MOOSE, Wyo. — It’s the last day to take advantage of access to many roads in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. While winter weather has already been causing intermittent road closures, the last day of vehicle access on most roads is Friday, Oct. 31.

Grand Teton National Park

The Teton Park Road will be closed to vehicles from Nov. 1 through April 30 from the Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge. The road will be open to biking and foot traffic from Nov. 1 until it is snow-covered. In years past, the road has been groomed for skiing, snowshoeing and hiking from mid-December to mid-March.

Moose-Wilson Road also closes Nov. 1 through mid-May. It is unplowed from Death Canyon Road to Granite Canyon Trailhead, open to skiing, snowshoeing and hiking.

Other roads such as Antelope Flats, Deadmans Bar, Grassy Lake, Pilgrim Creek, Schwabacher and Two Ocean are closed seasonally based on conditions.

According to the park, roads close for the winter for recreational use and to provide corridors for wintering wildlife.

Yellowstone National Park

The West, South and East entrances plus nearly all roads inside the park will be closed to regular vehicle traffic beginning Saturday, Nov. 1.

The park closes annually around this time of year to prepare roads for winter snowmobile and snowcoach access, which starts Dec. 15.

Yellowstone reminds visitors that the park roads remaining open year-round are between the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana (via Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley).

According to Yellowstone, visitors planning to drive in the park during the fall and winter should:

  • Prepare for changing weather conditions.
  • Have flexible travel plans.
  • Expect limited services. Check the park’s operating dates site for details.
  • Anticipate possible road closures due to inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions.
  • Temporary travel restrictions or closures can occur at any time without notice.
  • Stay informed about up-to-date road conditions in Yellowstone:
    • Visit the Park Roads website.
    • Receive Yellowstone road alerts via mobile phone by texting “82190” to 888-777.
    • Call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message.