Yellowstone News and Information

  Most entrances and roads in Yellowstone National Park will be closed Nov. 1 Last day for visitors to enjoy most of the park will be Oct. 31 Bison breath on a cool morning NPS / Jacob W. Frank   News Release Date:  October 24, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – The West, South and East entrances and nearly all roads in Yellowstone National Park will be closed to regular vehicle traffic Nov. 1. The park annually closes roads at this time of year to prepare them for the  winter season  and  snowmobile and snowcoach  travel, which will begin Dec. 15. The last day for visitors to drive most park roads will be Tuesday, Oct. 31.   The only roads open year-round are between the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana (via Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley). Visitors planning to  drive in the park during the fall and winter should: Prepare for changing weather conditions. Have

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  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone visitation statistics for September 2023 Ranger Summer and visitors at Madison Information Station NPS / Jacob W. Frank   News Release Date:  October 18, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park hosted 838,458 recreation visits in September 2023. This is a 48% increase from September 2022 (567,587 recreational visits) and a 21% increase from September 2019* (693,118 recreational visits).   So far in 2023, the park has hosted 4,161,602 recreation visits, up 38% from 2022 (3,005,194 recreation visits), and up 9% from 2019 (3,807,815 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through September):    2023 – 4,161,602 2022 – 3,005,194  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened on June 22.) 2021 – 4,472,687   2020 – 3,393,642  (The park was closed March 24 through May 17. Two entrances opened on May 18 and the

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Which Is more Hazardous to Tourists? Wildlife or Hot Springs? Yellowstone  Caldera  Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. Yellowstone National Park is home to an array of “charismatic megafauna”—for instance, elk, bears, bison, wolves, and other large mammals.  And as the term “wildlife” implies, these animals are, well, wild.  Yellowstone National Park requires all visitors to stay at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from all other large animals, like bison and elk. Despite these well-publicized warnings, stories of people approaching too close to animals, and sometimes being injured, appear every year. Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Early visitors at Handkerchief Pool, Black Sand Basin, around

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  NEWS RELEASE National Park Service and American Forests partner to restore threatened whitebark pine as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda        Whitebark Pine direct seeding project with American Forests         NPS / Jacob W. Frank WASHINGTON (Sept. 26, 2023) – The National Park Service (NPS) and American Forests have signed a five-year agreement to help return threatened whitebark pine to its range in the western U.S. As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the partnership will support restoration activities in national parks where whitebark pine grows. Initial projects in Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton National Parks are part of  $44 million  in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate and conservation investment in history.   Through the Investing in America agenda, the Department of the Interior is implementing more than $2 billion in investments to restore our nation’s lands and waters and advance the  America th

  Yellowstone National Park winter weather advisory: Expected snow may close Sylvan Pass and other roads Visitors to Yellowstone National Park should be aware that winter weather is expected in the park this evening, especially on high elevation passes.   Weather can change quickly this time of year in the mountains.   The weather forecast for Friday evening, Sept. 22 predicts 90% precipitation with possible 5-9 inches of snow accumulation on Sylvan Pass, located on the East Entrance Road.  If road conditions deteriorate due to the predicted winter weather, staff will close the East Entrance Road to Sylvan Pass and other roads as appropriate.    If needed, staff will evaluate conditions the morning of Saturday, Sept. 23 and will reopen the road (if it closes) when conditions allow. For up-to-date information about park roads:  Visit  Park Roads .  Call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information.  Sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting 82190 to 888-777 (

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  Yellowstone visitation statistics for August 2023 People walking on the boardwalks in Mammoth Hot Springs. NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  September 14, 2023 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park hosted 846,389 recreation visits in August 2023. This is a 45% increase from August 2022 (582,211 recreational visits) and a 3% increase from August 2019* (820,006 recreational visits). So far in 2023, the park has hosted 3,313,244 recreation visits, up 36% from 2022 (2,437,607 recreation visits), and up 6% from 2019 (3,114,697 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through August): 2023 – 3,313,244 2022 – 2,437,607  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened June 22.) 2021 – 3,590,609 2020 – 2,556,528  (The park was closed May 1 through May 17. Two entrances opened May 18 and the remaining three opened June 1.) 2019 – 3,114,697

  NEWS RELEASE Temporary road closure for Tower Junction in Yellowstone National Park Contractors work to remove debris from a motor vehicle collision        NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  September 8, 2023 Tower to Mammoth Hot Springs (overnight closure) From 11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11 to 4 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, the road between Tower Junction and Mammoth Hot Springs will close temporarily while crews extricate the final part of a cement truck. All lanes of travel will be closed during the operations to ensure visitor safety (see closure map below). Stay informed on park road status in Yellowstone: Visit  Park Roads . Call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information. Receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions).   Background On the evening of Monday, Aug. 28, a cement truck rolled off the road and onto a minivan near Tower Junction. The five occupants of the mi

NEWS RELEASE   Water temporarily unavailable in Yellowstone’s Madison area during system repair            Park road sign at Madison Junction        NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  September 6, 2023 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 Flush toilets and running water are temporarily unavailable in the Madison area, located 14 miles east of the West Entrance, while teams repair the water system. Areas without water include: Madison Campground Madison Comfort Station Government housing area The park is working to provide temporary restrooms, handwashing stations and potable water at the campground, comfort station and government area. The campground, picnic area and Madison Information Station will remain open. The outage is expected to last at least five days and updates will be provided when available.

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  NEWS RELEASE Dan Stahler selected as leader of Yellowstone National Park’s Wolf Project         Dan Stahler, Senior Wildlife Biologist         NPS / Jacob W. Frank MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Dan Stahler has been selected as the new leader of Yellowstone National Park’s  Wolf Project . A 21-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), Stahler succeeds Doug Smith, who retired at the end of December 2022. "Dan is a proven leader with the scientific experience, credibility, and vision needed to manage these critical wildlife programs into the future," said Superintendent Cam Sholly. As manager of the Yellowstone Wolf Project, Stahler oversees the monitoring, scientific research and management of wolves in the park, studying their relationship with carnivores, ungulates, and other animal and plant communities. Stahler will continue to lead the  Yellowstone Cougar Project , which began in 2014, and the  Elk Research and Monitoring Program . Additionally, he serves as Yellowsto