Bicycling in Yellowstone

Yellowstone’s bicycling opportunities can be rewarding 

and challenging due to terrain and climate. Cool, 

cloudy days are typical in May and June. Warm days 

with afternoon thunderstorms and cool nights 

characterize July and August. September and October 

generally have clear, cool days with occasional 

snowstorms. 

Routes listed are available when roads are open to 

vehicles. Consult the park newspaper or park website 

for dates. Bicycling is allowed for a short time before 

roads open in spring and after they close in fall. Bicycles 

are prohibited on oversnow routes in Yellowstone.

Bicycle touring

While bicycle touring in the park can be a rewarding 

 More than . experience, advance preparation is essential

300 miles of roadway exist, and the distances between 

developed areas are long. Road elevations range from 

 which requires , 5,300 ft. to 8,860 ft. (1615 m to 2700 m)

extra time and energy between points of travel. Some 

notable climbs in the park are: 

Craig Pass (8,261 ft/2518 m) •	

Sylvan Pass (8,530 ft/2600 m) •	

Dunraven Pass (8,859 ft/2700 m) •	

All bicycle touring groups—private, nonprofit, 

commercial—must contact the Visitor 

Services Office (307 344-2107) for permits, 

special regulations, and other information. 

Repair services

Repair services and parts are available in the gateway 

community of West Yellowstone, Montana, and other 

more distant communities. Rentals are available from 

several bicycle shops outside the park and at the

Old Faithful Snow Lodge (May to September).

Regulations

Yellowstone in roadways public on riders •	 Bicycle

must obey the same rules and regulations that apply 

to motorized vehicles.

boardwalks, trails, park on allowed not are •	 Bicycles

utility corridors, or service roads, except for those 

.” Bicycling Routes listed under “

exhibit must bicycles visibility, low of periods •	 During

a white light on the front and a red light or reflector 

on the rear.

single in ride must roadways public on riders •	 Bicycle

file. Riding abreast is prohibited.

Camping in Yellowstone

Camping for bicyclists is limited to developed 

campgrounds throughout the park. Five campgrounds 

accept reservations. Seven are first-come, first-served. 

Dates of seasonal openings and closings are listed on 

the park website and in the park newspaper. Only 

Mammoth campground is open year round.

Bicycle campers need to plan logistics carefully 

in Yellowstone. Long distances separate campgrounds, 

which typically fill early each day during summer. If 

you have access to a vehicle, use it to find a campsite in 

your destination campground early each day. Camping 

is not available at Old Faithful. 

A limited number of campsites are reserved for hikers 

and bicyclists at all campgrounds, except Slough Creek. 

Bicyclists camping without a vehicle can use these sites 

for $5 per individual per night. Vehicle campsites range 

from $14 to $45 per night depending on the 

campground. 

Groups are required to camp in group campsites at 

Madison, Bridge Bay, and Grant. Call Xanterra Parks & 

Resorts (866 439-7375) well in advance of your arrival to 

check on group campsite availability.

Road conditions and safety

– Review the map opposite for road information 

 are narrow and rough without road Red roads •	

shoulders. Consider poor road conditions when 

planning your bicycle travel in the park. 

During May and June, high – Spring caution •	

snowbanks make travel more dangerous, especially in 

the south-central area of the park. 

A parkwide road Road construction – •	

improvement plan is underway. Expect road 

construction; inquire locally for details. 

 Wear a helmet and high visibility – Be visible •	

Heavy traffic, large vehicles, wide mirrors, clothing.

narrow roads, and erratic driving behavior are all 

hazards that contribute to the bicycle-motorist 

related accidents in the park. 

Road congestion is heaviest Plan for traffic – •

from mid-June to mid-September with daily peaks 

from mid-morning to late afternoon. Plan your route 

to avoid peak traffic periods and the most heavilyused roadways that serve well-known points of 

interest. If you impede traffic flow, pull over to allow 

motorists to pass you more safely. On the few service 

roads open to bikes, yield the right-of-way to other 

users such as hikers or horse riders. 

. You must stay at Keep your distance

least 100 yards (91 m) from bears and 

wolves. A distance of 25 yards (23 m) is required 

'

from bison, elk, and other animals. Regardless 

of distance, if any wild animal changes its 

behavior due to your presence, you are too close.
Bicycling in Yellowstone

Yellowstone’s bicycling opportunities can be rewarding 

and challenging due to terrain and climate. Cool, 

cloudy days are typical in May and June. Warm days 

with afternoon thunderstorms and cool nights 

characterize July and August. September and October 

generally have clear, cool days with occasional 

snowstorms. 

