Travel Alerts

See back page for details

DELAYS AT OLD FAITHFUL

Expect delays of up to 15 minutes

due to bridge repairs.

TOWER TO CANYON ROAD CLOSED

The road between Tower-Roosevelt and 

Canyon Village is CLOSED all year.

MOUNT WASHBURN TRAILS CLOSED

All trails to the top of Mount Washburn 

are CLOSED.

Mammoth

Hot Springs Tower-Roosevelt

Canyon Village Norris

CLOSED

Keep Wildlife Wild

Yellowstone is an incredible 

place to view wildlife. All the 

large mammals present when 

Yellowstone became a park in 

1872 are here today: grizzly and 

black bears, wolves, mountain 

lions, elk, bison, pronghorn, 

moose, and bighorn sheep. 

• Wildlife are dangerous.

• Do not approach, encircle, 

follow, or feed any animal.

• Bison, bears, and elk injure and kill people.

• Stay at least 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves.

• Stay at least 25 yards (23 m) from all other animals, including bison and elk.

• If an animal moves closer to you, move away to maintain the 

appropriate distance.

• Do not stop on or block a road.

• Use pullouts; stay in your car to watch animals.

• Store food and trash securely. Backpacks are not secure.

• Do not feed any animals, even birds and squirrels.

COVID-19 Safety Alert

The National Park Service follows CDC guidance to reduce the spread of 

COVID-19. Check locally, on the park website, and in the park apps for updates 

and changes in park operations. Thank you for helping to keep yourself and 

others safe and healthy.

If you are not yet fully vaccinated, wearing a mask is required in all 

common areas in buildings owned, rented, or leased by the National Park Service, including, but not limited to, park visitor centers, 

administrative offices, lodges, gift shops, and restaurants; and outdoors 

where physical distancing cannot reasonably be maintained. You 

should practice physical distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet 

(1.8 m) of distance between you and others. Masks are not required 

for those under the age of two or when actively eating or drinking.

If you are fully vaccinated, wearing a mask and physically distancing are not 

required indoors or outdoors unless otherwise posted.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you feel sick, 

do not visit the park. 

Bison adults and calves (nicknamed red dogs) 

on the move in the Lower Geyser Basin.

Ye l l o w s t o n e i s a p l a c e l i k e n o o t h e r .

Preserved within its boundaries are Old Faithful and 

the majority of the world's geysers and hot springs. 

An outstanding mountain wildland with clean water 

and air, Yellowstone is home of the grizzly bear and 

wolf and free-ranging herds of bison and elk. Centuries-old sites and historic buildings that reflect the 

unique heritage of America's first national park are 

also protected. Protect Yellowstone by following 

park rules.

Yellowstone can also be a dangerous place, with boiling hot, acidic thermal features; cold lakes and swift 

waters; wild animals; and unpredictable mountain 

weather. Protect yourself by following park rules.

Most park lodging and camping is reserved and 

full. If you don't already have a reservation, you 

are extremely unlikely to find overnight accommodations in the park or nearby. No camping or 

overnight vehicle parking is allowed in pullouts, 

parking areas, picnic grounds, or any place other 

than a designated campground. For more information, visit go.nps.gov/YELLcampgrounds and 

go.nps.gov/YELLlodging.

Welcome to Yellowstone National Park

6 feet

2 meters

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

2nd Edition

Yellowstone Visitor Guide

Summer 2021
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

Lodging, Dining, and Tours

As one of Yellowstone's official concession 

companies, Yellowstone National Park Lodges 

offers lodging, dining, camping, and a 

variety of tours and activities.

Visit YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com 

for the most up-to-date information, 

which may change due to COVID-19.

For reservations and information,

ask at park hotels, or contact 

Yellowstone National Park Lodges:

Phone 307-344-7311, 866-439-7375

TDD 307-344-5395

Online YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com

Email Reserve-YNP@Xanterra.com

Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) near Obsidian Creek in late April.

Wi-Fi

Available for free:

• Albright Visitor Center 

in Mammoth Hot Springs

Data speeds are very limited outside of 

Mammoth Hot Springs.

Cell Service

Cell phone service is very limited in the park 

and surrounding areas. General cell coverage 

areas are shown on the map on the back page 

of this guide.

Emergency 911 service by cell phone is only 

available in coverage areas. Text 911 is not 

available in Yellowstone.

During peak hours and periods of heavy visitation, the cellular network may be very slow.

Your provider may or may not roam on networks 

in Yellowstone.

As a courtesy to others, silence your mobile 

device while enjoying Yellowstone.

Accessibility

A printed guide with accessibility information 

is available at visitor centers. Info is also available 

on the park website (go.nps.gov/YELLaccess) 

and in the park apps (see left).

Qualified service animals are welcome 

throughout the park and in all park facilities. 

However, they must be leashed and under your 

control at all times.

Medical Services

Yellowstone emergency response 

and ambulance service

Call 911

Text 911 is not available in Yellowstone.

Medcor provides medical care, from 

emergencies to minor needs, at:

• Mammoth Clinic

 6/4–9/24 8:30a–5p daily

 1/1–6/3, 9/25–12/31 8:30a–5p M–F 

 (closed Fridays 1p)

 closed 5/31, 11/25–27, 12/24–25, 31, 1/1

 307-344-7965

• Lake Clinic

 5/28–9/14 8:30a–8:30p daily

 9/15–9/19 10a–6:30p daily

 307-242-7241

• Old Faithful Clinic

 5/14–9/14 7a–7p daily

 9/15–10/1 8:30a–5p daily

 307-545-7325

Facilities and Services

Emergency Dial 911

Information 307-344-7381

TTY 307-344-2386

Park Entrance Radio 1610 AM

Park Tip Line 307-344-2132

To report a crime or criminal activity. 

Leave as much detail as you can. Remain 

anonymous, or leave a name and number.

Free National Park Service Apps

Enrich your Yellowstone 

experience with one of 

two free, official apps: NPS 

Yellowstone or National 

Park Service. Both apps provide self-guided 

audio tours, accessibility information, and 

detailed site and service information. Both 

allow you to download the content so you 

can use the app offline. The NPS Yellowstone app is the only one to offer live 

geyser predictions, live road statuses, 

and in-depth interpretive stories.

Follow @YellowstoneNPS

 

Yellowstone National Park

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

2 Yellowstone Visitor Guide
Bears and wolves

100 yards (91 m)

Bison, elk, and all other wildlife

25 yards (23 m)

Other people

2 yards (2 m)

Enjoy watching Yellowstone’s animals but STAY SAFE. They are WILD and DANGEROUS.

Stay at least 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves

and at least 25 yards (23 m) from all other animals

D

O

NOT APPROACH WILDLIF

E

DANGER!

Pets

Pets are not allowed on trails or boardwalks, in the backcountry, or in hydrothermal basins. Where allowed, pets must 

be leashed and remain within 100 feet (30.5 m) of a road or 

parking area.

Do not leave a pet unattended, tied to an object, or without 

adequate food, water, shade, ventilation, or other basic needs. 

Owners must bag and dispose of pet waste. We recommend that 

someone in your group remain with your pet at all times to personally ensure their well being.

Firearms

Firearms are allowed in national parks pursuant to state 

and federal regulations. They are prohibited in facilities where 

signs are posted, such as visitor centers, government offices, and 

some concession operations. Discharge of firearms is prohibited. 

Possession and use of weapons, such as air guns, bows and arrows, spears, and slingshots, is also prohibited. Details are available at go.nps.gov/yell-laws.

?

Lost and Found

Call 307-344-5387 to report or retrieve items lost in lodging 

facilities. In other parts of the park, call 307-344-2109 or look 

online: go.nps.gov/lost-and-found.

Drones

Launching, landing, or operating unmanned 

aircraft (drones) on lands and waters administered by the 

National Park Service is prohibited.

