Yellowstone and Acadia openings

Yellowstone will reopen its West Entrance and two main west-side roads to regular vehicle traffic at 8 a.m. Friday, April 17, if weather holds. (nps.gov) The National Park Service said the opening covers the West Entrance to Madison Junction, Madison Junction to Old Faithful, and Madison Junction to Norris. The agency also said the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and a nearby campground are scheduled to open the same day. (nps.gov) Acadia has already started its spring transition. The Park Loop Road reopened to motor vehicles on April 15, but a construction closure remains in place from Kebo Street to Sieur de Monts through June 12, except during Memorial Day weekend. (nps.gov) A separate Acadia closure is still blocking Cadillac Summit Road through April 30 for cars, cyclists, and pedestrians because of construction near the summit parking area. The park said hiking trails to Cadillac Summit remain open. (nps.gov) Both parks are moving from winter access rules to spring and summer traffic patterns, when roads that are closed for snow, ice, or maintenance begin reopening in stages. Yellowstone keeps only the road between its North and Northeast entrances open year-round to regular vehicles. (nps.gov) That timing shapes how visitors enter two of the country’s busiest national parks. Yellowstone spans 2.2 million acres and contains about half of the world’s active geysers, while Acadia’s 27-mile Park Loop Road is one of the main driving routes on Mount Desert Island. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) Yellowstone’s April 17 opening is only part of its annual rollout. The park’s operating dates page says other entrances, roads, lodges, campgrounds, and dining facilities come online later in April, May, and June. (nps.gov) Acadia’s reopening is also partial by design. The Park Loop Road page says the road is typically closed to private vehicles from December 1 through April 14, which turns the corridor into a seasonal route for walking, biking, and other non-motorized use before cars return. (nps.gov) For travelers heading out this week, both parks are warning that conditions can still change quickly. Yellowstone said spring openings are weather dependent, and Acadia is routing drivers around active work zones on the Loop Road. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2)