canyon Village - Service Station (credit card service available at the pumps all season); Wrecker Service
Mammoth - Terrace Grill Fast Food
Old Faithful - Inn, Gift Shop & Food Service; Service Station (Lower); Wrecker Service
Oct 21 Canyon Village - Yellowstone Adventures
Old Faithful - Snow Lodge Rooms & Restaurant; Upper Store
Oct 28 Madison - Campground (concession)
Oct 31 Slough Creek Campground (National Park Service)
November - Facility or Service Closing Dates
Nov 4 Old Faithful - Geyser Grill Fast Food & Gift Shop
Lewis Lake Campground (National Park Service)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

December ('07) - Facility or Service Opening Dates
TBA
Park Opens for Winter Activities and Over-Snow Vehicles
Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins
Snow Lodge Restaurant
Geyser Grill
Madison Warming Hut Snack Bar

TBA
Mammoth Hotel opens for winter season.
Mammoth Hotel Dining Room

WINTER ('08)

January ('08)
Park is Open for Winter Activities
Park is Open for Over-Snow Vehicles
February ('08)
Park is Open for Winter Activities
Park is Open for Over-Snow Vehicles

-NPS-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------