YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — In the spring of 1922, park crews shoveled by hand to make way for visitors traveling into Yellowstone by car. Crews cleared snow from the Mammoth to Norris road through Swan Lake Flats.

So maybe grandparents don’t lie, it was earned the hard way back then.

While crews are certainly more efficient these days, many park roads are still closed in the spring for snow removal operations.

Yellowstone’s winter season came to a close on March 16 and most of its roads closed to the public in preparation for the park’s spring opening on April 26. Spring plowing has begun and select park roads will open to the public on Friday, April 19 at 8 a.m., weather permitting. The road between the North and Northeast entrances remains open, and is open year-round to regular vehicles.

Below are projected road date openings. All dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions.

  • April 19: West Entrance to Madison, Madison to Old Faithful, Madison to Norris, Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris, Norris to Canyon Village
  • May 3: East Entrance to Lake Village (Sylvan Pass), Canyon Village to Lake Village
  • May 10: South Entrance to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass), West Thumb to Lake Village, Tower-Roosevelt to Tower Fall
  • May 24: Canyon Village to Tower Fall (Dunraven Pass). This is a high elevation pass that generally experiences winter weather earlier than other roads in the park — as with all other roads, the closing date is subject to change.
  • TBD: Beartooth Highway (US-212), Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY-296)

The park also utilizes the spring and summer months for improvements to its roads and other construction projects.

Currently, Yellowstone is working on two bridge improvement projects that will cause up to 30 minute delays for visitors traveling to Lewis River Bridge, 10 miles north of the South Entrance, and Yellowstone River Bridge, near Tower Junction along the Northeast Entrance Road.

The existing Lewis River Bridge will be removed, and a new bridge will be constructed immediately downstream. The project will also include additional parking and viewing opportunities.

The Yellowstone River Bridge project began in 2023, and will conclude in fall 2026. The bridge will be replaced with a new 1,285-foot-long, 175-foot-high steel girder bridge. New pullouts and paved parking areas will also be constructed, and the Yellowstone River Picnic Area will be enlarged to accommodate increase visitor use.

More information about the park’s road and entrance openings can be seen here.

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