• Water and beverage 

containers

• Cooking or eating utensils

• Stoves and grills

• Coolers and ice chests

• Garbage, bagged or not

• Food, including condiments, 

even if in containers

• Cosmetics and toiletries

• Pet food and bowls

• Pails, buckets, wash basins

Store Food Securely

Do not feed any wildlife, including small mammals 

and birds. Eating human food is unhealthy and encourages aggressive behavior.

All food, trash, and scented items must be kept inaccessible to bears at all times. Tents, truck beds, and 

picnic tables are not secure. In some areas, ravens 

have learned to unzip packs and scatter the contents. 

None of these items, even if clean and empty, may 

be left unattended at any time:

Park Safely

Stopping, parking, or standing in the road is dangerous. Large vehicles have limited visibility. Other 

drivers may be distracted by wildlife and scenery.

Stay aware of traffic at all times.

• Use pullouts to stop.

• Park with all four tires fully to the right of the 

white line.

• When your vehicle is moving, keep doors closed 

and arms, cameras, and children inside.

• Do not stop your vehicle in the road 

or block traffic in any way.

• Do not stand in the road or block it with 

tripods, chairs, or other objects.

• If wildlife are nearby, stay inside your vehicle.

Watch Wildlife Safely

Looking for Wildlife?

• To conserve energy, most wildlife are active in the 

cool of dawn or dusk.

• Animals are everywhere in the park, but it is easier to 

see them in open meadows and sagebrush than in 

dense forest.

• Find a place with a broad view for your binoculars or 

spotting scope, and be prepared to wait.

Protect Yourself and the Animals. Obey Park Rules.

• Spotlighting—viewing animals with artificial light—

is illegal.

• Calling to attract wildlife is illegal. You may not bugle 

to elk, howl at wolves, or make bird calls of any kind.

• Tracking wildlife with electronic equipment is not 

permitted.

Safety and Regulations

Summer 2021 3

×

×

×

×

Safe

Parking

Unsafe

Parking
Camping

Things to Do

Campgrounds

In Order of Opening Reservation Status Dates Rate Sites Elevation (ft/m) Features RV sites

Mammoth

Winter operations

First-come, first-served Jan 1 – Apr 30

Oct 16 – Dec 31

$25 38 6,200 ft (1,890 m) A, F, G, SB Most are pull-through

Mammoth

Summer operations

All sites reservable

recreation.gov

May 1 – Oct 15 $25 85 6,200 ft (1,890 m) A, F, G, SB Most are pull-through

Madison All sites reservable

307-344-7311

May 14 – Oct 17 $27 * 278 5,800 ft (2,070 m) A, F, DS, G Call for availability

Canyon All sites reservable

307-344-7311

May 21 – Sep 19 $27 * 273 7,900 ft (2,410 m) A, F, L, DS, G Call for availability

Bridge Bay All sites reservable

307-344-7311

Jun 11 – Sep 6 $27 * 432 7,800 ft (2,285 m) A, F, DS, G Call for availability

Indian Creek First-come, first-served Jun 11 – Sep 13 $20 70 7,300 ft (2,225 m) A, V, SB 10 sites are 35 ft

35 sites are 30 ft

Pebble Creek Some sites reservable

recreation.gov

Jun 15 – Sep 27 $20 27 6,900 ft (2,100 m) A, V, SB Some long pull-throughs

Slough Creek All sites reservable

recreation.gov

Jun 15 – Oct 12 $20 15 5,260 ft (1,905 m) A, V, SB 14 sites are 30 ft

Lewis Lake First-come, first-served Jun 15 – Nov 7 $20 85 7,800 ft (2,285 m) A, V, SB All sites are 25 ft or less

Grant Village All sites reservable

307-344-7311

Jun 18 – Sep 12 $27 * 430 7,800 ft (2,285 m) A, F, L, DS, G Call for availability

Norris CLOSED

Fishing Bridge RV Park CLOSED

Tower Fall CLOSED

Yellowstone offers 12 campgrounds 

with over 2,000 sites.

During the park's busy season, from 

the beginning of May through the fall, 

many campsites can be reserved ahead 

of time. Due to high demand, reservations are highly recommended.

First-come, first-served sites are available during the busy season at Indian 

Creek, Lewis Lake, and Pebble Creek 

campgrounds.

No Overflow Camping

There are no overflow camping areas 

available in Yellowstone. No camping 

or overnight vehicle parking is allowed 

in pullouts, parking areas, picnic 

grounds, or any place other than a 

designated campground. Additional 

camping may be available in neighboring communities.

Check-In and Check-Out

Yellowstone National Park Lodges 

campgrounds: check-in at 1pm, checkout at 11am.

National Park Service campgrounds: 

check-out at 10am.

Length of Stay

Camping is limited to 14 days from 

July 1 through Labor Day (first Monday in September) and to 30 days the 

rest of the year.

Discounts

Holders of Senior and Access passes 

receive a 50 percent discount on camping fees.

Quiet Hours

From 10 pm to 6 am, no loud audio 

devices or other noise disturbances are 

allowed.

Group Camping

Group camping (tents only) is available 

at Bridge Bay, Grant, and Madison 

for organized groups with a designated leader. Fees range from $139 to 

$409 plus tax and utility fee per night, 

depending on group size. Advance reservations are required at 307-344-5437

or ynpsa@xanterra.com.

Food Storage Boxes (see right)

Available at each campsite at Indian 

Creek, Lewis Lake, Mammoth, Pebble Creek, and Slough Creek campgrounds. Many campsites in other 

campgrounds are also equipped with 

bear-proof storage boxes.

Campground Features

* Rate does not include tax or utility 

pass-through

A Accessible sites available

F Flush toilets

V Vault toilets

L Pay laundry onsite

DS Dump station

G Generators allowed 8 am to 8 pm

SB Food storage boxes available

Campfires

are allowed only in designated grills or rings in park campgrounds, some picnic areas, and 

specific backcountry campsites.

Fully extinguish all campfires—they 

should be cool to the touch—before 

leaving them.

A campsite at Pebble Creek Campground.

Food storage box

4 Yellowstone Visitor Guide
Things to Do

Backcountry Camping

Overnight backcountry camping is only allowed in 

designated sites and requires a permit. Detailed 

information on backcountry permits, fees, and 

advanced reservations is available online: 

go.nps.gov/YELLbackcountry.

From Memorial Day through September 10,

a per-person, per-night fee applies:

• Backpackers and boaters: $3 per person per night

Group maximum $15 per night

• Groups with stock animals: $5 per person per night

For current trail conditions visit:

go.nps.gov/YELLbackcountryreport.

Fishing

General fishing season opens May 29 and closes 

November 7, 2021. Some areas remain closed until 

June 15. Fishing permits are required in Yellowstone; state-issued fishing permits are not valid 

within the park. Anglers 16 years or older need a 

permit; younger children can fish for free with a permitted adult. You can purchase a fishing permit in 

the park, in local gateway communities, or online via 

www.recreation.gov.

Fishing regulations in Yellowstone protect the 

unique values of the park ecosystem and conserve 

native fish species. Copies of the complete park regulations are available wherever permits are sold and 

online at go.nps.gov/fish. 

Possession limits and closures vary. Anglers are 

responsible for knowing the regulations in the area 

they are fishing and knowing how to tell the difference between species. Native fish must be released 

unharmed back into the water immediately.

These include:

• Arctic grayling • Cutthroat trout

• Mountain whitefish

These tackle and gear restrictions apply:

• Hooks must be barbless.

• Tackle and lures must be non-toxic. Lead tackle 

is not allowed.

• Bait is prohibited.

• Felt-soled footwear is not permitted.

Boating

The boating season opens May 29 and closes 

November 7, 2021. All watercraft (motorized 

boats, non-motorized boats, and float tubes) must 

have a permit and be inspected for aquatic invasive species by park staff. Any watercraft suspected 

of harboring AIS will be subject to a non-chemical 

decontamination treatment.

Aquatic Invasive Species are nonnative plants and 

animals that can cause irreversible harm to the ecosystem. New Zealand mudsnails, whirling disease, 

and lake trout have already resulted in loss of native 

fish or closure of some park areas.

