For the second time this year, the Wyoming State Parks Shoshone District is hosting a Women Who Hike event. This time at Sinks Canyon State Park on September 30 through October 2.
Registration is $55 and includes a weekend full of camping, caving, hiking, instruction in wilderness first aid and self-defense with a law enforcement ranger and a service project for the park. Groceries are included in the registration cost with participants pitching in with the cooking chores.
Wyoming State Parks has tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, etc. that can be borrowed during the weekend.
Women Who Hike is a community of women, who enjoy the outdoors. This non-profit nationwide group does not require any sort of membership or fees. It is a 1% for the planet organization.
Registration is available via the Eventbrite website.
For more information, please contact Angelina Stancampiano at Angelina.Stancampiano@wyo.gov or 307-677-2461.
Jeff
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Monday, September 26, 2022
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
29th Annual National Public Lands Day Will Enlist Thousands of Volunteers to Restore Public Lands Across US
On Saturday, September 24, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), in collaboration with federal, state, and nonprofit partners, will present the 29th annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD) celebration—the largest single-day volunteer event for America’s public lands.
Over the last decade, more than one million volunteers have donated nearly 5 million hours of their time for public lands on National Public Lands Day, worth an estimated $133 million. Typical NPLD events include a mix of volunteer, education, health, and recreation activities taking place on public lands all over the country, from state and local parks to land managed by federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and USDA Forest Service.
The theme for this year’s NPLD celebration is “Giving Back Together,” in honor of the role America’s public lands play in bringing people together for recreation, socialization, and stewardship.
“During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, our country’s public lands acted as a safe haven for all Americans to gather with their friends and families,” said Meri-Margaret Deoudes, president and CEO of NEEF. “NPLD gives us an opportunity to return the favor. Along with our state and federal partners, we invite the public to join us in giving back to these spaces that have played such an important role in our lives.”
With over 500 nationwide volunteer events currently registered on NEEF’s website—and more being added each day—there will be no shortage of opportunities for the thousands of expected volunteers to roll up their sleeves and pitch in on improvement projects in their communities.
NPLD is also designated as a Fee-Free Day, granting free admission for visitors at all national parks, as well as sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, and other participating federal agencies.
“The National Park Service will host nearly 100 events on National Public Lands Day to encourage people to discover, visit and interact with their public lands,” said Shari Orr, National Park Service Volunteer Program Manager. “Our partnership with NEEF on this day of service helps us introduce people to national parks and the recreational, inspirational and educational benefits they provide.”
For more information, please click here.
Jeff
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Over the last decade, more than one million volunteers have donated nearly 5 million hours of their time for public lands on National Public Lands Day, worth an estimated $133 million. Typical NPLD events include a mix of volunteer, education, health, and recreation activities taking place on public lands all over the country, from state and local parks to land managed by federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and USDA Forest Service.
The theme for this year’s NPLD celebration is “Giving Back Together,” in honor of the role America’s public lands play in bringing people together for recreation, socialization, and stewardship.
“During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, our country’s public lands acted as a safe haven for all Americans to gather with their friends and families,” said Meri-Margaret Deoudes, president and CEO of NEEF. “NPLD gives us an opportunity to return the favor. Along with our state and federal partners, we invite the public to join us in giving back to these spaces that have played such an important role in our lives.”
With over 500 nationwide volunteer events currently registered on NEEF’s website—and more being added each day—there will be no shortage of opportunities for the thousands of expected volunteers to roll up their sleeves and pitch in on improvement projects in their communities.
NPLD is also designated as a Fee-Free Day, granting free admission for visitors at all national parks, as well as sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, and other participating federal agencies.
“The National Park Service will host nearly 100 events on National Public Lands Day to encourage people to discover, visit and interact with their public lands,” said Shari Orr, National Park Service Volunteer Program Manager. “Our partnership with NEEF on this day of service helps us introduce people to national parks and the recreational, inspirational and educational benefits they provide.”
For more information, please click here.
Jeff
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Friday, September 16, 2022
Grizzly Bear Euthanized Near Choteau
After confirming that a collared grizzly bear killed livestock along the Rocky Mountain Front north of Choteau, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks assisted the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services in euthanizing the bear after obtaining the necessary approval from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
The bear had first been captured and collared in 2021 in a trap set due to cattle depredation. It was unknown at the time if the trapped bear had killed the calf or was scavenging the carcass, so it was collared and released on-site. Later in 2021, the bear was documented to have visited two other livestock conflict sites (one calf and one sheep), confirmed by trail camera and collar data, but it evaded attempts to capture it at that time.