Routes listed are available when roads are open to 

vehicles. Consult the park newspaper or park website 

for dates. Bicycling is allowed for a short time before 

roads open in spring and after they close in fall. Bicycles 

are prohibited on oversnow routes in Yellowstone.

Bicycle touring

While bicycle touring in the park can be a rewarding 

experience, advance preparation is essential. More than 

300 miles of roadway exist, and the distances between 

developed areas are long. Road elevations range from 

5,300 ft. to 8,860 ft. (1615 m to 2700 m), which requires 

extra time and energy between points of travel. Some 

notable climbs in the park are: 

•	 Craig Pass (8,261 ft/2518 m)

•	 Sylvan Pass (8,530 ft/2600 m)

•	 Dunraven Pass (8,859 ft/2700 m)

All bicycle touring groups—private, nonprofit, 

commercial—must contact the Visitor 

Services Office (307 344-2107) for permits, 

special regulations, and other information. 

Repair services

Repair services and parts are available in the gateway 

community of West Yellowstone, Montana, and other 

more distant communities. Rentals are available from 

several bicycle shops outside the park and at the

Old Faithful Snow Lodge (May to September).

Regulations

•	 Bicycle riders on public roadways in Yellowstone

must obey the same rules and regulations that apply 

to motorized vehicles.

•	 Bicycles are not allowed on park trails, boardwalks,

utility corridors, or service roads, except for those 

listed under “Bicycling Routes.”

•	 During periods of low visibility, bicycles must exhibit

a white light on the front and a red light or reflector 

on the rear.

•	 Bicycle riders on public roadways must ride in single

file. Riding abreast is prohibited.

Camping in Yellowstone

Camping for bicyclists is limited to developed 

campgrounds throughout the park. Five campgrounds 

accept reservations. Seven are first-come, first-served. 

Dates of seasonal openings and closings are listed on 

the park website and in the park newspaper. Only 

Mammoth campground is open year round.

Bicycle campers need to plan logistics carefully 

in Yellowstone. Long distances separate campgrounds, 

which typically fill early each day during summer. If 

you have access to a vehicle, use it to find a campsite in 

your destination campground early each day. Camping 

is not available at Old Faithful. 

A limited number of campsites are reserved for hikers 

and bicyclists at all campgrounds, except Slough Creek. 

Bicyclists camping without a vehicle can use these sites 

for $5 per individual per night. Vehicle campsites range 

from $14 to $45 per night depending on the 

campground. 

Groups are required to camp in group campsites at 

Madison, Bridge Bay, and Grant. Call Xanterra Parks & 

Resorts (866 439-7375) well in advance of your arrival to 

check on group campsite availability.

Road conditions and safety

Review the map opposite for road information –

•	 Red roads are narrow and rough without road 

shoulders. Consider poor road conditions when 

planning your bicycle travel in the park. 

•	 Spring caution – During May and June, high 

snowbanks make travel more dangerous, especially in 

the south-central area of the park. 

•	 Road construction – A parkwide road 

improvement plan is underway. Expect road 

construction; inquire locally for details. 

•	 Be visible – Wear a helmet and high visibility 

clothing. Heavy traffic, large vehicles, wide mirrors, 

narrow roads, and erratic driving behavior are all 

hazards that contribute to the bicycle-motorist 

related accidents in the park. 

• Plan for traffic – Road congestion is heaviest 

from mid-June to mid-September with daily peaks 

from mid-morning to late afternoon. Plan your route 

to avoid peak traffic periods and the most heavilyused roadways that serve well-known points of 

interest. If you impede traffic flow, pull over to allow 

motorists to pass you more safely. On the few service 

roads open to bikes, yield the right-of-way to other 

users such as hikers or horse riders. 

'Keep your distance. You must stay at least 100 yards (91 m) from bears and 

wolves. A distance of 25 yards (23 m) is required 

from bison, elk, and other animals. Regardless 

of distance, if any wild animal changes its 

behavior due to your presence, you are too close.
Road construction

Check the park newspaper or website for delays 

or closures.

Backcountry camping

Backcountry camping requires permits. Inquire 

at visitor centers or information stations.

Do not use this map for backcountry hiking. 

Fishing

Fishing requires a Yellowstone National Park 

permit. State permits are not valid in the park 

and state regulations do not apply.