Watercraft users and anglers are asked to inspect 

all items that may come in contact with park waters, 

ensuring that they are clean, drained, and dry.

Motorized boating is allowed on Lewis Lake and 

most of Yellowstone Lake. Only non-motorized boating is allowed on most other lakes. Only one river 

is open to non-motorized boating: the Lewis River 

channel between Lewis and Shoshone lakes.

If you plan to boat in the park, familiarize yourself 

with Yellowstone National Park boating regulations 

and information about inspections and permits, 

available online at go.nps.gov/YELLboating.

BOAT PERMIT AND AIS INSPECTION LOCATIONS

Motorized and non-motorized watercraft 

(including angler float tubes):

• Bridge Bay Ranger Station 8a–4:30p

• Grant Village Backcountry Office 8a–4:30p

• Lewis Lake Ranger Station 8a–4:30p

Angler float tubes only

• Locations listed above

• Bechler Ranger Station (hours vary)

• North Entrance Station (hours vary)

• Northeast Entrance Station (hours vary)

• West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center 

(hours vary)

For more information, visit go.nps.gov/YELLboating

or call 406-581-9040 (Grant AIS inspector) or 

406-823-9006 (Lake AIS inspector).

Horses, Mules, and 

Other Stock Animals

Traveling in the Yellowstone backcountry with horses, mules, or llamas is an exciting way to see the park. 

By their very nature, these large animals have the 

potential to leave great impacts on the land.

Permits are required for both day rides and overnight trips. To get a permit and plan a safe, enjoyable, 

low-impact trip, contact a backcountry office or look 

online at go.nps.gov/YELLhorseride.

• Trails typically open for stock use July 1. Some 

trails may open earlier or later depending on trail 

conditions.

• Proof of a negative Coggins test is required.

• Hay is prohibited in the backcountry, and weedfree hay restrictions are enforced in other areas.

• Stock may not be left at trailheads or kept in 

front-country, drive-in campgrounds overnight.

Swimming

Park waters are swift and cold.

• Swimming in hot springs or their runoff 

is prohibited.

• Swimming in park rivers is not recommended. 

Currents can be dangerously strong and fast.

• Swimming in Yellowstone lake is not recommended.

Average lake temperature is approximately 41°F (5°C).

Certain Boats Banned

Boats with sealed internal water ballast tanks 

are temporarily banned in the park to minimize 

the risk of introducing aquatic invasive species.

Safely storing items at a backcountry site. Cutthroat trout.

Boating on

Yellowstone Lake.

Riding the Yellowstone River Trail.

Gardner River

below Osprey Falls.

Summer 2021 5
Things to Do

Day Hiking 

More than 1,000 miles of hiking trails 

wind through Yellowstone National 

Park. Whether you hike for half a mile 

or more than 10, the backcountry can 

be an escape from the crowds and a 

chance to get in touch with the wilderness that Yellowstone preserves.

Find hikes using the free park apps (see 

page 2) or at go.nps.gov/YELLdayhikes. 

go.nps.gov/YELLbackcountryreport

has information on seasonal closures 

and trail conditions. Be prepared for 

wildlife encounters, hike in groups of 

three or more, and carry bear spray on 

all hikes.

Hiking in bear habitat has inherent 

risks. You are likely to be safer if you 

stay on roads and official trails, but your 

safety cannot be guaranteed. Federal 

regulations require you to stay at least 

100 yards (91 m) away from bears. 

Learn more: go.nps.gov/bearspray.

You can buy bear spray in 

Yellowstone where stores 

are open.

Bear spray cannot be taken 

on airplanes or thrown in 

the trash. Canisters can be 

recycled in the park. Check 

locally or online for locations.

You can rent bear spray from:

Bear Aware LLC

North end of the Canyon Visitor

Education Center parking area

May 22–September 25 8a–5:30p

Rentals include holster and belt, hiking safety information, and instructions on proper use. The cost is $9.25 

per day or $28 per week (3–7 days) 

plus tax. For more information, visit 

bearaware.com.

Return items to the Canyon kiosk, 

Madison Campground, park gas stations, or the Cooke City Visitor Center.

Hiking in Bear Country

Photography

Yellowstone is one of the best places 

in the world to photograph wildlife. 

The Name of the Game is Patience

To get the best shot, you will spend 

more time waiting and observing than 

taking photos. Look for patterns in 

animal behavior that can help you get 

a great shot. You may have to wait a 

while, so be ready.

Know Your Camera's Limits

A cell phone camera will not be able to 

capture the same resolution and detail 

as a more advanced standalone camera 

with large lenses. Good photography 

isn't about getting close to the animal 

for a close-up. It's about having the 

right equipment for the job.

Stay Safe Behind and in Front of the 

Camera

An unusual vantage point can add drama to your image, but you don't want 

to add the drama of a hospital visit to 

your trip. Never sacrifice safety for a 

photograph.

• Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Stay behind fences and guard rails. 

Never turn your back on wild animals.

• Keep Children Close to You at 

All Times

Never try to pose them with wildlife.

• Stay Out of the Road

Do not stop your vehicle in the road 

or stand in the roadway. Do not block 

any portion of the road with tripods, 

chairs, or other objects. Do not block 

the free flow of traffic.

Bicycling

Bicycling, including the use of e-bikes, 

is permitted on established public 

roads, parking areas, and designated 

routes. Bicycles are subject to the same 

traffic rules as automobiles and are prohibited on trails and boardwalks.

Park roads are narrow and winding 

with few shoulders, so regulations 

require cyclists to ride single file, and 

we strongly recommend wearing a 

helmet and high visibility clothing 

and using flashing lights on both the 

front and rear of the bicycle.

Road elevations range from 5,300 to 

8,860 ft (1,615 to 2,700 m), and services 

and facilities are far apart—typically 20 

to 30 miles (37 to 56 km). During April, 

May, and June, high snowbanks may 

make travel more dangerous.

Find information on the park website 

at go.nps.gov/YELLbicycling.

• BE ALERT FOR BEARS.

• MAKE NOISE

in areas with limited visibility.

• CARRY BEAR SPRAY,

one can with each adult, 

and know how to use it.

• HIKE IN GROUPS

of three or more people.

• DO NOT RUN;

back away slowly.

Smoking Is 

Prohibited

in geyser basins, on trails and boardwalks, in buildings, or within 25 feet 

(7.6 m) of building entrances.

Take Only Pictures

Removing or possessing natural 

or cultural resources (like wildflowers, 

antlers, rocks, and arrowheads) is strictly 

prohibited.

Hiking the Beaver Ponds Trail.

Grizzly sow and cub.

Photographers in Lamar Valley. Biking in the spring.

6 Yellowstone Visitor Guide
Things to Do

Make the Most of Your Visit

Become a Junior Ranger

If you're age 4 or older, you can become a Yellowstone Junior Ranger! This program is a way to introduce children—and those young at heart—to the 

natural wonders of the park as well as their own role 

in preserving these wonders for the future.

For more information, talk to a ranger at Albright 

Visitor Center, Canyon Visitor Education Center, and 

Old Faithful Visitor Education Center.

Authorized Guides

Many authorized guides and outfitters are ready 

to show you the wonders of Yellowstone, and each 

has a unique approach. Make sure that your guide, 

tour company, or other commercial service is fully 

authorized by the park. Authorized providers are 

listed on the park website at go.nps.gov/YELLtours.

Report unauthorized operators to a park ranger, or 

contact Concessions Management at 307–344–2271.

Support Your Park

Yellowstone Forever is the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park. Their mission 

of engagement and support through philanthropy 

and education for the park will ensure Yellowstone 

remains for generations to come. Programs about 

wildlife, plants, geology, and history are perfect for 

curious adults and families who want to spend a day 

or more exploring the park with a knowledgeable 

guide. To learn more, visit Yellowstone.org.

Special use permits are 

required for certain activities

including organized gatherings like weddings or 

church services, public assemblies and demonstrations, 

some commercial activities like commercial travel, and 

some types of filming and photography. For more 

information, call 307-344-2722.