On Sept. 5, landowners reported another sheep had been killed, and FWP and Wildlife Services technicians responded and confirmed the sheep was killed by a bear. Collar data from the bear showed it was present at the kill site at the time of the conflict, and after obtaining USFWS approval to lethally remove the bear, the 4-year-old male bear weighing 386 pounds was shot and killed on Friday afternoon.
The hide and head from the bear were salvaged and will be used for educational purposes.
Grizzly bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and final authority regarding management actions are up to the USFWS.
For more information on living, working, and recreating in Montana’s bear country, visit the FWP Bear Aware webpage at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/be-bear-aware.
Jeff
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The bear had first been captured and collared in 2021 in a trap set due to cattle depredation. It was unknown at the time if the trapped bear had killed the calf or was scavenging the carcass, so it was collared and released on-site. Later in 2021, the bear was documented to have visited two other livestock conflict sites (one calf and one sheep), confirmed by trail camera and collar data, but it evaded attempts to capture it at that time.
On Sept. 5, landowners reported another sheep had been killed, and FWP and Wildlife Services technicians responded and confirmed the sheep was killed by a bear. Collar data from the bear showed it was present at the kill site at the time of the conflict, and after obtaining USFWS approval to lethally remove the bear, the 4-year-old male bear weighing 386 pounds was shot and killed on Friday afternoon.
The hide and head from the bear were salvaged and will be used for educational purposes.
Grizzly bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and final authority regarding management actions are up to the USFWS.
For more information on living, working, and recreating in Montana’s bear country, visit the FWP Bear Aware webpage at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/be-bear-aware.
Jeff
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Tuesday, September 13, 2022
West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone Closed Until Further Notice
The West Thumb Geyser Basin, located in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park, will be closed until further notice due to hazardous conditions.
On Tuesday, Sept. 6, Northwestern Energy staff reported smoke coming out of a small building near the bookstore that houses a solar battery energy storage system at West Thumb Geyser Basin. Park structural fire crews were notified and dispatched to the location. They did not see flames when they arrived, but there was smoke. The exterior of the building was not damaged.
Battery fumes are corrosive and hazardous when inhaled. To ensure visitor and employee safety, West Thumb Geyser Basin will be closed until the batteries have fully discharged and fumes have dissipated from the area.
The area will continue to be monitored and evaluated by the park structural fire crew and the geyser basin will reopen when it is deemed safe.
Jeff
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On Tuesday, Sept. 6, Northwestern Energy staff reported smoke coming out of a small building near the bookstore that houses a solar battery energy storage system at West Thumb Geyser Basin. Park structural fire crews were notified and dispatched to the location. They did not see flames when they arrived, but there was smoke. The exterior of the building was not damaged.
Battery fumes are corrosive and hazardous when inhaled. To ensure visitor and employee safety, West Thumb Geyser Basin will be closed until the batteries have fully discharged and fumes have dissipated from the area.
The area will continue to be monitored and evaluated by the park structural fire crew and the geyser basin will reopen when it is deemed safe.
Jeff
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Sunday, September 11, 2022
Vehicle Reservation System Ends Today for the Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor and the North Fork
The 2022 vehicle reservation system will end September 11. After this date, the Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor and the North Fork will not require vehicle reservations. Plan ahead and prepare for temporary traffic restrictions.
There is a nightly closure (10 pm to 6 am) on Going-to-the-Sun Road 1.5 miles north of the West Entrance to Sprague Creek Campground for construction work. On October 1, the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road will close for the season from the four-way intersection at Apgar to Logan Pass due to the Lake McDonald Utilities project and road crew operations.
For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/glacier-national-park-fall-operation-adjustments.htm
Jeff
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There is a nightly closure (10 pm to 6 am) on Going-to-the-Sun Road 1.5 miles north of the West Entrance to Sprague Creek Campground for construction work. On October 1, the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road will close for the season from the four-way intersection at Apgar to Logan Pass due to the Lake McDonald Utilities project and road crew operations.
