Lake is a delightful location to check out. Having a magnificent time at Yellowstone National Park is trouble-free. Why not take a refreshing hike along the Sepulcher Loop Trail, and a short visit to Mammoth Hot Springs is always worthwhile. All the outdoors cool things close to
Yellowstone National Park will keep you coming back many times. Rainbow Lake is a nearby lake that you could take a look at, and Elk Plaza is a glorious location here at Yellowstone National Park.
On a gorgeous day you obtain a vista of Liberty Cap from Yellowstone National
Park, and lakes are such serene spots, why not have a look at Rye Pond. If you feel like a little side spree, try Sheepeater Canyon; hiking is a popular thing to do around Yellowstone National Park; Rescue Creek Trail is a tremendous local trail. If you need a location to stay
Travelodge Yellowstone Park North is a great choice, and do go to Beaver Ponds, it's a scenic lake.
Around Yellowstone National Park you don’t get a lot of precipitation; through May this area sees the most rain; February on the other hand is the driest. Yellowstone National
Park has great outdoors recreation that you may benefit from. A pleasant nearby hotel is Comfort Inn Yellowstone North; you simply should take a look at Main Terrace if you're here at Yellowstone National Park.
Gardner Canyon is a fine spot to explore, and Yellowstone National
Park is wonderful enough to spend more than a day at, Eagle Creek Campground is a wonderful local campground. Yellowstone National Park has picturesque nature scenery for your viewing pleasure. Dry warm beds await you at Best Western Mammoth Hot Springs, and a cool spot to take
a look at is Eagle Nest Rock.
You can see Capitol Hill from Yellowstone National Park; if you came for an overnight stay LaDuke Spring Campground is a good place to camp.
Established on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the first and oldest national park
in the world. Preserved within Yellowstone are Old Faithful Geyser and some 10,000 hot springs and geysers, the majority of the planet's total. These geothermal wonders are evidence of one of the world's largest active volcanoes; its last eruption created a crater or caldera
that spans almost half of the park. An outstanding mountain wildland with clean water and air, Yellowstone is home of the grizzly bear and wolf, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk. It is the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the largest intact temperate
zone ecosystems remaining on the planet. The human history of the park dates back 12,000 years. The events of the last 130 years of park history are reflected in the historic structures and sites associated with various periods of park administration and visitor facilities development.
CONTACTS Email - yell_visitor_services@nps.gov Fax- 307-344-2005 Write to
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168 Phone
Visitor Information
- 307-344-7381
Visitor Information (TDD) - 307-344-2386
TRAVEL BASICS
Operating Hours, Seasons
PLEASE NOTE: Some Areas, Entrances and Roads are Not Accessible Year Round. Spring This is
a unique opportunity for non-motorized use of certain park roads. Bicycling, hiking, jogging, roller blades, roller skis, and similar means of non-motorized travel are permitted between the West Entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs ONLY from about mid March through the third
Thursday in April. The opening day in March is weather dependent. See the Spring Biking Page (http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/todo/biking/sprgbike.htm) for a map and more information. You may verify which specific roads are open to such activities by calling: 307-344-2109.