Yellowstone encompasses more than 2.2 million 

acres, most of it beyond the reach of roads. One could 

dedicate their entire life to experiencing the park and 

still never see it all. Here are suggestions for making the most of the time you do have.

Tour early in the day to avoid crowds.

Most people tour the park from 10 am to 6 pm. Wildlife are most active at sunrise and sunset; arriving 

before 8 am improves your chances of observing animals during their active periods. Park entrance gates 

are open 24 hours a day.

Visit a hidden gem.

Take a day hike, or stroll one of our historic walking 

tours at Fort Yellowstone or Old Faithful. Explore 

nearby national park units, national forests, state 

forests, and state parks. The region offers a variety of 

public lands for recreation and enjoyment.

Only one day here?

• Drive to the Old Faithful area and walk around the 

Upper Geyser Basin.

• Visit Old Faithful and one other hydrothermal area, 

like Norris, West Thumb, or Fountain Paint Pots. Follow boardwalks and maintained trails to witness hot 

springs, mudpots, fumaroles, and geysers.

• Begin in Hayden or Lamar valleys to look for some of 

the park's large animals. Bring binoculars or a spotting scope, and enjoy animals from a safe distance.

• For a break from the road, consider one or two moderate day hikes. Always carry rain gear, extra food 

and water, bear spray, and other emergency equipment when venturing into the backcountry.

• Have a picnic. Unpack your basket at any of the many

picnic areas throughout the park.

Two or more days?

• Explore one theme, such as geology, in depth. For 

example, visit Mammoth Hot Springs to see travertine formations and view the sedimentary layers of 

Mount Everts, then drive through terrain shaped by 

glaciers to the Tower-Roosevelt area.

• Visit Yellowstone Lake, the largest high-elevation lake 

in the lower 48 states. Take in the spectacular views 

of West Thumb and the Absaroka Mountains from its 

shores. Explore the hot springs, mud pots, and geysers of West Thumb Geyser Basin. Hike one of the 

local trails, such as the Scenic Lake Overlook near 

West Thumb.

• Slow down and try your hand at capturing the beauty 

of Yellowstone through journaling, painting, or simply observing.

Explore Park Heritage

Opportunities to connect to the past are 

everywhere in Yellowstone. Visit Mammoth Hot 

Springs to walk the self-guiding trail around Fort 

Yellowstone, which chronicles the US Army's role in 

protecting the park. Other historic sites include the 

Norris Museum, Obsidian Cliff, and the Old Faithful 

Inn and Historic District.

The Heritage and Research Center (above) is located 

just beyond the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. This facility is home to Yellowstone's museum 

collection, archives, research library, archeology lab, 

and herbarium. Open by appointment only. To contact, email YELL_Heritage_Center@nps.gov.

The park's Junior Ranger patch. Heritage Resource Center. Yellowstone Forever Store near Roosevelt Arch.

Covered wagons

at Yanceys Hole.

Summer 2021 7
Famously Hot Features

Wild Fire

Yellowstone was established in 1872 as the 

world's first national park primarily because of 

its unparalleled collection of geysers, hot springs, 

mudpots, and steam vents.

Fumaroles, or steam vents, are the hottest hydrothermal features in the park, with temperatures well 

above that of boiling water. They are easier to see in 

cool weather.

Geysers erupt with steaming hot water. Variations 

in each geyser's underground reservoir determine 

whether it is regular and predictable—like Great 

Fountain Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin—or 

irregular like Giant Geyser in the Upper Geyser 

Basin. 

Hot springs are the most common hydrothermal 

features in the park. They vary from frothing mochalike boiling water to clear and calm pools of tremendous depth.

Mudpots are acidic features with a limited water 

supply. Their consistency and activity vary with the 

seasons and precipitation.

Travertine terraces are found at Mammoth Hot 

Springs, where the interactions of hot water and 

limestone deep underground create chalk-white 

travertine terraces at the surface.

Fires are a natural part of the Greater Yellowstone 

Ecosystem. Research shows that large fires have been 

occurring in Yellowstone since forests became established following the last glacial retreat 14,000 years 

ago. 

Yellowstone's fire season typically lasts from July 

to the end of September. Lightning may ignite dozens of forest fires during a single summer. Most of 

them go out naturally after burning less than half an 

acre. Others torch isolated or small groups of trees, 

become smoldering ground fires, and eventually go 

out on their own. On rare occasions, wind-driven 

fires have burned through large areas of forest, as in 

1988, when multiple fires crossed more than one million acres in Yellowstone and on surrounding federal 

lands despite massive efforts to extinguish them.

The National Park Service allows lightning-ignited 

fires to burn in Yellowstone provided they are not 

a threat to human life and property. The park is 

required to protect human life as well as the approximately 2% of Yellowstone's 2.2 million acres that 

are considered developed (roads, buildings, other 

infrastructure) while at the same time letting wildfire 

carry out its ecological role in the landscape as much 

as possible.

How does fire benefit Yellowstone?

• Some plants have adapted to fire. In some cases, they 

depend on it.

• Fire promotes habitat diversity by removing the forest 

overstory, allowing different plant communities to 

become established and preventing trees from growing in meadows.

• Fire increases the rate nutrients become available to 

plants by rapidly releasing them from wood and forest litter and by making soil minerals weather faster. 

This is especially important in a cold, dry climate like 

Yellowstone's, where decomposition happens slower 

than in more hot and humid areas.

• Natural fires provide an opportunity for scientists to 

study the effects of fire on an ecosystem.

Why aren't burned trees removed?

Burned and dead trees contribute to the ecosystem. 

Dead standing trees provide nesting cavities for 

many types of animals. Fallen trees provide food 

and shelter for animals and nutrients for the soil. 

However, park managers will remove dead or 

burned trees that pose safety hazards along 

roads or in developed areas.

Stay on Boardwalks

and designated trails. Do not touch any thermal 

features, and keep foreign objects out of springs. 

It can be windy, so cinch your hats, and secure your 

items. Unstable ground and boiling waters make 

hydrothermal areas extremely dangerous.

Norris Geyser Basin.

A patchwork of trees left behind by the 

advancing flames of 2016's Maple Fire.

8 Yellowstone Visitor Guide
Bears and wolves

100 yards (91 m)

Bison, elk, and all other wildlife

25 yards (23 m)

Other people

2 yards (2 m)

Enjoy watching Yellowstone’s animals but STAY SAFE. They are WILD and DANGEROUS.

Wild Lands and Wildlife

Wolves in Yellowstone

Yellowstone is the site of one of the most ambitious and controversial wildlife restoration projects in the world. Although wolves once roamed 

from the Arctic tundra to Mexico, loss of habitat 

and extermination programs led to their demise 

throughout most of the United States by the early 

1900s. In 1973, the US Fish and Wildlife Service 

listed the gray wolf (Canis lupus) as an endangered 

species and designated the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem as one of three recovery areas. From 1995 to 

1997, 41 wild wolves were released in Yellowstone.

Since then, the Yellowstone Wolf Project has yielded 

more than two decades of discoveries on wolf behavior, predator-prey relationships, wildlife disease 

management, and ecological complexity.

To dig into the details of wolves in Yellowstone, visit 

go.nps.gov/wolves.

Within the Herd

Yellowstone is the only place in the United States 

where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. Bison here are special: they're America's 

largest bison population on public land that can still 

migrate and adapt to diseases and predators.

Bison mainly eat grasses and sedges and are 

well-suited to both prairies and forests. With adult 

males weighing up to 2,000 pounds (900 kg), the 

bison is the largest land mammal in North America.

The herd is made up of cows, calves, and some 

younger bulls. During the rut in July and August, 

mature bulls display their dominance by bellowing, 

wallowing, and fighting with other bulls to earn the 

right to mate with receptive females. After 9 to 9.5

months, calves are born in late April and May. Their 

orange fur makes them easy to see and has earned 

them the nickname "red dogs."

Look for bison in open country along the Lamar, 

Yellowstone, Firehole, and Madison rivers.

Bringing Up Bear Cubs

Both grizzly and black bear cubs are born in the 

deep winter months while their mother hibernates. 

