Yellowstone National Park opens for “summer”

Though there’s still plenty of snow on the ground, Yellowstone National Park is open for business today, with the West and North Entrances providing access to the Old Faithful area.

It’s been a confusing spring for fans of America’s oldest national park: sequestration caused Park officials to announce that winter plowing would be delayed because of a lack of funds, but communities in the area (Cody and Jackson, Wyoming) chipped in to underwrite the costs of preparing the roads for a spring cleanup.

If you go, be prepared for some snow, especially in the southern part of the Park. There’s still snow on the ground around Old Faithful Geyser, for instance. And with sudden snowstorms popping up this spring, be sure to pack

You can consider today a “soft” opening of the Park, with precious few services available. Restroom facilities will be available at Madison Junction and Old Faithful, with pay-at-the-pump fuel available 24 hours a day at both the Upper and Lower Service Stations.

If you can’t make it over the weekend, consider a trip during the coming week. Park entrance fees will be waived April 22-26 as part of National Park Week.  A seven-day pass to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks is normally $25 for a private, non-commercial vehicle.

Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.