Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Yellowstone Trip Planner
Yellowstone Trip Planner
Yellowstone Trip Planner
1 Safety Tips
2 Highlights
Visitor Centers
Museums
3 Activities
4 Map
5 Lodging &
Services
6 Permits &
Regulations
7 Camping &
Weather
1 P lay I t S afe Emergency—dial 911
Also open late December through Exhibits at this historic soldier station on
early March. Access only via over- the history of the park ranger profession.
snow vehicle.
West Yellowstone Visitor Norris Geyser Basin Museum
Information, bookstore, and exhibits on
Information Center the hydrothermal features of Yellowstone.
Late April–early November
Information and publications. West Thumb Information Center
Also open mid December through Information and bookstore.
early March.
Winter use in Yellowstone is being reviewed.
For updates, go to www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/winteract.htm.
3 W hat to do For current schedules of activities, consult the park website
(www.nps.gov/yell) or the park newspaper when you arrive.
Road construction occurs each year; Hiking takes you far from roads
D riving the P ark check at a visitor center upon arrival. and crowds. Check trail condi-
The Grand Loop Drive to major features tions at visitor centers or ranger
Winter All roads and entrances, with one
on this narrow, winding road. Allow plen- stations.
except ion, are closed to motor vehicle
ty of time for driving. travel; some may be groomed for over- Picnic areas exist throughout
snow vehicles. The North Entrance road the park. They usually have toilets
Summer Park roads are generally open for from Gardiner to Cooke City, MT, is open
travel, barring accidents, rock/mud slides, but no drinking water. Fires are
to wheeled vehicles and may close due to legal in areas with fire grates;
or road construction.
storms. Mud/Snow tires are recommended inquire when you arrive.
Autumn Storms may cause temporary and often required. You must return to the
restrictions (chain or snow tire require North Ent rance to leave the park. Self-guiding trails explore
ments) or closures of roads. Park roads Mammoth Hot Springs, Fort
close on the first Monday of November,
Spring Park roads open by sections Yellowstone, Norris Geyser
beginning the third Friday in April. Basin, Fountain Paint Pot, Upper
except the road from Gardiner to Cooke
Storms may cause restrictions or Geyser Basin, Grand Canyon of
City, MT, which is open all year.
closures. the Yellowstone, West Thumb
Geyser Basin, and Mud Volcano.
To Livingston, MT
52 mi/84 km
To Bozeman, MT
84 mi/134 km
To Gardiner, MT Northeast
Bozeman, MT
90 mi/144 km North Entrance MONTANA Entrance Cooke City, MT
5 mi/8 km
212
Beartooth Highway
To Billings, MT
Mammoth Hot Springs 18 mi/29 km
Slough Creek Pebble Creek 125 mi/200 km
? Tower Junction
or
North To Cody, WY
191 68 mi/109 km
Yellowstone
Indian Creek Roosevelt Association 29 mi/47 km
⁄ Institute
?
Tower Fall
21 mi/34 km 19 mi/31 km
22 mi/35 km
Road Openings & Closings 2010
Spring Road Openings, weather permitting:
Lewis Lake April 16—Mammoth to Old Faithful; Madison
Junction to West Entrance; Norris Junction to
Bechler Ranger Station ? Canyon
June 1–Nov. 1; 8–4:30
South Entrance ? May 7—Canyon to Lake to East Entrance (Sylvan
Pass)
To Ashton, ID To Grand Teton National Park To Jackson, WY
26 mi/42 km 8 mi/13 km 57 mi/91 km May 14—Old Faithful to West Thumb (Craig Pass),
Lake to South Entrance, & Tower Junction to
Tower Fall
Full service (lodging, food service, May 28—Tower Fall to Canyon (Dunraven Pass),
general store, restroom) General store Beartooth Highway
Visitor Center or Fall Road Closures
information station Food service October 12—Beartooth Highway, Tower Fall to
Canyon Junction (Dunraven Pass)
Clinic Restrooms November 8—All park roads close for the season
at 8 am except the North Entrance to Cooke City
Gasoline/fuel Campground road, which is open all year.
Campground: Road WORK schedules change.
Marina Hard-sided units only For updates, check at a visitor center or
entrance station upon arrival.
Cell phone service is extremely limited.
5 S ervices
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Bridge Bay June–Sept.