Summer / Fall Park Areas, Entrances and Roads open on different dates. Visit the Opening/Closing Dates and Calendar Pages for more information. Once an Entrance / Road opens, it is open 24 hours. The only exceptions are caused by road construction and weather-related
restrictions. Winter The season runs from approximately mid-December to mid-March. The road from the North Entrance at Gardiner, MT to the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City, MT is open to wheeled-vehicle use year around. Only over-snow vehicles are allowed on other
park roads. Please Note, US Highway 212 east of Cooke City, Montana is CLOSED during the winter season. Getting There
PLANE - Commercial airlines serve the following airports near Yellowstone National Park all year: Cody and Jackson,
WY; Bozeman and Billings, MT, and Idaho Falls, ID. The West Yellowstone, MT airport is open from June to early September. CAR - North Entrance - Near the gateway community of Gardiner, MT, the North Entrance is the only park entrance open to wheeled vehicles all year. November
through April, the North Entrance provides the only access to Cooke City, MT. Beyond Cooke City the road is closed to wheeled vehicles November through April. The road from Mammoth to Norris is open to wheeled vehicles from the third Friday in April through the first Sunday in
November, and to tracked oversnow vehicles from the third Wednesday in December to Monday of the first full week in March. West Entrance - Adjacent to the town of West Yellowstone, MT, the West Entrance is open to wheeled vehicles from the third Friday in April through the first
Sunday in November, and to tracked oversnow vehicles from the third Wednesday in December to Monday of the second full week in March. South & East Entrances - Open to wheeled vehicles from the first Friday of May through the first Sunday in November, and to tracked oversnow
vehicles from the third Wednesday in December to Monday of the second full week in March. Limited services are available near the South & East Entrances. Northeast Entrance - Near the gateway community of Cooke City, MT, this entrance is open year around for wheeled vehicle
access to Cooke City through Gardiner, MT and the North Entrance. Opening dates for roads east of Cooke City vary from year to year, depending on the weather. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Bus service from Bozeman, MT to West Yellowstone, MT via Highway 191 is available all year.
Bus service directly from Idaho to West Yellowstone is limited to the summer months. Commercial transportation from Bozeman, MT to Gardiner, MT is available during the winter and summer seasons. Commercial transportation to the park from Cody and Jackson, WY is available during
the summer season. There is no public transportation within the park. Weather & Climate
Summer: Daytime temperatures are often in the 70s (25C) and occasionally in the 80s (30C) in lower elevations. Nights are usually cool and temperatures may drop below freezing
at higher elevations. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons. Winter: Temperatures often range from zero to 20F(-20 to -5C) throughout the day. Sub-zero temperatures over-night are common. The record low temperature is -66F (-54C). Snowfall is highly variable. While the
average is 150 inches per year, it is not uncommon for higher elevations to get twice that amount. Spring & Fall: Daytime temperatures range from the 30s to the 60s (0 to 20C) with overnight lows in the teens to single digits (-5 to -20C). Snow is common in the Spring and
Fall with regular accumulations of 12' in a 24 hour period. At any time of year, be prepared for sudden changes. Unpredictability, more than anything else, characterizes Yellowstone’s weather. Always be equipped with a wide range of clothing options. Be sure to bring a warm jacket
and rain gear even in the summer. Accessibility
The pamphlet, Visitor Guide to Accessible Features in Yellowstone National Park, is available free online at the Web address below and at all visitor centers in the park. For more information, write to: Park Accessibility
Coordinator; P.O. Box 168; Yellowstone National Park WY 82190-0168. Getting Around
Most visitors use private vehicles to get around inside Yellowstone National Park. There is no public transportation available within the park. AmFac Parks & Resorts provides
bus tours within the park during the summer season. The Lower Loop Tour departs from locations in the southern part of the Park only. The Upper Loop Tour departs from Lake Hotel, Fishing Bridge RV Park, and Canyon Lodge to tour the northern section of the park only. The Grand Loop
Tour departs from Gardiner, MT and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel to tour the entire park in one day. During the winter season, they provide several snowcoach tours from various locations. Please call (307) 344-7311 for information or reservations. During the summer season, commercial
businesses offer tours originating from many area towns and cities. During the winter season, some businesses provide snowcoach tours for most park roads or bus transportation on the Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City road. FEES/PERMITS
Entrance Fee
1.