For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/glacier-national-park-fall-operation-adjustments.htm
Jeff
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Thursday, September 8, 2022
Annual Hawk Watch Event Returns to Glacier
Glacier National Park will host its annual Mount Brown Hawk Watch Program on September 30 from 12 pm to 4 pm near Lake McDonald Lodge. The event has been postponed for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Park biologists will teach volunteers how to identify and count migrating raptors during the event. Biologists, park staff, and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about the integral role of raptors in our ecosystems, the risks they face, and why Glacier has started the Mount Brown Hawk Watch Program. Educators from Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center will also be on site with live raptors between 2 pm and 4 pm to provide close-up looks at some of the raptor species that migrate past Mount Brown.
The event will begin at the Golden Eagle interpretive sign near Jammer Joe’s parking lot; snacks and hot beverages will be provided. Participants should come prepared with their own binoculars. Attendees need not stay for the duration of the program and may also choose to hike to an observation point just below Mount Brown Lookout. People interested in hiking up Mount Brown should call the Glacier Citizen Science Office for hike times and additional details.
Each year in the fall, golden eagles migrate from northern breeding grounds to warmer climates. One of the most important North American golden eagle migration routes passes directly through Glacier National Park along the Continental Divide. Large numbers of other raptors also use this migration corridor during the fall and spring months.
In the mid-1990s biologists documented nearly 2,000 golden eagles migrating past Mount Brown annually. Recent data from outside Glacier National Park indicate significant declines in golden eagle numbers. Due to this concern, the park initiated a Citizen Science Raptor Migration Project in 2011 to investigate possible locations for a Hawk Watch site. Hawk Watch sites are part of an international effort to track long-term raptor population trends using systematic migrating raptor counts. Observers also record data on sex, age, color and behavior of raptors, as well as weather and environmental conditions. To see a map of Hawk Watch sites around the world go to https://www.hawkcount.org/sitesel.php
Glacier National Park Conservancy donors provide support for this program. Contact GLAC_citizen_science@nps.gov or call (406) 888-7986 for more information.
Jeff
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Park biologists will teach volunteers how to identify and count migrating raptors during the event. Biologists, park staff, and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about the integral role of raptors in our ecosystems, the risks they face, and why Glacier has started the Mount Brown Hawk Watch Program. Educators from Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center will also be on site with live raptors between 2 pm and 4 pm to provide close-up looks at some of the raptor species that migrate past Mount Brown.
The event will begin at the Golden Eagle interpretive sign near Jammer Joe’s parking lot; snacks and hot beverages will be provided. Participants should come prepared with their own binoculars. Attendees need not stay for the duration of the program and may also choose to hike to an observation point just below Mount Brown Lookout. People interested in hiking up Mount Brown should call the Glacier Citizen Science Office for hike times and additional details.
Each year in the fall, golden eagles migrate from northern breeding grounds to warmer climates. One of the most important North American golden eagle migration routes passes directly through Glacier National Park along the Continental Divide. Large numbers of other raptors also use this migration corridor during the fall and spring months.
In the mid-1990s biologists documented nearly 2,000 golden eagles migrating past Mount Brown annually. Recent data from outside Glacier National Park indicate significant declines in golden eagle numbers. Due to this concern, the park initiated a Citizen Science Raptor Migration Project in 2011 to investigate possible locations for a Hawk Watch site. Hawk Watch sites are part of an international effort to track long-term raptor population trends using systematic migrating raptor counts. Observers also record data on sex, age, color and behavior of raptors, as well as weather and environmental conditions. To see a map of Hawk Watch sites around the world go to https://www.hawkcount.org/sitesel.php
Glacier National Park Conservancy donors provide support for this program. Contact GLAC_citizen_science@nps.gov or call (406) 888-7986 for more information.
Jeff
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Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Fire Danger Has Increased to High in Grand Teton
Teton Interagency fire managers have elevated the fire danger rating to high for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the National Elk Refuge beginning Tuesday, September 6.
The forecast is for continued warmer and drier weather. Visitors should not be deceived by how green the landscape looks. It is the dead and down timber and dried vegetation (fuels) that could carrying fire, prompting fire managers to elevate the fire danger rating.
A high fire danger rating means fires can start easily and spread quickly. When determining fire danger, fire managers use several indicators such as the moisture content of grasses, shrubs, and trees; projected weather conditions including temperatures and possible wind events; the ability of fire to spread after ignition; and availability of firefighting resources across the country.
Public land users can help prevent wildfires by not having a fire at all and instead dressing in layers and warm clothes.
