Yellowstone Insider Your Complete Guide to America's First National Park
It’s that time of year again: spring biking in Yellowstone National Park!
According to a Yellowstone press release, starting today, March 27, cyclists can journey into Yellowstone and relish 49 miles of roadway between the West Entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs.
Alas, you won’t be able to bike down to Old Faithful or up to Canyon Village until later in the spring, when the roads open to cars once more. Motorized vehicle travel is slated to begin Friday, April 21.
As always, spring biking in Yellowstone is not for the faint of heart. From the press release:
A bicycle trip into Yellowstone this time of year is not to be undertaken lightly. The quickly changing weather can be challenging. Snow and ice may still cover sections of road. Tall snow banks may line roads and pullouts be may be snow packed.
Bicyclists are required to ride single file and follow all other rules of the road. Cyclists should expect to encounter and yield to snowplows or other motorized vehicles operated by park employees or construction workers traveling in conjunction with park operations.
Bicyclists should be prepared to encounter bears, bison, elk, wolves, and other wildlife at any time. Riders are strongly encouraged to carry bear spray, be prepared to turn around when encountering wildlife on the road, and must stay out of closed areas.
Cyclists should also be circumspect with regards to weather. As you may know, conditions can change at the drop of a hat in Yellowstone National Park.
In addition, cellphone coverage across Yellowstone is spotty, meaning you might not be able to contact emergency personnel right away.
If you do decide to go spring biking in Yellowstone, be sure and prepare for severe winter conditions. Especially, be prepared to hunker down and wait it out if you don’t turn around right away.
For up-to-date information on road and weather conditions, please call 307-344-2109. This number is available between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. 24-hour road information is available by calling 307-344-2117. You can also see up-to-date Yellowstone road conditions here.
