Spring plowing begins in Yellowstone National Park
by Yellowstone National Park
March 5, 2006
With the impending arrival of spring comes the end of the winter season and over-the-snow travel in Yellowstone National Park. Park roads will begin to close to over-snow vehicles (snowmobiles and snowcoaches) in preparation for spring plowing.
Beginning at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, 2006, groomed roads from Mammoth to Norris will be closed, followed by the closures of Norris to Madison, and Norris to Canyon at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7. All remaining groomed roads will close to over-snow vehicles at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 12. The road from Gardiner, Montana, at the park's North Entrance, to Cooke City, Montana, at the park's Northeast Entrance, is open all year to automobiles, weather permitting.
Visitor facilities will also close for the winter season according to the following schedule:
Saturday, March 4 Last night for lodging at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.
Sunday, March 5 Mammoth Hot Springs Dining Room closes after breakfast. Mammoth and Indian Creek warming huts and Mammoth fuel station close at 5:00 pm.
Saturday, March 11 Last night for lodging at Old Faithful Snow Lodge.
Sunday, March 12 Old Faithful Snow Lodge Dining Room closes after breakfast.
Old Faithful Geyser Grill & Gift Shop close after dinner.
The following facilities will close at 5:00 pm: warming huts at Madison, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Old Faithful and West Thumb; fuel stations at Old Faithful, Fishing Bridge and Canyon; and the Old Faithful Visitor Center.
The Yellowstone General Store, clinic, campground, and Albright Visitor Center at Mammoth are open all year.
Weather permitting, the roads will begin opening in the spring on Friday, April 21, 2006, from Mammoth to Old Faithful; Madison to the West Entrance; and Norris to Canyon. The roads from Canyon to Lake, and from Lake to the East Entrance are scheduled to open on Friday, May 5; Lake to the South Entrance, and West Thumb to Old Faithful, Tower to Tower Fall on Friday, May 12. Tower Fall to Canyon (Dunraven Pass), and the Beartooth Highway outside the park's Northeast Entrance are scheduled to open on Friday, May 26.
Yellowstone's weather is unpredictable. Always be prepared for a range of conditions. Call park headquarters at 307-344-7381 for current information prior to traveling to Yellowstone.
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