PRIVATE, NON-COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
$20 for 7 Days
$40 for Annual
2. INDIVIDUAL - HIKE, BICYCLE, ETC.
$10 for 7 Days
$40 for Annual
3. SNOWMOBILE OR MOTORCYCLE
$15 for 7 Days
$40 for Annual
4. COMMERCIAL
SEDAN, 1 TO 6 PASSENGER CAPACITY
$25 + 10 per person for 7 Days
5. COMMERCIAL VAN, 7 TO 15 PASSENGER CAPACITY
$125 for 7 Days
6. COMMERCIAL MINIBUS, 16 TO 25 PASSENGER CAPACITY
$200 for 7 Days
7. COMMERCIAL MOTORCOACH, 26 OR
MORE PASSENGER CAPACITY
$300 for 7 Days
CAMPING
Bridge Bay Campground
Reserve through Yellowstone National Park Lodges. Call: 307-344-7311 or TDD 307-344-5395. Or Online at: www.travelyellowstone.com/camping/
For More Information
on this campground please call 307-344-7311
Canyon Campground
Reserve through Yellowstone National Park Lodges. Call: 307-344-7311 or TDD 307-344-5395. Or Online at: www.travelyellowstone.com/camping/
For More Information on this campground please call
307-344-7311
Fishing Bridge RV Park
Hard-sided Vehicles Only. Reserve through Yellowstone National Park Lodges. Call: 307-344-7311 or TDD 307-344-5395. Or Online at: www.travelyellowstone.com/camping/
For More Information on this campground please call
307-344-7311
Grant Village Campground
Reserve through Yellowstone National Park Lodges. Call: 307-344-7311 or TDD 307-344-5395. Or Online at: www.travelyellowstone.com/camping/
For More Information on this campground please call 307-344-7311
Indian
Creek Campground
No Reservations. First come, first served.
Lewis Lake Campground
No Reservations. First come, first served.
Madison Campground
Reserve through Yellowstone National Park Lodges. Call: 307-344-7311 or TDD 307-344-5395. Or
Online at: www.travelyellowstone.com/camping/
For More Information on this campground please call 307-344-7311
Mammoth Campground
Open All Year
No Reservations. First come, first served.
Norris Campground
No Reservations. First come,
first served.
Pebble Creek Campground
No Reservations. First come, first served.
Slough Creek Campground
No Reservations. First come, first served.
Tower Fall Campground
No Reservations. First come, first served.
LODGING
1.
Canyon Lodges
This includes: Canyon Lodge, Cascade Lodge and Dunraven Lodge. Reservations can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this lodging please call 307-344-7311
2. Canyon Frontier / Pioneer Cabins
Reservations
can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this lodging please call 307-344-7311
3. Canyon Western Cabins
Reservations can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this
lodging please call 307-344-7311
4. Grant Village
Reservations can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this lodging please call 307-344-7311
5. Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins
Reservations
can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this lodging please call 307-344-7311
6. Lake Lodge Cabins
Reservations can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this
lodging please call 307-344-7311
7. Lake Lodge Creek Cabins
Reservations can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this lodging please call 307-344-7311
8. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins
Reservations
can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/ For More Information on this lodging please call 307-344-7311
9. Old Faithful Inn
Reservations can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this lodging
please call 307-344-7311
Old Faithful Lodge Cabins
Reservations can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this lodging please call 307-344-7311
Old Faithful Snow Lodge
Reservations can be
made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this lodging please call 307-344-7311
Roosevelt Lodge Cabins
Reservations can be made online at: http://travelyellowstone.com/hotels/
For More Information on this lodging
please call 307-344-7311
FACILITIES
Museums
MUSEUM OF THE NATIONAL PARK RANGER
Location - About 1 mile north of Norris Junction along the entrance road to the Norris Campground.
Closures - Open late May through September.
Special
Programs - A small auditorium shows a laser-disc production of the 25-minute movie, 'An American Legacy,' which tells the story of the development of the National Park Service.
Exhibits - Exhibits depict the development of the park ranger profession from its roots
in the military traditions through early rangers and to the present array of NPS staff specialized duties.
Available Facilities - Restrooms at the nearby campground.
NORRIS GEYSER BASIN MUSEUM
Location - The Norris Geyser Basin Museum is located 1/4
mile east of Norris Junction just off the Grand Loop Road. Built in 1929 - 1930, it is a National Historic Landmark.
