Yellowstone National Park reopens today after the U.S. government shutdown ended last night, with most of the roads accessible for the final weeks of the fall season.

It could be upwards of two million years before the next eruption of the Yellowstone hotspot, as researchers extrapolate potential events based on the past history of the Yellowstone volcanic activity.

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

This could have been much worse: a single-engine Piper 180 aircraft crashed in Yellowstone National Park Friday night near the Sylvan Pass, with the pilot and a passenger treated for minor injuries.

Yeah, we know it’s been a lot of doom and gloom here with the Yellowstone shutdown, but here’s some news that should brighten your day: The Albright Visitor Center in Mammoth Hot Springs is scheduled for renovations next summer.

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.