Yellowstone National Park closures

On June 13, 2022, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) officials announced temporary closures due to extremely hazardous conditions as a result of flooding. As of July 2, 2022, the northern part of the park will reopen. The north entrance road and northeast entrance road will remain closed throughout the summer, so visitors will need to access the north loop through YNP’s west, east and south entrances. 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. For Yellowstone National Park alerts and travel resources, visit the YNP website.

With Yellowstone opening up 93% of all roadways within the park, the Alternate License Plate System (ALPS) will be suspended effective July 2^nd. Visitor entrances from East, West, and South will return to normal entrance procedures. Park staff will continue monitoring visitor use data, traffic counts, and the condition of infrastructure over the upcoming months to ensure capacity is not overwhelmed. The ALPS may be reinstituted if this becomes the case.

How to support those on the ground

Although a majority of the park will reopen this summer, floods but have still impacted YNP’s surrounding communities. Many Yellowstone staff members, area residents and National Park Service employees in the towns of Gardiner, Mammoth, Cooke City and throughout the interior of the park were impacted. If you want to support the park as it recovers from the flood and the damage it has caused, consider donating to the Yellowstone Resiliency Fund.

The fund will provide immediate financial support for the most pressing needs in the park community, helping support those on the ground directly impacted by the floods and any park recovery efforts that arise in the coming weeks and months as a result of the floods.

Know before you go

There are many other parks throughout the region that offer visitors a chance to enjoy the beauty and natural splendor of the area. Parks in the area are expected to experience increased visitation throughout the summer, so make sure you’re planning ahead if you’ll be visiting the area surrounding Yellowstone in the coming months. Below are just a few alternatives to YNP for travelers to experience:

• Bridger-Teton National Forest: Bridger-Teton National Forest offers more than 3.4 million acres of public land for your enjoyment. Comprised of a large part of the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, you can find pristine watersheds, abundant wildlife and immense wildlands in this national forest.
• Shoshone National Forest: America's first national forest is home to 2.4 million acres of rugged backcountry. With opportunites to hike, camp and mountain bike, the Shoshone National Forest has it all.

• Caribou-Targhee National Forest: Caribou-Targhee National Forest occupies over 3 million acres and stretches across southeastern Idaho, from the Montana, Utah, and Wyoming borders. The spectacular scenery of the forest is easily accessible from highways, byways and back doors.

With increased visitation expected in the greater Yellowstone area, your patience and increased emphasis on responsible tourism are appreciated as we support and protect this amazing place.