YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Certain roads in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) will open to the public beginning Friday, April 21, weather permitting, at 8 a.m.

YNP’s winter season came to a close on March 5 and most of its roads have closed to the public in preparation for the park’s spring opening.

Roads open to the public April 21
  • West Entrance (West Yellowstone, Montana) to Old Faithful (via Madison Junction)
  • Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful (via Norris Junction and Madison Junction)
  • Norris Junction to Canyon Village
  • Additional park roads will open throughout May, weather permitting
  • The park’s North Entrance (Gardiner, Montana) and Northeast Entrance (Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana) are open to all traffic with no restrictions. Both road corridors have been repaired after last year’s historic flood event
Current Conditions
  • Due to the severe winter weather wildlife such as bison, elk and moose are stressed and weak. Be mindful as they endure this hardest part of the year
  • There may be a high number of winter-killed carcasses due to the severity of the winter. When bears emerge from hibernation, they look for food and often feed on elk and bison that died over the winter. Sometimes, bears will react aggressively to encounters with people when feeding on carcasses. Protect yourself and bears. Stay alert, carry bear spray and know how to use it.
  • Come prepared. Services in the spring are limited. Visit Operating Hours & Seasons for area-specific services
Road Improvement Projects
  • Four major road improvement projects will occur this year
  • All four projects will cause delays (Lewis River Bridge, Old Faithful to West Thumb, Yellowstone River Bridge and Northeast Entrance Road)
  • For more information on these projects and how travel will be affected click here
Stay Informed
  • Watch for quickly changing weather conditions and the possibility of temporary road closures. Many areas of the park are still experiencing winter conditions and snow and ice may cover sections of road
  • Check for road updates