Old Faithful & Other Yellowstone Favorites Are Open Again

Good news - and more good news.

First the good news: A good chunk of Yellowstone national park reopened on Wednesday. About 80% of the park, in fact.

More good news: This includes most of the attractions that people go to Yellowstone to see.

On reopening day about 5,000 cars were allowed to enter the park. Not a bad start.

The park's Southern Loop is what is open. The northern loop remains closed.

The number of people that can come in is being managed by the "odd-even" license plate system. Plates ending with an even digit can enter on even-numbered days. Odd numbers on odd-numbered days.

So lets take a look at what is now open and what you can see. The following information is from the Yellowstone National Park Website.

The map above is the "Southern Loop."

Old Faithful: Located on Grand Loop Road, between Old Faithful and West Thumb. Expect delays up to 30 minutes. Overnight closures will occur 8 p.m. – 6 a.m. from September 5 - November 1, 2022 .

Beartooth Highway: Located outside of the northeast entrance to the park, from Pilot Index Overlook east to Beartooth Lake Campground. Overnight closures will occur 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. Monday through Thursday. There will be no closures Friday through Sunday.

Yellowstone River Bridge: Located near Tower Junction along the Northeast Entrance Road. Expect delays up to 30 minutes. The Yellowstone River Picnic Area and Wrecker Curve Access Road and parking area will be closed during construction. Hiking Trails in the area will remain open.

Lewis River Bridge: Located ten miles north of the South Entrance on the South Entrance Road. Expect delays up to 20 minutes. Occasional overnight closures will occur 7 p.m. – 9 a.m. from May 13 - June and from September - November 1, 2022.

Roads Outside the Northeast Entrance
After initial opening, weather causes occasional closures. Please check locally or at WY DOT and MT DOT before traveling.

Beartooth Highway

US-212, Cooke City to Red Lodge, Montana

Open the Friday of Memorial Day weekend to mid-October.

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

WY-296, Cooke City, Montana, to Cody, Wyoming, or Laurel, Montana

• Open year-round to from WY-120 to Pilot Creek Parking Lot (4 miles toward Cooke City from the junction of WY-296/US-212). In winter, 9 miles of road are closed to wheeled vehicles (oversnow travel only) from Cooke City to Pilot Creek. This segment of road is open to wheeled vehicles mid-May through early November. Please check locally or at WY DOT.