Tag Archives: Yellowstone National Park

Two citizens groups met outside the North and East entrances yesterday with a simple request for federal officials: Reopen Yellowstone National Park.

Several states, including Utah, are paying the federal government to reopen National Parks closed by the federal shutdown, but there appears to be little appetite for opening Yellowstone National Park for the rest of the season.

Over 10 trespassing violations have been issued to interlopers in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks following the government shutdown last week.

More sad news to pass along regarding the ripple effects of the federal government shutdown: the nonprofit Yellowstone Association is furloughing employees and scaling back on its planned contribution to Yellowstone operations.

The combination of the government shutdown and a fall snowstorm closing the Chief Joseph Highway stranded Yellowstone tourists in Cooke City, with no immediate way out of the national park.

With the current government shutdown in its second day, Congressional observers say it could be a matter of weeks before a resolution is in sight — which would close down Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks for the rest of the current season.

Both sides appear to be going to the mattresses, as a government stalemate leading to a federal shutdown could impact Yellowstone National Park through a scheduled closing date.

In the event there is a government shutdown tonight, visitors will be immediately asked to leave Yellowstone National Park, and those staying overnight will be asked to leave in the next few days.

Yellowstone National Park visitation is over 2.5 million for 2013, with the vast majority of those visits — over 2.1 million — coming in June, July and August.

The six fires comprising the Druid Fire Complex continue to smoulder in Yellowstone National Park, with activity expected to diminish despite warmer weather and the chance of thunderstorms over the weekend.