Is Yellowstone Open? Flood Updates

Staff
·3 min read
1

This article originally appeared on My Yellowstone Park

Following flood damage which closed the park on June 13, 2022, Yellowstone reopened 93% of roadways by July 2. The three southern-most entrances plus both loops of the Grand Loop Road are open until normal seasonal closures.

North Entrance Road: Access through the North Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs is currently open to commercial tours, and for 1 mile to Rescue Creek for hiking and biking. Park officials expect the road to be passable for visitors by October, 15, 2022.

Northeast Entrance Road: The Northeast Entrance road is open to commercial tours, hiking and biking for 2 miles to the Warm Creek Trailhead. The west section of the road from Tower Junction to Slough Creek is open. Officials expect the entire Northeast Entrance road to be passable for visitors by October, 15, 2022.

YS Flood Recovery Map 4
(Photo: National Park Service)

Open entrances include the West Entrance at West Yellowstone, the South Entrance near Jackson/Grand Teton National Park, and the East Entrance near Cody.

Although the north and northeast entrances are closed to personal vehicles, the gateway towns of Gardiner (accessible via Hwy. 89 with no detours) and Silver Gate/Cooke City (accessible via Hwy. 296/Chief Joseph Highway from Cody and also via the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge) are open and welcoming visitors. These towns are hubs for wildlife-watching and are teaming with outfitters for rafting, fishing, ziplining and horseback riding.

The seasonal Beartooth Highway adjacent to Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance fully opened on July 22, 2022. Find more information about construction on the Beartooth on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/beartoothhighway/

Learn more about Yellowstone’s flood recovery at www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/flood-recovery.htm.

For a complete list of facilities open in the park such as campgrounds, hotels and visitor centers, visit www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm. See the current conditions of park roads at www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm and more updates at the Yellowstone NPS Facebook page, www.facebook.com/YellowstoneNPS.

The video below shows the initial damage to park roads and highlights the remarkable work road crews have accomplished.

Yellowstone Area Updates

Note that Yellowstone's gateway towns have also been affected by the flood. Here are some social links to help you keep in touch with these local communities.

Northern Yellowstone Area

Yellowstone Country Montana www.facebook.com/YellowstoneCountry

Gardiner www.facebook.com/visitgardinermt/

Livingston www.facebook.com/windycitymt

Red Lodge and Beartooth Highway www.facebook.com/visitredlodge

Cooke City-Silver Gate www.facebook.com/pages/Cooke-City-Silver-Gate-Montana/108244039196462

Silver Gate Lodging www.facebook.com/silvergatelodging

Eastern Yellowstone Area

Cody Yellowstone www.facebook.com/CodyYellowstone/

Pahaska Tepee Resort www.facebook.com/PahaskaTepeeWY

Western Yellowstone Area

West Yellowstone destinationyellowstone.com/flooding-emergency/ and www.facebook.com/DestinationYellowstone

Southern Yellowstone Area including Grand Teton National Park

Jackson www.facebook.com/JHChamber

Grand Teton National Park, is open and operating as normal, except for low water levels in Jackson Lake. www.facebook.com/GrandTetonNPS/

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