UPDATE: Northern portion of Yellowstone National Park likely to remain closed for a substantial length of time due to severely damaged, impacted infrastructure

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NEWS RELEASE


UPDATE: Northern portion of Yellowstone National Park likely to remain closed for a substantial length of time due to severely damaged, impacted infrastructure



Condition of North Entrance Road between Gardiner, Montana, and Mammoth Hot Springs

NPS / Doug Kraus


Known damage and issues

  • Known damage (at this time) to some park roads includes:

    • North Entrance (Gardiner, Montana) to Mammoth Hot Springs: road washed out in multiple places, significant rockslide at Gardner Canyon
    • Tower Junction to Northeast Entrance: segment of road washed out near Soda Butte Picnic Area, mudslides, downed trees
    • Tower-Roosevelt to Canyon Junction (Dunraven Pass): mudslide on road
    • Canyon Junction to Fishing Bridge: Segment of road just south of Canyon Junction potentially compromised and closed for evaluation
  • The power continues to be out in multiple locations in the park.
  • Water and wastewater systems at Canyon Village and Mammoth Hot Springs are being impacted by flooding conditions and are being monitored.    


Stay informed

  • Visitors planning to travel to Yellowstone in the upcoming weeks should stay informed about the current situation and pay close attention to the status of road and weather conditions.

  • Stay informed about up-to-date road conditions in Yellowstone:
    • Visit Park Roads.
    • To receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone, text “82190” to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions).
    • Call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message.
  • Find news releases about the incident on the park’s website.
  • Find photos on Flickr of this extremely hazardous situation in Yellowstone National Park.
  • Yellowstone will continue to communicate about this hazardous situation as more information is available.

 



UPDATE: June 13, 2022 at 4:32 p.m.

  • Please find a video just posted to Flickr that underscores the severity of the situation in Yellowstone National Park. The park’s helicopter manager recorded the video from the park’s helicopter of the Gardner River and portions of the road between Mammoth Hot Springs and the North Entrance through the Gardner Canyon. Segments of the paved road are eroded and washed out in several places due to high water levels.
  • Yellowstone will continue to communicate about this hazardous situation as more information is available.

 



UPDATE: June 13, 2022 at 2:15 p.m.

All entrances to Yellowstone National Park CLOSED temporarily due to heavy flooding, rockslides, extremely hazardous conditions; Stay informed about road status and weather conditions

  • Effective immediately, there will be no inbound visitor traffic at any of the five entrances into Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday, June 14, and Wednesday, June 15, at a minimum.
  • Stay informed about up-to-date road conditions in Yellowstone:
    • Visit Park Roads.
    • To receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone, text “82190” to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions).
    • Call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message.
  • Find photos and videos on Flickr of this extremely hazardous situation in Yellowstone National Park.
  • Yellowstone will continue to communicate about this hazardous situation as more information is available. 

 



UPDATE: June 13, 2022 at 1:16 p.m.

Statement from superintendent Cam Sholly about all entrances in Yellowstone National Park CLOSED temporarily due to heavy flooding, rockslides, extremely hazardous conditions

“Due to record flooding events in the park and more precipitation in the forecast, we have made the decision to close Yellowstone to all inbound visitation," said superintendent Cam Sholly. "Our first priority has been to evacuate the northern section of the park where we have multiple road and bridge failures, mudslides and other issues. The community of Gardiner is currently isolated, and we are working with the county and State of Montana to provide necessary support to residents, who are currently without water and power in some areas. Due to predictions of higher flood levels in areas of the park’s southern loop, in addition to concerns with water and wastewater systems, we will begin to move visitors in the southern loop out of the park later today in coordination with our in-park business partners. We will not know timing of the park’s reopening until flood waters subside and we're able to assess the damage throughout the park. It is likely that the northern loop will be closed for a substantial amount of time. I appreciate the efforts of the Yellowstone team and partners to safely evacuate areas of the park and of our gateway community partners who are helping us through this major event. We appreciate the support offered by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service and the Montana and Wyoming governors."

Yellowstone will continue to communicate about this hazardous situation as more information is available.

 



UPDATE: June 13, 2022 at 11:10 a.m. 

All entrances to Yellowstone National Park CLOSED temporarily due to heavy flooding, rockslides, extremely hazardous conditions; Stay informed about road status and weather conditions

  • Effective immediately, all entrances to Yellowstone National Park are temporarily CLOSED due to substantial flooding, rockslides and mudslides on roadways from recent unprecedented amounts of rainfall and flooding.
  • Effective immediately, no inbound visitor traffic will be allowed into the park until conditions stabilize and the park can assess damage to roads and bridges and other facilities. This includes visitors with lodging and camping reservations.
  • Closed entrances include:
    • North
    • Northeast
    • West
    • South
    • East
  • The power is out in multiple locations in the park.
  • Visitors planning on coming to Yellowstone in the upcoming weeks should pay close attention to the status of road conditions.
  • Many park roads may remain closed for an extended period of time.
  • Preliminary assessments show multiple sections of roads throughout the park have been either washed out or covered in mud or rocks, and multiple bridges may be affected.
  • Multiple roads in the southern portion of the park are also on the verge of being flooded, further restricting access.
  • With additional rainfall forecasted, the park does not want large numbers of day-use visitors stranded in the park.
  • Strains on wastewater and water treatment facilities could become a factor and the park is taking precautions to ensure facilities are not failing.
  • The National Park Service, surrounding counties and state of Montana and Wyoming will work with the gateway communities to evaluate flooding impacts and provide support to residents.
  • Rainfall is expected to continue for the next several days. Flood levels measured on the Yellowstone River are beyond record levels.
  • Stay informed about up-to-date road conditions in Yellowstone:
    • Visit Park Roads.
    • To receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone, text “82190” to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions).
    • Call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message.
  • Find photos on Flickr of this extremely hazardous situation in Yellowstone National Park.
  • Yellowstone will continue to communicate about this hazardous situation as more information is available.
 


June 13, 2022 at 9:21 a.m.

Roads in northern portion of Yellowstone National Park CLOSE temporarily due to heavy flooding, rockslides, extremely hazardous conditions; Stay informed about road status and weather conditions

  • Effective immediately, roads in the northern portion of Yellowstone National Park are temporarily closed due to substantial flooding, rockslides and mudslides on roadways from recent unprecedented amounts of rainfall.
  • The following roads are temporarily closed:
    • North Entrance (Gardiner, Montana) to Mammoth Hot Springs
    • Mammoth Hot Springs to Tower-Roosevelt
    • Tower-Roosevelt to the Northeast Entrance
    • Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris Junction
    • Canyon Junction to Tower-Roosevelt
  • Some of these roads may remain closed for an extended period of time.
  • Preliminary assessments show multiple sections of road in the park have been washed out between Gardiner and Cooke City, Montana, and multiple bridges may be affected.
  • Visitors currently in the northern portion of the park are being evacuated.
  • US Highway 89 S is closed at Yankee Jim Canyon due to approximately 3 feet of water on the road. Check the Montana Department of Transportation for road updates.
  • The National Park Service, Park County, Montana, and state will work with the communities of Gardiner, Silver Gate and Cooke City to evaluate flooding impacts and provide support to residents.
  • Crews will begin to assess damage in the southern portion of the park soon. Rainfall is expected to continue for the next several days.
  • Stay informed about up-to-date road conditions in Yellowstone:
    • Visit Park Roads.
    • To receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone, text “82190” to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions).
    • Call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message.
  • Yellowstone will continue to communicate about this hazardous situation as more information is available.
  • Find photos on Flickr of this extremely hazardous situation in Yellowstone National Park.