Yellowstone opens west side

Yellowstone will open its West Entrance to cars at 8 a.m. on Friday, April 17, giving drivers their first spring access from West Yellowstone into the park. (nps.gov) The National Park Service said the North Entrance at Gardiner will open at the same time, weather permitting. From those two gateways, visitors can drive to Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, Norris Geyser Basin, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Old Faithful. (nps.gov) The April 17 opening also puts five interior road segments back into regular vehicle service: West Entrance to Madison, Madison to Old Faithful, Madison to Norris, Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris, and Norris to Canyon Village. The road between the North and Northeast entrances is the park’s only route generally open year-round to regular vehicles. (nps.gov) Yellowstone closes most roads to regular traffic from early November to late April because of snow and then reopens them in stages as plowing ends and conditions improve. The park said road status can change quickly, and temporary closures can happen without notice. (nps.gov) That staggered schedule means April travelers can reach headline stops such as Old Faithful before much of the rest of the park is drivable. The East Entrance to Fishing Bridge and the Canyon Village to Bridge Bay road are projected to open May 1, while the South Entrance to West Thumb is projected for May 8. (nps.gov) Services inside the park still lag behind road access in April. Yellowstone’s operating dates page says few facilities are open year-round, services stay limited through late April, and many trails and boardwalks remain snow covered during spring. (nps.gov) Lodging and camping follow their own calendar. Yellowstone National Park Lodges lists Old Faithful Snow Lodge for April 24, Old Faithful Inn for May 1, Canyon Lodge for May 15, and Madison Campground for May 1. (yellowstonenationalparklodges.com) Park officials are also warning drivers to expect up to 30-minute delays from road improvement projects and to watch for ice, snow and gravel on the pavement. The park said bison, elk, bears and other animals use roads as travel corridors in spring because roadside snowbanks limit where they can move. (nps.gov) For travelers heading in Friday morning, the practical shift is simple: the west-side drive to Old Faithful is back, but Yellowstone is still in shoulder season, with snow on the ground and a road map that keeps changing with the weather. (nps.gov)