Fire managers advise recreationists to use caution if choosing to build and maintain a campfire. In areas where campfires are allowed, fires should never be left unattended and must be completely extinguished before you leave the area. So far this year, there have been 99 abandoned campfires in the Teton Interagency Fire area. Unattended or abandoned campfires and warming fires can quickly escalate into wildfires and recreationists can be held liable for suppression costs if their campfire becomes a wildfire.
All campers and day-users should have a shovel on hand and a water bucket ready for use if choosing to have a fire. Soak, stir, feel, repeat. It is extremely important that all campfires are “dead out” and cold to the touch before leaving.
Visit the Teton Interagency Fire web site at TetonFires.com to learn more about fire safety and what fire regulations may be in place. To report a fire or smoke in the immediate area, call the Teton Interagency Fire Dispatch Center at 307.739.3630.
Jeff
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The forecast is for continued warmer and drier weather. Visitors should not be deceived by how green the landscape looks. It is the dead and down timber and dried vegetation (fuels) that could carrying fire, prompting fire managers to elevate the fire danger rating.
A high fire danger rating means fires can start easily and spread quickly. When determining fire danger, fire managers use several indicators such as the moisture content of grasses, shrubs, and trees; projected weather conditions including temperatures and possible wind events; the ability of fire to spread after ignition; and availability of firefighting resources across the country.
Public land users can help prevent wildfires by not having a fire at all and instead dressing in layers and warm clothes.
Fire managers advise recreationists to use caution if choosing to build and maintain a campfire. In areas where campfires are allowed, fires should never be left unattended and must be completely extinguished before you leave the area. So far this year, there have been 99 abandoned campfires in the Teton Interagency Fire area. Unattended or abandoned campfires and warming fires can quickly escalate into wildfires and recreationists can be held liable for suppression costs if their campfire becomes a wildfire.
All campers and day-users should have a shovel on hand and a water bucket ready for use if choosing to have a fire. Soak, stir, feel, repeat. It is extremely important that all campfires are “dead out” and cold to the touch before leaving.
Visit the Teton Interagency Fire web site at TetonFires.com to learn more about fire safety and what fire regulations may be in place. To report a fire or smoke in the immediate area, call the Teton Interagency Fire Dispatch Center at 307.739.3630.
Jeff
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Monday, September 5, 2022
Glacier National Park Fall Operation Adjustments
As the autumn season approaches, operations in the park will start winding down. On September 11, the park’s 2022 vehicle reservation pilot study will end. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and prepare for temporary traffic restrictions at the west entrance due to congestion.
Construction on the Lake McDonald Utilities Project will continue along Going-to-the-Sun Road from the south end of Lake McDonald near Apgar Campground to Sprague Creek Campground through September, causing short delays in both directions during the day. The construction zone will be closed Monday through Saturday, 10 pm to 6 am nightly until October 1.
On October 1, the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road will close for the season from the four-way intersection at Apgar to Logan Pass due to the Lake McDonald Utilities project and road crew operations. On the east side, Going-to-the-Sun Road is scheduled to remain open from St. Mary to Logan Pass until Sunday, October 16 at midnight, unless winter weather forces an earlier closure. There will be no access to potable water at Logan Pass starting September 11.
Hiker/biker access is permitted on the road closure west of Logan Pass to North McDonald Road while the GNP Road Crew is not working. A daily road crew closure will be in place while crews are working. Visitors are advised the return to Logan Pass consists of steep up-hill terrain.
Park shuttles will remain in operation until September 18 with reduced services. Beginning September 6, shuttle service will run from 9 am to 5 pm daily with all stops in service. Wait times may be longer than 20 minutes as there are fewer shuttles on the road. Visitors planning to use the shuttle should check the Shuttle page for additional details.
Logan Pass Visitor Center will continue daily visitor information services through Sunday, September 25. Potable water will be unavailable at Logan Pass starting September 11.
St. Mary Visitor Center will continue daily visitor information services through Sunday, October 2. Potable water will be unavailable at St. Mary after Monday, October 11.
Apgar Visitor Center will continue daily visitor information services through Monday, October 10, and then move to weekends through October 23, weather permitting. Restrooms and potable water are available at the Apgar Visitor Center plaza year-round.
Front country campgrounds will adjust as follows:
* Apgar: Reservation required until September 11, first come-first served through October 3, and primitive status in Loop B only until spring 2023.
* Fish Creek: Reservation required until September 4 closure.
* Sprague Creek: Reservation required until September 11 closure.