Closures - Open from late May to early October. 05/26/2001 to 09/30/2001 - Ranger in area from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. 10/01/2001 to 10/08/2001 - Ranger in
area from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Exhibits - Exhibits on geothermal geology, Norris Geyser Basin features, and life in thermal areas featured.
Available Facilities - Seasonally, restrooms (near the parking lot) and book sales.
Ranger Stations
BRIDGE
BAY BACKCOUNTRY OFFICE
Location - South of Lake Village on the Grand Loop Road, adjacent to Yellowstone Lake
Special Programs - OPEN SEASONALLY ON A VARIABLE SCHEDULE - Backcountry, fishing, and boating permits are available, as well as general park information.
CANYON BACKCOUNTRY OFFICE
Location - The Canyon Visitor Center and Backcountry Office is located 1/8 mile southeast of Canyon Junction in the Canyon Village complex.
Special Programs - OPEN SEASONALLY ON A VARIABLE SCHEDULE - Backcountry, fishing, and
non-motorized boat permits, and first-aid assistance are available here.
Available Facilities - Restrooms, exhibits, book sales, backcountry permits, and nearby gas, food, lodging, and general store.
GRANT VILLAGE BACKCOUNTRY OFFICE
Location - 0.75 miles
from the Grant Village Junction on the road to Grant Village.
Special Programs - OPEN SEASONALLY ON A VARIABLE SCHEDULE - The office is near the gas station and Hamilton Store. Backcountry, fishing, and boat permits are available.
Available Facilities - Seasonally
- Nearby gas, food, lodging, and general store.
LAKE BACKCOUNTRY OFFICE
Location - In the Lake Village Area on the Grand Loop Road approximately 1.5 miles south of Fishing Bridge Junction.
Special Programs - OPEN SEASONALLY ON A VARIABLE SCHEDULE - Backcountry,
fishing, and boating permits are available as well as general park information.
Available Facilities - Nearby clinic, gas, food, lodging, and general store.
MAMMOTH BACKCOUNTRY OFFICE
Location - The Mammoth Backcountry Office is located in the Albright
Visitor Center at Mammoth Hot Springs, five miles south of the North Entrance and at the northwest corner of the upper loop of the Grand Loop Road.
Special Programs - Backcountry permits, non-motorized boating permits, fishing permits, and general information are available.
Available Facilities - Restrooms, exhibits, book sales, and (seasonally) nearby gas, food, lodging, and general store.
OLD FAITHFUL BACKCOUNTRY OFFICE
Location - On the Grand Loop Road 16 miles south of Madison Junction across the west parking lot from
the Old Faithful Visitor Center
Special Programs - OPEN SEASONALLY, SUMMER AND WINTER, ON A VARIABLE SCHEDULE - The combination ranger station, backcountry office, and clinic are located across the west parking lot from the visitor center. Backcountry permits, fishing
permits, non-motorized boating permits, and first aid are available.
Available Facilities - Seasonally - Nearby restrooms, exhibits, book sales, gas, food, lodging, and general store.
TOWER BACKCOUNTRY OFFICE
Location - Immediately west of Tower Junction.
Special
Programs - OPEN SEASONALLY ON A VARIABLE SCHEDULE - The Tower Ranger Station issues backcountry permits, fishing permits and provides general park information.
Available Facilities - Nearby restrooms. Seasonal gas, food, and lodging.
Visitor Centers
1.
ALBRIGHT VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year
Location - The Albright Visitor Center and Museum is located at Mammoth Hot Springs, five miles south of the North Entrance and at the northwest corner of the upper loop of the Grand Loop Road. See our online map for details at:
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/orientation/index.htm
Special Programs - Film and video presentations are shown every half hour in summer and on request in winter. Films include The Challenge of Yellowstone (25 min) on the history of Yellowstone and the evolution of
the national park idea, and Thomas 'Yellowstone' Moran (12 min) on Moran's contribution toward the establishment of Yellowstone National Park.