In April and May, they begin to venture out with 

their mother as she digs for roots, insects, and squirrels. Black bear cubs stay with their mother 1.5 years, 

grizzly cubs for 1.5–3.5 years (with 2.5 years most 

common).

Look for black bears along the edges of wooded 

areas in the Lamar and Hayden valleys or among the 

trees near Mammoth and Tower. Grizzly bears are 

usually seen in open areas.

See page 6 for information about safely recreating 

in bear country.

Signs of Change

The National Park Service anticipates that climate 

change will create significant challenges to the 

preservation of park resources, infrastructure, and 

visitor experience. Within Yellowstone, scientists 

expect ecosystems to change due to increasing temperature, decreasing snowpack, earlier runoff, and a 

longer growing season. Some observed and expected 

effects of climate change are:

• Alpine habitats will decrease in area, negatively affecting species that depend on them.

• The number and intensity of wildfires is expected 

to increase in Yellowstone and across the Western 

US, resulting in more area burned over time. This 

will have a big impact on vegetation and vulnerable 

buildings.

• Mountain pine beetle infestations may increase,

driven by milder winters and a longer season for 

more reproductive cycles, causing more mortality in 

certain forest types. 

• Hotter, drier summers will drive a decline in wetland areas, reducing essential habitat for frogs, salamanders, and many bird and insect species.

• Grizzly bears may have fewer whitebark pine 

nuts, a nutritious, high-calorie food source the bears 

depend on as they prepare for winter hibernation.

• Non-native, invasive plants, able to take advantage 

of early spring moisture and drier summers, are 

starting to outcompete native vegetation within the 

park's lower elevation grasslands.

Keep Wolves and Bears Wild

If you see wolves or bears on or near the roadway:

1.Slow down and move to the side of the road

farthest from the animal(s). Continue slowly 

moving as they pass by.

2.Do not stop within 100 yards (91 m) of the 

animal(s). If conditions force you to stop, 

continue slowly moving within 10–15 seconds.

3.If a wolf or bear begins moving toward you, 

leave the area immediately, but don't run.

Never feed a wild animal. Wolves and bears that 

eat human food even once will try to get food again. 

These animals then have to be lethally removed.

If a wolf or bear approaches closely, report 

the sighting to park rangers.

Bison or Buffalo?

In North America, both "bison" and "buffalo" refer to 

the American bison (Bison bison). Generally, "buffalo" is 

used informally, while "bison" is preferred for formal or 

scientific purposes.

Early European explorers called this animal by many 

names. Historians believe that the term "buffalo" grew 

from the French word for beef, boeuf.

Summer 2021 9
Old Faithful Village and Upper Geyser Basin

North

OF 

Snow 

Lodge

OF Inn

Cabins

Cabins

Upper 

General 

Store

Basin 

General 

Store

Geyser 

Grill

yurts

one way

one way

one way

one way

one way

one way

one way

one way

one way

Old 

Faithful 

Geyser

Yellowstone

Forever

Store

To Morning 

Glory Pool Firehole Riv er

Stay on Boardwalks and Designated Trails. Do not touch any thermal features, 

and keep foreign objects out of springs. It can be windy, so cinch your hats, and secure your items.

Expect delays 

up to 15 minutes

due to bridge repairs.

Not all services available

Medcor Medical Clinic

5/14–9/14 7a–7p daily

9/15–10/1 8:30a–5p daily

307-545-7325

Emergency: Dial 911

Old Faithful Visitor Education Center

307-344-2750

5/28–11/7 9a–5p (subject to change)

Yellowstone Forever Bookstore

Lodging

Old Faithful Inn 6/4–10/11 

Old Faithful Lodge and Cabins 5/14–10/3

Old Faithful Snow Lodge 5/7–10/31

Food

Old Faithful Inn

• Bear Paw Deli 6/4–10/11

• Dining Room Check locally

Old Faithful Lodge and Cabins

• Bake Shop 5/14–10/3

• Cafeteria 5/14–10/3

Old Faithful Snow Lodge

• Obsidian Dining Room 5/7–10/31

• Geyser Grill 4/16–11/7

Basin General Store Soda Fountain 6/11–10/10

Fuel

Lower Station 5/14–9/12

Upper Station 4/30–10/17

Credit card fueling available 24 hours.

Liquid propane gas bottle exchange available.

Repairs 5/28–9/6

 Wrecker 4/30–10/17

406-848-7548

Shopping

Old Faithful General Store 5/7–10/24

Groceries, souvenirs, and take-away foods.

Basin General Store 6/11–10/10

Old Faithful Inn Gift Shop 6/4–10/11

Old Faithful Lodge Gift Shop 5/14–10/3

Old Faithful Snow Lodge Gift Shop 5/7–11/7

Yellowstone Forever Bookstore

US Post Office Opens 5/6

Self-guiding Trail Booklets

Available for the Upper Geyser Basin and 

the Old Faithful Historic District.

Public Restrooms

At the visitor center and in stores, restaurants, 

hotels, gas stations, and at or near all picnic areas.

Recycling Bins

Located in parking lot near yurts, near trash bins at General Stores, and in parking lot near Visitor Education Center.

The Upper Geyser Basin, home of Old Faithful, 

hosts the greatest concentration of active geysers 

on Earth. They provide ample evidence of the active 

volcano below your feet.

Yellowstone Volcano's reservoir of partially molten 

rock (magma) is ~5 miles (8 km) below the surface 

here. This magma provides the first ingredient needed to create the area's hydrothermal features: heat!

Rain and snow provide the second ingredient: water,

which percolates ~0.5 miles (0.8 km) through hot, 

fractured rocks heated by the underlying magma 

reservoir. These hot, fractured rocks provide the 

third ingredient: the mineral silica. The extremely 

hot water below dissolves silica in the rocks. As the 

superheated water works its way back to the surface, 

it carries this silica and deposits it when it cools at the 

surface. In fact, Old Faithful geyser is a mound of silica that is growing ever so slowly after every eruption.

It's not the largest or most regular geyser eruption, 

but Old Faithful's eruptions are more frequent than 

the other big geysers in the park. During summer, 

rangers forecast eruption times for Old Faithful and 

five other big geysers. However, a geyser's pattern of 

eruptions may change at any time.

To view forecasted eruption times:

• Use the NPS Yellowstone app (see page 2)

• Call 307-344-2751 (option 2)

• Check the @GeyserNPS Twitter feed

• Check at the Visitor Education Center

and many of the area facilities

10 Yellowstone Visitor Guide
Automated Shuttle Pilot

This summer, the park is testing lowspeed, automated vehicle (AV) shuttles in 

the Canyon Village campground, visitor 

services, and visitor lodging area. The goal is to 

understand how AV shuttle technology can be used 

in parks and how visitors perceive and engage these 

services. Capacity is very limited, and masks are 

required on board. For details, check locally or visit 

go.nps.gov/ShuttlePilot.

Canyon Village and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

S O U T H R I M

N O R T H R I M

Yellowstone River

Upper

Falls

Lower

Falls

Lodges

and Cabins

Canyon Visitor

Education Center

Campground

Picnic

Area

Service

Station

Canyon

Village

Cascade Overlo ok Trail

South Rim Trail

North Rim Trail

Glacial 

Boulder

Inspiration Point

Artist Point

Lookout

Point

Red Rock 

Point 

Point

Sublime

Silver Cord Cascade 

Overlook

Grand 

View

Brink of

Lower Falls

Upper Falls Viewpoint

Discovery Overlook

Brink of

Upper

Falls

one-way

one-way

To Hayden Valley,

Mud Volcano, and

Fishing Bridge

14mi 23km

ROAD CLOSED

To Norris Geyser Basin

12mi 19km

Trail: stairs or steep grade

Trail: boardwalk or paved

may require assistance

Trail: unpaved or backcountry

North

0 0.5 Km

0 0.5 Mi

The Road between Canyon Junction and Tower-Roosevelt is CLOSED.