* Bowman: First come-first served until September 9 and primitive status until weather dependent closure.
* Kintla: First come-first served until September 8 and primitive status until weather dependent closure.
* Many Glacier: Half reservation, half first come-first served until September 18 and primitive status until October 31 closure.
* St. Mary: First come-first served until September 15 and primitive status in Loop C only until spring 2023.
* Rising Sun: First come-first served until September 8 closure.
* Two Medicine: First come-first served until September 19 and primitive status until weather dependent closure.
Campgrounds in primitive status have vault toilets available and fees are reduced. No campground reservations are issued at primitive campgrounds and all camping is first-come, first-served. Visit the park’s Campground page for additional camping information.
Avalanche Creek, Cut Bank, and Logging Creek campgrounds remained closed during the 2022 season. Quartz Creek Campground is temporarily closed due to the Quartz fire. Visitors may check the Campground page for updates.
Wilderness camping requires a permit, which can be obtained at the Apgar Wilderness Permit Office. The permit office is open 7:30 am to 5 pm through September 30 and 8 am to 4 pm through October 31. Wilderness permits will be issued until 30-minutes prior to closing. Advance reservations for wilderness permits are available until September 23. Walk-in permits are issued up to 24 hours in advance. Check the Wilderness Camping page for more information.
Lake McDonald, Bowman Lake, and Kintla Lake will be the only vehicle accessible bodies of water open to watercraft in the park after September 30. Boat inspection station hours are 7 am to 8 pm daily at Lake McDonald, and 8 am to 4 pm at Polebridge through September 30. Beginning October 1, inspection hours will change to 8 am to 4 pm at both Lake McDonald and Polebridge. All park waters are closed to watercraft beginning November 1.
Concession services (lodging, food service, retail shops, horseback rides, boat and bus tours) have begun winding down. All concessions services will close for the season by the beginning of October. Visitors should check directly with services on the park website for operational hours.
Autumn visitors to Glacier National Park will find cooler temperatures and are encouraged to prepare for shifting weather conditions with potential for rain or snow, especially in alpine areas. As Fall approaches bear activity will increase. Visitors are asked to be mindful of attractant storage requirements and remember that pets are not permitted on trails at any time. Learn more about bear safety on the park’s website.
The park is open year-round and recreational opportunities can be found during all seasons. Winter recreation will be restricted on Going-to-the-Sun Road along Lake McDonald for the 2022-2023 winter season due to the utilities project. For additional information, visit the park’s website or call park headquarters at 406-888-7800.
Jeff
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Construction on the Lake McDonald Utilities Project will continue along Going-to-the-Sun Road from the south end of Lake McDonald near Apgar Campground to Sprague Creek Campground through September, causing short delays in both directions during the day. The construction zone will be closed Monday through Saturday, 10 pm to 6 am nightly until October 1.
On October 1, the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road will close for the season from the four-way intersection at Apgar to Logan Pass due to the Lake McDonald Utilities project and road crew operations. On the east side, Going-to-the-Sun Road is scheduled to remain open from St. Mary to Logan Pass until Sunday, October 16 at midnight, unless winter weather forces an earlier closure. There will be no access to potable water at Logan Pass starting September 11.
Hiker/biker access is permitted on the road closure west of Logan Pass to North McDonald Road while the GNP Road Crew is not working. A daily road crew closure will be in place while crews are working. Visitors are advised the return to Logan Pass consists of steep up-hill terrain.
Park shuttles will remain in operation until September 18 with reduced services. Beginning September 6, shuttle service will run from 9 am to 5 pm daily with all stops in service. Wait times may be longer than 20 minutes as there are fewer shuttles on the road. Visitors planning to use the shuttle should check the Shuttle page for additional details.
Logan Pass Visitor Center will continue daily visitor information services through Sunday, September 25. Potable water will be unavailable at Logan Pass starting September 11.
St. Mary Visitor Center will continue daily visitor information services through Sunday, October 2. Potable water will be unavailable at St. Mary after Monday, October 11.
Apgar Visitor Center will continue daily visitor information services through Monday, October 10, and then move to weekends through October 23, weather permitting. Restrooms and potable water are available at the Apgar Visitor Center plaza year-round.
Front country campgrounds will adjust as follows:
* Apgar: Reservation required until September 11, first come-first served through October 3, and primitive status in Loop B only until spring 2023.
* Fish Creek: Reservation required until September 4 closure.
