UPDATE

Yellowstone Park open for the season

Posted: Apr 16, 2010 5:06 PM by KBZK News Staff

BOZEMAN - Tourists flocked to Yellowstone National Park Friday, the day that roads to Old Faithful and Canyon open for the season.

As of 8 a.m. visitors were able to travel through the park's north and west entrances to Norris, Madison, Canyon and Old Faithful. The opening coincides with National Park Week when visitors can enter the park for free April 17 to 25.

Friday marked the start of a new season at Yellowstone National Park as the park begins its transition to the summer tourism season. The park has already begun to attract people from all over the world, even on its first day.

As of 10 a.m. several visitors could already be spotted inside the park. One visitor from Australia said he is hoping to see a grizzly bear during his visit.

Park officials warn visitors to keep away from animals in the park.

Yellowstone's chief of public affairs, Al Nash, said Thursday he is expecting more than three million people to visit the park this year. He's excited for the new year to begin, he said.

On May 7, the road linking Canyon, Fishing Bridge, and the east entrance opens. Work on a one-mile section of road through Sylvan Pass may cause up to 30-minute traffic delays this year, according to the park.

Travel from the south entrance to Grant, West Thumb, Old Faithful and Fishing Bridge is set to begin Friday, May 14, while the road between Tower Fall and Canyon over Dunraven Pass is scheduled to open for travel on Friday, May 21.

The road from Cooke City over Colter Pass to the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and the Long Lake gate typically opens by mid-May, with the balance of the Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, Montana opening the Friday before the Memorial Day Holiday weekend, weather permitting.

The road from Gardiner, Montana, through the park's north entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City is open to automobiles all year, weather permitting.

The park warns that travel between Norris and Madison through Gibbon Canyon will be impacted by a major road construction project this year. Visitors can expect up to 30-minute delays through Oct. 20. This section of road will also be closed to travel between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. every night until Sept. 1. There will be no alternate route available overnight until the road from Old Faithful to West Thumb opens on May 14.