The closure includes all trails to the top of Mount Washburn. For details, see page 16 or visit go.nps.gov/YELLroads.

Not all services available

Canyon Visitor Education Center

Learn about the Yellowstone supervolcano and the 

forces that drive regional geology. 307-344-2550

6/6–11/7 9a–5p (subject to change)

Yellowstone Forever Bookstore

Lodging

Canyon Lodges 5/28–10/11

Canyon Cabins 5/21–10/3

Campground

Canyon Campground 5/21–9/19

Laundry

Food

Canyon Lodge 5/21–10/11

• Eatery

• Falls Cafe Check locally

• Ice Creamery Check locally

• M66 Grill Check locally

General Store Soda Fountain 5/14–10/17

Fuel 4/28–10/24

Credit card fueling available 24 hours.

Liquid propane gas bottle exchange available.

Repairs 5/28–9/6

 Wrecker 4/28–10/24

406-848-7548

Shopping

Canyon General Store 5/14–10/17

Groceries, ice cream, souvenirs, apparel.

Yellowstone Adventure Store 6/25–9/12

Camping and outdoor gear, footwear, 

fishing supplies

Canyon Lodge Gift Shop 5/21–10/11

Bear Aware (Bear Spray Rental) 5/22–9/25

See page 6 for details.

US Post Office Opens 5/20

Trail Rides 6/18–9/6

Self-guiding Trail Booklet

Available for the area.

Public Restrooms

At the visitor center and in stores, restaurants, 

hotels, gas stations, and at or near all picnic areas.

Recycling Bins

Located in the campground and near trash bins 

at the General Store.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River 

illustrates the park's complex geologic history in 

dramatic colors and shapes. The Upper and Lower 

Falls of the Yellowstone River add to it's grandeur.

The canyon formed when the Yellowstone River cut 

through rhyolite lava flows previously weakened 

by hydrothermal activity. Hot water heated by the 

underlying volcanic system altered the composition 

of the rock from resistant rhyolite to minerals susceptible to the river's erosional power. 

The 308-foot (93 m) Lower Falls marks where the 

volcanic bedrock beneath the river changes from 

hard, resistant rock to the hydrothermally altered 

rocks common downstream. The 109-foot (33 m) 

Upper Falls marks a similar shift. The multi-hued 

layers of the canyon result from the varying extent of 

hydrothermal alteration of the rhyolite flows. Look 

closely at dark orange, brown, and green areas near 

the river for still-active hydrothermal features. Their 

activity—and that of water, wind, and earthquakes—

continue to sculpt the canyon today.

Stay on Designated Trails

Stay behind barrier walls, and keep back from 

the canyon edge.

Summer 2021 11
Lake Village, Fishing Bridge, and Bridge Bay

West Thumb

0

0

0.5 Mi

0.5 Km

Lake Village

Bridge Bay

Fishing 

Bridge

YELLOWSTONE LAKE

Lake Lodge

General Store

General Store

Lake Hotel

Gull Point

To Canyon Village

To East 

Entrance

To West Thumb, Grant Village

Pelican

Creek

Fishing Bridge

North

Park Waters Are Swift and Cold

Swimming is not recommended.

All Watercraft Must Be 

Inspected and Permitted

Not all services available

Medcor Medical Clinic

5/28–9/14 8:30a–8:30p daily

9/15–9/19 10a–6:30p daily

307-272-7241

Emergency: Dial 911

Fishing Bridge Museum and Visitor Center

CLOSED

Lodging

Lake Yellowstone Hotel 5/28–10/3

Lake Yellowstone Cottages 5/28–10/3

Lake Lodge Cabins 6/10–9/26

Campground

Bridge Bay Campground 6/11–9/6

Fishing Bridge RV CLOSED

Food

Lake Yellowstone Hotel

• Lake Hotel Deli 5/28–10/3

• Lake Hotel Dining Room 5/28–10/3

Lake Lodge Cabins

• Wylie's Canteen 6/10–9/26

Fishing Bridge General Store 5/21–10/10

Fuel (Fishing Bridge Station) 5/21–9/26

Credit card fueling available 24 hours.

Liquid propane gas bottle exchange available.

Repairs 5/28–9/6

 Wrecker 5/28–9/6

406-848-7548

Shopping

Fishing Bridge General Store 5/21–10/10

Groceries, ice cream, souvenirs, apparel.

Lake General Store 6/11–10/3

Groceries, snack bar, souvenirs, apparel.

Bridge Bay Marina Store 6/18–9/5

Camping and outdoor gear, snacks, fishing 

supplies.

Lake Hotel Gift Shop 5/28–10/3 

Lake Lodge Gift Shop 6/10–9/26

Bridge Bay Marina

Backcountry Office

Boat launch ramp, dock rentals 6/4–9/12

Motor boat rentals 6/11–9/5

One-hour scenic cruise boat tours of 

Yellowstone Lake 6/11–9/11

US Post Office Opens 5/11

Public Restrooms

In stores, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, 

and at or near all picnic areas.

West Thumb Information Station

Pique your curiosity before exploring the boiling 

springs in the adjacent geyser basin on the shore 

of Yellowstone Lake.

307-344-7690

Check locally for hours.

Self-guiding Trail Booklet

Available for the area.

Yellowstone Lake, at 286 miles2 (740 km2 ), is 

the largest high-elevation lake (above 7,000 ft 

/ 2,130 m) in North America. The only outlet, the 

Yellowstone River, is at Fishing Bridge. The lake is 

covered by ice from December to May or June.

Powerful geologic processes shaped the shoreline 

of Yellowstone Lake, which overlies the edge of the 

Yellowstone Caldera. Glaciers carved and lava flows 

filled the central lake basin. 147,000 years ago, an 

explosive eruption left behind West Thumb basin. 

Many of the 1,000 to 3,000 yearly earthquakes in 

Yellowstone occur under the lake because of the 

movement of magmatic fluids below. These forces 

continue to reshape the lake's shoreline.

Yellowstone Lake is also the site of one of the most 

extensive conservation efforts in the National Park 

Service. Park staff work to reduce the impact of invasive lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) on the survival 

of the native population of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri).

12 Yellowstone Visitor Guide
Not all services available

Medcor Medical Clinic (see page 2 for details)

Every day 6/4–9/24; Weekdays only rest of year

307-344-7965

Emergency: Dial 911

Horace M. Albright Visitor Center

Get immersed in the history of Yellowstone 

and the National Park Service and the wildlife 

of Yellowstone's Northern Range. 307-344-2263

6/6–11/7 9a–5p (subject to change)

Yellowstone Forever Bookstore

Lodging

Mammoth Hotel 4/30–11/28

Mammoth Cabins 5/7–10/11

Campground

Mammoth Campground Year-round

Food limited indoor dining

Mammoth Dining Room 5/21–11/28

Mammoth Hotel Map Room and Bar 5/21–11/28

Terrace Grill 4/30–10/11

Fuel 5/7–10/3

Credit card fueling available 24 hours.

Liquid propane gas bottle exchange available.

Shopping

Mammoth General Store Year-round

Groceries, ice cream, souvenirs, apparel.

Public water bottle filling station.

Mammoth Gift Shop 4/30–11/28

US Post Office Year-round

Self-guiding Trail Booklets

Available for the Mammoth Terraces and 

Fort Yellowstone.

Public Restrooms

In stores, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, 

and near terraces trailheads.

Recycling Bins

Located near the General Store, the visitor center, 

the Mammoth restrooms, and at the campground.

Mammoth Hot Springs

0 1/4 1/2

Kilometer 

Mile 

0 1/8 1/4 

North

Albright

Visitor 

Center

Oversize 

Vehicle 

Parking

Mammoth Hot 

Springs Hotel (one-way, unpaved)

Old Gardiner Road 

Palette 

Spring

Liberty Cap

to Tower–Roosevelt

(18 mi/29 km)

to Gardiner, MT

(5 mi/8 km)

LOWER

TERRACES

MAIN TERRACE

Upper 

Terrace 

Drive

UPPER

TERRACES

to Norris

(19 mi/30 km)

General Store

Fort 

Yellowstone

Historic 

District

Mammoth Hot Springs terraces are like living 

sculptures, shaped by the volume of the water, slope 

of the ground, and objects in the water's path. Travertine builds up rapidly here and causes the features to 

change quickly and constantly. Some vents may clog 

completely, new vents may form, and old vents may 

reopen. Sometimes the water is concentrated in a few 

springs; other times, it spreads across many outlets.

