USA - Yellowstone National Park Opens For Winter

3rd January 2009

Sylvan Pass Opens For Snowmobile And Snowcoach Travel

Yellowstone’s East Entrance opened this morning for the winter season.

Park employees conducted avalanche hazard mitigation operations Sunday, and groomed the East Entrance road for motorized oversnow travel.

Commercially guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches are allowed to travel between Pahaska Tepee and Fishing Bridge Junction over Sylvan Pass when weather and avalanche conditions permit.

All park entrances are now open. Limited, managed snowmobile and snowcoach travel through the park’s North, West, South and East entrances over groomed, snow-packed park roads is permitted this season under rules similar to those followed the past four winters.

The road linking Gardiner, Montana, with Mammoth Hot Springs, and the park’s Northeast Entrance at Cooke City, Montana, is regularly plowed and is open to wheeled vehicle traffic all year. Snow tires are often required. Heavy snowstorms can result in temporary road closures.

Yellowstone's weather is very unpredictable and can change quickly. Always be prepared for a range of conditions. Updated information on the park’s oversnow and plowed roads is available 24 hours a day by calling (307) 344-2117.

Lodging and limited services are available at Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs. A list of authorized winter service providers can be found online at http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/wintbusn.htm.

-www.nps.gov/yell -