With significant snowfall throughout the park over the past 48 hours,
Yellowstone National Park will ring in the New Year by transitioning fully
to oversnow travel beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31.
Rubber- and steel-tracked guided snowcoaches and snowmobiles will be
allowed to travel on all interior park roads, with the exception of the
road between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction, which is restricted
to rubber-tracked guided snowcoaches only until snow conditions improve.
The East Entrance road through Sylvan Pass also remains closed due to
avalanche danger.
The road from the park’s North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana through
Mammoth Hot Springs and on to Cooke City, Montana outside the park’s
Northeast Entrance is open to automobile travel all year.
Over the past few days, interior areas of the park have received up to 12
inches or more of heavy wet snow along with strong winds, increasing the
danger of avalanches on steep slopes. Storms and adverse winter weather
conditions throughout the park have also caused poor visibility due to
blowing and drifting snow. Visitors traveling oversnow with guides or
driving on open portions of park roadways are cautioned to remain alert for
rapidly changing road conditions and other hazards. It is also strongly
advised to carry emergency items such as drinking water, an extra blanket
or warm clothes, and remain flexible with alternate travel plans.
Park staff members will continue to closely monitor road conditions and
weather forecasts, and are working to reopen Sylvan Pass as soon as the
avalanche danger has been mitigated.
Updated park road information is available 24 hours a day by calling
(307)344-2117. For information on roads outside of the park, travelers in
Wyoming may dial 511; those outside of Wyoming may call (888) 996-7623, or
visit the Wyoming Department of Transportation website at
wyoroad.info. Travelers in Montana may dial 511; those outside
Montana may call (800) 226-7623, or visit the Montana Department of
Transportation website at mdt511.com.