 Bicycling in Yellowstone National Park

1

2

3

4

6 5

7

8

9

10

11

Full services +

Full services (except gas) +

Full services +

Full services +

Full services (except lodging) +

Full services +

Mud Volcano

Biscuit Basin

Black Sand Basin

Fountain Paint Pot

Midway Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin

West Thumb

Geyser Basin

North Entrance

Northeast Entrance

West Entrance

East Entrance

South 

Entrance

CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

Yellowstone River

Yellowstone River

Grassy Lake

Reservoir

YELLOWSTONE LAKE 7733ft

2357m

Lewis Falls

Tower Fall

Gibbon Falls

Kepler Cascades

Lewis 

Lake

Lower Falls 

Upper Falls 

Yellowstone River

Gardiner

Jardine

Road between Gardiner and

Cooke City open all year

US 212 (Beartooth Highway)

closed beyond Cooke City 

mid-October to late May

Cooke City

West Yellowstone

Silver

Gate

Indian Creek

Pebble Creek

Slough Creek

Lewis Lake

Yellowstone 

Association

Institute

7484ft

2281m

Bunsen Peak Road

7250ft/2199m

Obsidian Cliff

7383ft

2250m

Dunraven Pass

Mt. Washburn

Yellowstone South Entrance

to Jackson

64 mi/103 km

Flagg Ranch

Bechler

Bechler to Ashton

26 mi/42 km

West 

Yellowstone 

to Ashton

60 mi/97 km

Northeast Entrance

to Red Lodge 69 mi/111 km

to Billings, MT 125 mi/200 km

to Cody, WY 68 mi/109 km

East Entrance

to Cody

53 mi

85 km

Road closed from early

November to mid-April

Road closed 

in winter

Not recommended for 

large trailers or RVs.

Road closed in winter

MONTANA

WYOMING WYOMING

MONTANA

WYOMING

Firehole Lake Drive

Fountain Flat Drive

Firehole Canyon Drive

IDAHO

West Yellowstone to 

park boundary

31 mi/50 km

Park boundary

to Bozeman

59 mi/95 km

To Livingston

52 mi/84 km

To Bozeman

84 mi/135 km

HAYDEN

VALLEY

LAMAR

VALLEY

Craig 

Pass

East 

Divide Sylvan Pass

6270ft

1911m

6806ft

2091m

8530ft

2600m 8391ft

2558m

7988ft

2435m

8262ft

2518m

6886ft

2099m

7365ft

2245m

5314ft

1620m

6667ft

2032m

6951ft

2119m

8859ft

2700m

10243ft

3122m

Road closed from 

mid-October to late May

Road closed from 

early November 

to mid-April

Road closed from early

November to mid-May

Road closed from 

early November 

to early May

CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

Grassy Lake R oad

Ashton-Flagg Ran ch Road

MONTANA

Chittenden Road

 Blacktail

 Plateau Drive

Colter Pass 8048ft/2434m

Full services

John D. 

Rockefeller, Jr.

Memorial 

Parkway

GRAND TETON

NATIONAL PARK

Tower-Roosevelt

Old Faithful

Norris

Mammoth Hot Springs

Madison

Lake Village

Grant Village

Fishing Bridge

Bridge Bay

Canyon Village

14

16

20

20

89

89

191

287

191

191

212

287

287

19 mi

31 km

21 mi

34 km

8 mi

5 km

22 mi

35 km

27 mi

43 km

21 mi

34 km

18 mi

29 km

29 mi

47 km

14 mi

23 km

12 mi

19 km

16 mi

26 km 14 mi

23 km

16 mi

26 km

17 mi

27 km

Other Services 

 Medical clinic

 Visitor center or

 information station

 Campground 

 RV park

Full Services = 

 Stores

 Food

 Lodging

 Recycling

 Fuel

0 1

0 1

10 Miles

10 Kilometers

North

00mi

00km Distance indicator

Day-use bicycling/

hiking trail

Gravel road

One-way road

Highways

Improved road

Unimproved road

Check the park website or newspaper for seasonal 

dates of services and facilities.

6000 

7000 

8000 

9000 

10000 

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 

feet 

miles 

Sylvan Pass

Elevations 

Fishing Bridge to East Entrance Fishing Bridge to East Entrance

16 

6000 

7000 

8000 

9000 

10000 

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 

feet 

miles 

Craig Pass East Divide 

Elevations 

Old Faithful to West Thumb 

Old Faithful to West Thumb

6000 

7000 

8000 

9000 

10000 

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 

feet 

miles

Elevations 

Tower to Canyon Junction 

Dunraven Pass

Tower to Canyon Junction

 Park Information 307 344-7381 TTY 307 344-2386 www.nps.gov/yell Road updates 307 344-2117

* Further the interests of all cyclists 

 by staying on designated routes, 

 off foot trails, and out of

 closed areas.