Canyon May–Sept.
first Sunday of November. Fishing season opens Northeast entrances, and West Yellowstone
P ermits later around Yellowstone Lake and between the Visitor Information Center.
lake and the Grand Canyon. For additional
Anglers 16 years or older require permits to information, check park fishing regulations or
Overnight backcountry
fish in Yellowstone National Park; no state www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/todo/fishing.
camping requires a permit, free 48 hours or
license is required. Younger children can fish for less in advance or for a fee by mail beginning
free under certain conditions. For these and all Motorized boats require permits: April 1. For more information, request a back-
other fishing regulations, refer to the park web- purchase at South Entrance, Lewis Lake Camp- country trip planner from the Backcountry
site (www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fishing) ground, Grant Village backcountry office, and Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park,
or inquire upon your arrival at ranger stations, Bridge Bay Ranger Station. WY 82190.
visitor centers, or general stores. Non-motorized boats & float Service animals are allowed in the
Fishing season generally begins on the tubes require permits: purchase at Old backcountry, but must have permits. Contact the
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend (usually the Faithful, Mammoth, and Canyon backcountry Backcountry Office (address above) for more
last weekend in May) and continues through the offices, Bechler Ranger Station, West and information.
E ntrance F ees
Private, noncommercial automobile $25 (7 days, both Yellowstone and Grand Teton) The Federal Pass Program
Motorcycle $20 (7 days, both parks) The “America the Beautiful—the National
Single entry (foot, bike, ski, etc.) $12 (7 days, both parks) Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass”
Yellowstone–Grand Teton Pass $50 (valid one year from month of purchase)
program provides several pass options
for the public to use at federal recreation
America the Beautiful Pass—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
sites—including national parks and wildlife
$80 (valid for one year from month of purchase)
refuges—where entrance fees are charged.
Senior Pass $10—for U.S. citizens or permanent residents of
Purchase the pass at one of Yellowstone’s
the U.S. who are 62 or older.
entrance stations or http://store.usgs.gov/
Access Pass Free—for citizens or permanent residents of the
pass.
U.S. who have been determined permanently
disabled and present such documentation. The Golden Age Passport and Golden Access
Passport are still accepted.
7C amping
Fees & dates are subject to change; updates at www.nps.gov/yell
Dates Fees Sites Elev (ft) Features How Long Can You Camp?
14 days July 1–Labor Day (first
Bridge Bay* 5/28–9/12 $19.50 >425 7,800 A, F, DS, G Monday in September) and 30 days
Canyon* 6/4–9/5 $19.50 >250 7,900 A, F, S/L, DS, G the rest of the year; no limit at
Fishing Bridge.
Fishing Bridge RV* 5/14–9/26 $35 >325 7,800 F, S/L, DS, G, hookups
Group Camping
Grant Village* 6/21–9/19 $19.50 >400 7,800 A, F, S/L, DS, G Available at Madison, Grant, and
5/7–10/24 $19.50 >250 6,800 A, F, G, DS Bridge Bay campgrounds for large
Madison*
organized groups with a designated
Indian Creek 6/11–9/13 $12 75 7,300 V leader such as youth groups or
educational groups. $51–$81 (plus
Lewis Lake 6/15–11/6 $12 85 7,800 V tax) per night, depending on group
Mammoth All year $14 85 6,200 A, F, G size. Reservations are required.
Contact Xanterra Parks and
Norris 5/21–9/27 $14 >100 7,500 F, G Resorts: P.O. Box 165, Yellowstone
National Park, WY 82190; 307-344-
Pebble Creek 6/11–9/27 $12 >30 6,900 V
7311 or toll-free 866-439-7375.
Slough Creek 5/28–10/31 $12 29 6,250 V
Attention RV Drivers
Tower Fall 5/21–9/27 $12 32 6,600 V Few campsites exist in the park
longer than 30 feet. Reservations
* Price does not include tax; reserve these sites by calling Xanterra Parks & A Accessible sites available recommended for these large
Resorts: 307-344-7311; toll-free 866-Geyserland (866-439-7375); TDD 307- F Flush toilets sites in Yellowstone and in
344-5395. V Vault toilets
S/L Pay showers/laundry near
campgrounds outside the park
Holders of Golden Age, Senior, Golden Access, and Access passes receive (map on center pages).
DS Dump station
approximately 50% discount on camping fees, except at Fishing Bridge RV Park
G Generators OK 8 am–8 pm
where no discounts apply.