* Sprague Creek: Reservation required until September 11 closure.
* Bowman: First come-first served until September 9 and primitive status until weather dependent closure.
* Kintla: First come-first served until September 8 and primitive status until weather dependent closure.
* Many Glacier: Half reservation, half first come-first served until September 18 and primitive status until October 31 closure.
* St. Mary: First come-first served until September 15 and primitive status in Loop C only until spring 2023.
* Rising Sun: First come-first served until September 8 closure.
* Two Medicine: First come-first served until September 19 and primitive status until weather dependent closure.
Campgrounds in primitive status have vault toilets available and fees are reduced. No campground reservations are issued at primitive campgrounds and all camping is first-come, first-served. Visit the park’s Campground page for additional camping information.
Avalanche Creek, Cut Bank, and Logging Creek campgrounds remained closed during the 2022 season. Quartz Creek Campground is temporarily closed due to the Quartz fire. Visitors may check the Campground page for updates.
Wilderness camping requires a permit, which can be obtained at the Apgar Wilderness Permit Office. The permit office is open 7:30 am to 5 pm through September 30 and 8 am to 4 pm through October 31. Wilderness permits will be issued until 30-minutes prior to closing. Advance reservations for wilderness permits are available until September 23. Walk-in permits are issued up to 24 hours in advance. Check the Wilderness Camping page for more information.
Lake McDonald, Bowman Lake, and Kintla Lake will be the only vehicle accessible bodies of water open to watercraft in the park after September 30. Boat inspection station hours are 7 am to 8 pm daily at Lake McDonald, and 8 am to 4 pm at Polebridge through September 30. Beginning October 1, inspection hours will change to 8 am to 4 pm at both Lake McDonald and Polebridge. All park waters are closed to watercraft beginning November 1.
Concession services (lodging, food service, retail shops, horseback rides, boat and bus tours) have begun winding down. All concessions services will close for the season by the beginning of October. Visitors should check directly with services on the park website for operational hours.
Autumn visitors to Glacier National Park will find cooler temperatures and are encouraged to prepare for shifting weather conditions with potential for rain or snow, especially in alpine areas. As Fall approaches bear activity will increase. Visitors are asked to be mindful of attractant storage requirements and remember that pets are not permitted on trails at any time. Learn more about bear safety on the park’s website.
The park is open year-round and recreational opportunities can be found during all seasons. Winter recreation will be restricted on Going-to-the-Sun Road along Lake McDonald for the 2022-2023 winter season due to the utilities project. For additional information, visit the park’s website or call park headquarters at 406-888-7800.
Jeff
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Thursday, September 1, 2022
Yellowstone to suspend Tower Junction to Slough Creek visitor vehicle day-use tickets
Beginning Sept. 8, Yellowstone National Park will no longer require visitors to obtain a day-use ticket to drive the 6-mile road corridor between Tower Junction and Slough Creek. The park piloted the day-use program Aug. 3 to expand access to this impacted area in the northern part of Yellowstone following the historic flood event in June. After closely monitoring use in the area, the park found the corridor could safely maintain an increase in day-use capacity.
This road corridor is essentially a dead-end, and people driving large vehicles (buses, long towing units etc.) are asked to be aware that turnaround areas along the Slough Creek Campground Road are limited.
The only section of the Northeast Entrance Road open is from Tower Junction to Slough Creek. The remainder of the Northeast Entrance Road (Lamar Valley east to the barrier near Warm Creek) is closed to all traffic due to significant flood damage. The North (Gardiner, Montana) and Northeast (Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana) entrances are closed with limited access (see below) due to significant flood damage. Visitors wanting to drive the Tower Junction to Slough Creek road corridor will need to enter the park through the West, South or East entrances.
Jeff
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Exploring Grand Teton National Park
This road corridor is essentially a dead-end, and people driving large vehicles (buses, long towing units etc.) are asked to be aware that turnaround areas along the Slough Creek Campground Road are limited.
The only section of the Northeast Entrance Road open is from Tower Junction to Slough Creek. The remainder of the Northeast Entrance Road (Lamar Valley east to the barrier near Warm Creek) is closed to all traffic due to significant flood damage. The North (Gardiner, Montana) and Northeast (Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana) entrances are closed with limited access (see below) due to significant flood damage. Visitors wanting to drive the Tower Junction to Slough Creek road corridor will need to enter the park through the West, South or East entrances.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park