YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Yellowstone National Park’s (YNP) winter season will begin Sunday, Dec. 15.
Annually from mid-December until mid-March, visitors can travel most of the Park’s roads from the West, South, East and North entrances by approved commercially guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches and via the non-commercially guided snowmobile access program.
According to a YNP press release, the accumulation of snowfall on roads currently varies across the Park. While visitors will be able to winter travel in the Park, the type of transportation used on Park roads by commercially guided snowmobile or snowcoach tour companies will always depend on road conditions.
The only roads open to automobiles 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). Users of these roads should anticipate possible road closures due to quickly changing weather and dangerous driving conditions, YNP warns.
Drivers can check the road status map before arriving, and are asked by the Park to drive cautiously and give plenty of space to snow plows.
“Do not stop, stand or walk in the road,” YNP writes in its press release. “Use a turnout if you need to stop for any reason.”
Park partners, concessioners and authorized businesses still offer a variety of guided tours throughout the park during the winter months, and visitors are still able to access Old Faithful. However, most facilities are closed during winter, although select visitor centers, stores, restaurants, lodges and warming huts are open.
YNP also reminds visitors that winter temperatures range from zero to 20°F (-20°C to -5°C) throughout the day. Sub-zero temperatures are common, especially at night and at higher elevations.
As always, YNP prohibits visitors from approaching wildlife during any season and asks everyone to stay 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from all other wildlife.
“Animals have the right of way,” YNP writes. “The safest way to view wildlife is through a telephoto lens, a spotting scope or a pair of binoculars.”
All visitors must store food properly and be aware that in some areas, ravens have learned to unzip backpacks to obtain contents.
Everyone is also required to stay on boardwalks; YNP reports that people have been severely injured or killed by breaking through thin ground in thermal basins or falling into hot springs. Traction aids over footwear is recommended when navigating snowy or icy boardwalks.
Lastly, connectivity is limited in YNP. It is unlikely phones will be able to receive calls or texts, even in the few areas with cell reception. Free public Wi-Fi is available at the Albright Visitor Center in Mammoth Hot Springs.
Throughout the winter season, YNP staff will work closely with all operators and provide updates as conditions change. Roads will start to re-open to automobiles beginning in mid-April.