Exhibits - The visitor center (formerly bachelor officers' quarters) now houses a museum about history: Native Americans, the
mountain men, early exploration, the Army days, and early National Park Service. Of special note are the Moran Gallery where fine reproductions of watercolor sketches by the painter and expeditioner Thomas Moran are displayed, and the Jackson Gallery where original photographs
by William Henry Jackson, also of the 1871 Hayden Survey, are exhibited.
Available Facilities - Restrooms, exhibits, book sales, backcountry permits, fishing permits, and (seasonally) nearby gas, food, lodging, and general store.
2. CANYON VISITOR CENTER
Location
- The Canyon Visitor Center is located 1/8 mile southeast of Canyon Junction in the Canyon Village complex.
Closures - Open late May through early October.
Exhibits - An exhibit on the Yellowstone Bison is the result of a cooperative effort between Yellowstone
National Park and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming. The exhibit deals with the natural history of bison and the bison as a symbol of wildness; it also includes information on the current bison management controversy.
Available Facilities - Seasonally
- Restrooms, exhibits, book sales, backcountry permits, fishing permits, and nearby gas, food, lodging, and general store.
3. FISHING BRIDGE VISITOR CENTER
Location - The Fishing Bridge Museum and Visitor Center is located one mile off the Grand Loop Road on the
East Entrance Road. Built in 1931, it is a National Historic Landmark.
Closures - Open from late May through September.
Exhibits - The historic bird specimens (by Carl Russell) were installed in 1931, provide a good overview of the birds of Yellowstone. Other
displays include a grizzly sow and two cubs and a family of river otters.
Available Facilities - Restrooms adjacent to the parking area, exhibits, book sales, and fishing permits.
4. GRANT VILLAGE VISITOR CENTER
Location - The Grant Visitor Center is
located on the shore of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake in Grant Village one mile from the Grant Village Junction.
Closures - Open from late May through September.
Special Programs - The movie Yellowstone: The Unfinished Song on the 1988 fires (20 minutes)
is shown on a regular schedule throughout the summer months.
Exhibits - An exhibit that interprets fire's role in the environment, using the fires of 1988 as the example, is featured.
Available Facilities - Restrooms, exhibits, book sales, fishing permits,
and nearby gas, food, lodging, and general store.
5. MADISON INFORMATION STATION
Location - The Madison Information Station is located just south of Madison Junction in the Madison Picnic Area. Built in 1929 - 1930, it is a National Historic Landmark.
Closures
- Open from late May through early October.
Exhibits - Information and orientation is provided.
Available Facilities - Restrooms adjacent to the parking area, small exhibit area, and book sales.
6. OLD FAITHFUL VISITOR CENTER
Location - On
the Grand Loop Road 16 miles south of Madison Junction and located only 200 yards from Old Faithful Geyser.
Closures - Spring and Summer: Open late April through early November. Winter - 17 Dec 2001 - Opens for winter season. Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Winter: mid December
through mid March. Opens: 12/19/2001 to mid March 2002 - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Special Programs - Evening ranger-led programs are presented here during the summer and the winter seasons.
Available Facilities - Seasonally - Restrooms, exhibits, book sales, backcountry
permits, fishing permits, and nearby gas, food, lodging, and general store.
7. WEST THUMB INFORMATION STATION
Location - Located just east of the junction of the Old Faithful / South Entrance Road and the Bridge Bay / Fishing Bridge / Lake Road. In the West Thumb
Geyser Basin area on the shore of Yellowstone Lake.
Closures - Open from late May through September
Exhibits - Park information and small bookstore.
Available Facilities - Restrooms nearby.
8. WEST YELLOWSTONE PUBLIC LANDS DESK
Location
- West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce Building at the corner of Yellowstone Avenue and Canyon Street in West Yellowstone, Montana.
Special Programs - Ranger led activities, talks and evening programs.
Available Facilities - Accessible restrooms, brochures and park information, fishing permits, and nearby activities, food, fuel, lodging, and stores.
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