Water follows the path of least resistance, whether 

above- or underground. Scientists estimate that, at 

any given time, only about 10 percent of the water in 

the Mammoth Hot Springs system is on the surface. 

The features are always changing, but the overall 

activity of the entire area and the volume of water 

discharge remain relatively constant.

Stay on Boardwalks 

and Designated Trails

Do not touch any thermal features, and 

keep foreign objects out of springs. It can 

be windy, so cinch your hats, and secure 

your items.

Fort Yellowstone

For the decade after Yellowstone National Park was 

established in 1872, the park was under serious threat 

from those who would exploit, rather than protect, 

its resources. In 1886, the US Army stepped in to help.

The buildings of Fort Yellowstone are a testament 

to the long history of our first national park and of 

the important role the army played in preserving 

it for the future. They remind us that the resources 

we find within Yellowstone's boundaries are not only 

natural ones, but cultural as well. Our interactions 

with Yellowstone continue to shape our idea of what 

a national park should be, just as they did during the 

days of Fort Yellowstone.

Summer 2021 13
Norris Tower-Roosevelt

Grant Village

Madison

West

Yellowstone

Park in This Area at 

Your Own Risk

When Steamboat Geyser erupts, dissolved minerals 

in the spray can damage glass and metal surfaces on 

vehicles.

Not all services available

Lodging

Roosevelt Lodge and Cabins Check locally

Campground

Tower Fall Campground CLOSED

Food

Old West Dinner Cookout 6/5–9/12 

Roosevelt Lodge limited indoor dining

• Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room 6/4–9/6

Fuel 6/4–9/5

Credit card fueling available 24 hours.

Restrooms. Convenience store.

Trail Rides 6/4–9/5

Shopping

Tower Fall General Store CLOSED

Roosevelt Mini Store CLOSED

Roosevelt Lodge Gift Shop CLOSED

Norris Geyser Basin Museum

307-344-2812

Opens May 30 9a–5p

Yellowstone Forever Bookstore

Museum of the National Park Ranger

CLOSED

Campground

Norris Campground CLOSED

Self-guiding Trail Booklet

Available for the area.

Madison Information Station CLOSED

Yellowstone Forever Bookstore CLOSED

Campground 5/14–10/17

Madison Campground

Visitor Information Center

Inside the West Yellowstone Chamber of 

Commerce. Trip planning information and 

fishing permits.

307-344-2876

Chamber of Commerce 8a–8p

NPS Desk Check locally

Not all services available

Grant Visitor Center

Explore the extraordinary ecological and social 

impacts of the historic fires of 1988.

307-344-2650

Check locally for hours.

Yellowstone Forever Bookstore

Backcountry Office

Lodging

Grant Village 6/18–10/3

Campground

Grant Village Campground 6/18–9/12

Laundry

Food

Grant Village 6/18–10/3

• Grant Village Dining Room

Lake House at Grant Check locally

Fuel 5/28–9/19 (5/28–9/6 for repairs/wrecker)

Credit card fueling available 24 hours.

RV liquid propane tanks filled.

Repairs Wrecker 406-848-7548

Shopping

Grant General Store 6/18–9/26

Groceries, snack bar, souvenirs, apparel.

Grant Mini Store 5/28–10/3

Camping and outdoor gear, footwear, 

fishing supplies.

Grant Village Gift Shop 6/18–10/3

US Post Office Opens 5/12

Public Restrooms

In stores, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, 

and at or near all picnic areas.

Recycling Bins

Located in the campground and near trash bins

at the General Store.

Visitor Center

To West Thumb

 2mi 3km 

 Bridge Bay

 20 mi 30km

To Lewis Lake

 8mi 13km

 South Entrance

 20mi 30km

YELLOWSTONE LAKE

North

Lake House Restaurant

Grant Restaurant

General Store

Mini Store

14 Yellowstone Visitor Guide
A Global Legacy

在黄石国家公园要处处小心危险

请与动物保持距离

• 请勿靠近或给任何动物喂食。 

• 野牛,熊和麋鹿都曾致人受伤或死亡。

• 请与熊或狼保持100码 (91米) 的距离。

• 请与其他动物保持25码 (23米) 的距离。

• 不要从熊面前逃跑。

• 请结伴而行, 制造噪音并携带防熊喷雾。

请小心温泉

• 请勿离开木栈道或游径。

• 热水可导致严重烫伤或死亡。

• 请勿奔跑、推搡或拥挤。 

• 请时刻照管好您的小孩。

• 间歇泉盆地或建筑物 内不允许吸烟。

您对自己的安全负责。

Национальный парк 

Йеллоустоун опасен. • Перемещайтесь только по дощатым настилам и 

оборудованным тропам.

• Не бросайте в гидротермальные объекты 

предметы, в том числе монеты и мелкие камни.

• Не курите в зданиях и гейзеровых бассейнах.

• Не прикармливайте диких животных и птиц.

• В соответствии с законом все посетители должны 

держаться на расстоянии не менее 91 м (100 

ярдов) от медведей и волков и не менее 23 метров 

(25 ярдов) от других животных, включая бизонов, 

вапити и койотов. 

Der Yellowstone-Park 

ist gefährlich

Halten Sie sich von Tieren fern

• Nähern Sie sich keinen Tieren an und füttern Sie sie 

nicht.

• Bisons, Bären und Elche haben in der Vergangenheit 

Menschen verletzt und getötet.

• Bleiben Sie 100 Yard (91 m) von Bären und Wölfen 

entfernt.

• Bleiben Sie 25 Yard (23 m) von allen anderen Tieren 

entfernt.

• Laufen Sie niemals von einem Bären weg.

• Wandern Sie in einer Gruppe, machen Sie Lärm und 

tragen Sie ein Bärenspray bei sich.

Vorsicht in Thermalbereichen 

• Bleiben Sie auf Geh- und Wanderwegen.

• Das heiße Wasser kann zu schweren Verbrennungen 

oder Tod führen.

• Niemals laufen, schubsen oder stoßen. 

• Achten Sie stets auf Ihre Kinder.

• Rauchen ist nicht gestattet in Geysirbereichen oder 

Gebäuden.

Sie sind für deren Sicherheit verantwortlich. 

Yellowstone es un 

lugar peligroso

Mantenga distancia de los animales

• No se acerque ni alimente a ningún animal. 

• Los bisontes, los osos y los alces han herido y 

matado personas.

• Manténgase a 100 yardas (91 m) de osos y lobos.

• Manténgase a 25 yardas (23 m) de todos los demás 

animales.

•Nunca corra si ve a un oso.

• Camine en grupos, haga ruido y lleve gas pimienta 

para osos.

Sea prudente en las zonas termales

• Permanezca en los paseos marítimos y en los 

senderos.

• El agua caliente puede causar graves quemaduras 

o la muerte

• Nunca corra ni empuje. 

• Supervise a los niños en todo momento.

• No está permitido fumar en las cuencas de los 

géiseres ni en los edificios.

Usted es responsable de su seguridad.

Yellowstone présente 

de multiples dangers

Restez à distance des animaux

• Ne vous approchez pas et ne nourrissez pas 

les animaux. 

•Les bisons, les ours, et les wapitis ont déjà été à 

l'origine de blessés et de morts.

• Restez à 100 yards (91 m) des ours et des loups.

• Restez à 25 yards (23 m) de tous les autres animaux. 

• Ne courez jamais devant un ours.

• Restez en groupe lors des randonnées, faites du bruit, 

et conservez un vaporisateur de gaz poivré sur vous.

Soyez prudent (e) dans les zones thermales

• Restez sur les passages en bois et les sentiers.

• L'eau très chaude peut provoquer des blessures 

graves ou entraîner le décès.

• Soyez attentif / attentive à ne jamais courir, vous 

pousser ou vous bousculer. 

• Surveillez constamment les enfants.

• Il est interdit de fumer dans les bassins des geysers 

et les bâtiments.

Vous êtes responsable de votre sécurité.

イエローストーンは危険な場所です

動物から距離を置いて下さい

• 絶対に動物に近づいたり、

エサを与えたりしないで下さい。 

• バイソン、熊やヘラジカが人に危害を加え、

死に至るケースも発生しています。

• 熊や狼からは100ヤード(91メートル)

離れて下さい。

• その他すべての動物からは25ヤード(

23メートル)離れて下さい。

• 熊に出くわしても、絶対に走らないで下さい。

• ハイキングする時はグループで行動し、音を立て、

熊撃退スプレーを携帯して下さい。

高温地帯では注意して下さい

• 遊歩道や小道を歩いて下さい。

• 高温地帯により重度のやけどを負ったり、

死に至るケースがあります。

• 絶対に走ったり、押したり、

押しのけたりしないで下さい。 

• 常にお子様から目を離さないで下さい。

• 間欠泉盆地や建物内は禁煙です。

自分自身の身の安全に責任を持って下さい。

go.nps.gov/translate-ynp

Yellowstone è 

pericolosa 

• Percorrere le passerelle e i sentieri. 

• Non lanciate oggetti, come monete e sassolini, nelle 

formazioni idrotermali.

• È vietato fumare nei bacini dei geyser o negli edifici

• Non date da mangiare agli animali selvatici, compresi 

gli uccelli.

• La legge richiede che tutti i visitatori restino ad

almeno 91 metri (100 iarde) da orsi e lupi, e ad 

almeno 23 metri (25 iarde) da tutti gli altri animali, 

inclusi bisonti, renne e coyote. 

옐로스톤 국립 공원은 위험한 

장소입니다. 

• 보드워크와 등산로를 벗어나지 마십시오.

• 동전과 조약돌을 포함하는 물체들을 열수 구역에 

던지지 마십시오.

• 간헐천 지대나 건물에서는 흡연이 허용되지 

않습니다.

• 새를 포함하는 야생동물에게 먹이를 주지 

마십시오.

• 법률에 의하면, 모든 방문객들은 곰과 

늑대로부터 최소한 100야드(91미터), 그리고 

들소, 엘크, 코요테를 포함하는 다른 모든 

동물들은 최소한 25야드(23미터)의 거리를 

유지해야 합니다. 

Yellowstone National Park was designated a 

UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 because it 

protects significant geological phenomena and 

processes. It is also a unique manifestation of geothermal forces, natural beauty, and wild ecosystems 

where rare and endangered species can thrive. As 

one of the few remaining intact large ecosystems in 

the northern temperate zone, Yellowstone's ecological communities provide unparalleled opportunities 

for conservation, study, and enjoyment of large-scale 

wildland ecosystem processes. 

Summer 2021 15
Yellowstone

Lake

JOHN D.

ROCKEFELLER, JR.

MEMORIAL PARKWAY

GRAND TETON

NATIONAL PARK

Vehicle access to

Cody, WY

May 13–Oct 12

Red Lodge, 

Billings, MT

May 28–Oct 12 2

3

1

CLOSED

Dunraven

Pass

Craig

Pass

Gardiner, MT

West Yellowstone MT

Silver 

Gate

Cooke

City, MT

North Entrance

South Entrance

West

Entrance

Northeast

Entrance

East

Entrance

Mammoth Hot Springs

Madison

Bechler

Old Faithful

Canyon Village

Fishing Bridge Lake Village

Grant

Village

West Thumb

Bridge Bay

Indian Creek

Slough

Creek

Lewis Lake

Pebble

Creek

Norris

TowerRoosevelt

Yellowstone Forever

Institute

5mi

8km

18mi 29km

29mi

47km

16mi

26km

21mi

34km

12mi

19km

14mi

23km

16mi

26km

17mi

27km

21mi

34km

22mi

35km

27mi

43km

14mi

23km

W Yellowstone

to Bozeman, MT

90mi 145km

W Yellowstone

to Big Sky, MT

48mi 77km

to Ashton, ID

26mi 42km

Gardiner to Bozeman, MT

84mi 135km

Gardiner to Livingston, MT

52mi 84km

E Entrance

to Cody, WY

53mi 85km

to Jackson, WY

57mi 91km

5 mi

8 km Distance indicator

Approximate cell coverage

Verizon: All shaded areas

AT&T: Canyon to Tower

Union Telecom: Grant, Old Faithful, Mammoth

0 10 Kilometers

0 10 Miles

North

West Entrance

West Yellowstone, MT

Roads Open Year-Round

North Entrance

Gardiner, MT

Mammoth Tower

-Roosevelt

Northeast Entrance

Cooke City, MT

Vehicle access to

Cody, WY

May 13–Oct 12

Red Lodge, Billings, MT

May 28–Oct 12

Roads Open April 16–November 8

West Entrance

West Yellowstone, MT

North Entrance

Gardiner, MT

Mammoth

Norris Canyon

Village Madison

Old

Faithful

Tower

-Roosevelt

Northeast Entrance

Cooke City, MT

Vehicle access to

Cody, WY

May 13–Oct 12

Red Lodge, Billings, MT

May 28–Oct 12

Roads Open May 7–November 8

West Entrance

West Yellowstone, MT

North Entrance

Gardiner, MT

Mammoth

Norris Canyon

Village

Fishing Bridge

Lake Village

Madison

Old Faithful

Tower

-Roosevelt

Northeast Entrance

Cooke City, MT

East Entrance

Vehicle access to

Cody, WY

May 13–Oct 12

Red Lodge, Billings, MT

May 28–Oct 12

Roads Open May 14–November 8

Lake Village

Bridge Bay

Grant Village

West Thumb

West Entrance

West Yellowstone, MT

North Entrance

Gardiner, MT

South Entrance

to Jackson, WY

Mammoth

Norris Canyon

Village

Fishing Bridge

Madison

Old Faithful

Tower

-Roosevelt

Northeast Entrance

Cooke City, MT

East Entrance

Vehicle access to

Cody, WY

May 13–Oct 12

Red Lodge, Billings, MT

May 28–Oct 12

Roads Open May 28–October 12

Lake Village

Bridge Bay

Grant Village

West Thumb

West Entrance

West Yellowstone, MT

North Entrance

Gardiner, MT

South Entrance

to Jackson, WY

Mammoth

Norris Canyon

Village

Fishing Bridge

Madison

Old Faithful

Tower

-Roosevelt

Northeast Entrance

Cooke City, MT

East Entrance

Beartooth Highway

open with vehicle

access to Red Lodge, 

Billings, MT

to Cody via

296

Drive Cautiously

The park speed limit is 45 mph (72 kph) unless posted 

slower. Icy and wet roads require extra attention.

Watch for wildlife on or near roadways.

Keep the road clear at all times, even when watching 

wildlife. Don't stop, stand, or walk in the road. Use a 

pullout if you need to stop for any reason. 

Share the Road

Cyclists must ride single file. Drivers should pass 

no closer than 3 feet (1 m) to bicycles and roadside 

pedestrians.

Separate Fee for Grand Teton

Visit nps.gov/GRTE for more information.

Travel Alerts

1 Tower-Roosevelt to 

Canyon Village

CLOSED

No access between Tower-Roosevelt and 

Canyon. Trails to the top of Mount Washburn are also closed.

2 North Entrance

Expect delays and traffic pattern changes.

The entrance station is open.

3 Old Faithful

Expect delays up to 15 minutes due to 

bridge repairs.

Road Status Updates

Hotline 307-344-2117

Online go.nps.gov/YELLroads

Mobile alerts text 82190 to 888-777

Park Roads Road Schedule

Weather permitting, roads open/close at 8 am on 

the day listed. Changes and delays are possible.

16 Yellowstone Visitor Guide