Yellowstone Gate

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Guide dies attempting to rescue kayaker in Yellowstone Lake

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A commercial guide leading a group of kayakers in Yellowstone National Park died Wednesday after attempting to rescue a client who capsized in the frigid waters of Yellowstone Lake. Timothy Hayden Ryan Conant, 23, from Salt Lake City, Utah, died after rangers responding to a cal for help found in the water in the West Thumb area of Yellowstone Lake, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office. One of nine kayakers being led on the trip by three guides had capsized, and was rescued by other guides while Conant was also attempting to assist. Guides brought the client to short before rangers arrived on scene to help Conant. The client was transported to the park clinic and treated for hypothermia. Continue Reading →

Filed under: News, Yellowstone, fatality, kayak, safety, west thumb

Yellowstone hiker dies after apparent fall

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MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WYO. – After a day of searching for a missing hiker, crews in Yellowstone National Park on Friday found the body of man who park officials believe died following a fall. Jeff Murphy, 53, from Batavia, Illinois went for a day hike June 7 on the Rescue Creek Trail near the park’s North Entrance. The park initiated the search on June 8 when Mr. Murphy’s wife reported that he failed to check in. Murphy’s death appears to have resulted from a fall on Turkey Pen Peak, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Yellowstone, fatality, safety

Yellowstone road opens for ‘spring bicycling’ season

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A bicyclist rides past freshly plowed snow along the road between Norris and Canyon Village in this 2012 file photo.

Bicyclists willing to brave the unpredictable elements of spring in Yellowstone National Park can now travel 49 miles of newly plowed park roads from the West Entrance at West Yellowstone, Mont., to Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyo. 
There is no bicycle access to Old Faithful or Canyon until the first interior park roads open to public motorized vehicle access on Friday, April 21. 
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. Continue Reading →

Filed under: bikes, cycling, roads, schedule

Grand Teton road opens to bicyclists

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Grand Teton National Park’s Teton Park Road between the Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge has been cleared of snow and is now open to non-motorized recreational uses such as walking, bicycling, and rollerblading. Recreationists should be alert for park vehicles that periodically travel this roadway for administrative purposes as spring opening operations continue. Road crews may be clearing auxiliary roads and wayside areas, and visitors are cautioned to keep a safe distance from rotary plows and other heavy equipment. Recreationists are cautioned that snow and ice may persist on some sections of the roadway creating slick conditions. Dogs are permitted on the Teton Park Road, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Grand Teton, roads, schedule

First grizzly bears of spring spotted in Yellowstone National Park

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A few grizzly bears have been spotted emerging from hibernation in Yellowstone National Park.

Spring is officially a few days away, but after a bearish winter, the first grizzly of the season has been spotted in Yellowstone National Park. 
Early Wednesday morning, March 15, a park employee observed a grizzly bear between Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower-Roosevelt, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office. It is the first confirmed bear sighting this year, although bear tracks have been observed since February 22. Later in the morning, park staff saw two more grizzly bears scavenging carcasses in the northern part of the park.   
When bears emerge from hibernation they look for food and often feed on elk, bison and other animals that died over the winter. Sometimes, bears will react aggressively while feeding on carcasses. 
All of Yellowstone National Park and much of the surrounding area is bear country. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Wildlife, Yellowstone, grizzly bears, saftey

Snow briefly closes east entrance to Yellowstone

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Two motorists pause at a pull-out atop Sylvan Pass to discuss snowy road conditions Tuesday in Yellowstone National Park.

The East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park was briefly closed Tuesday after steady snowfall Monday made travel over Sylvan Pass too hazardous. Several inches of snow accumulated along the 8,524-foot pass, and park officials closed the pass in the early morning hours of Tuesday until about mid-day.The road between Cody, Wyo. and Fishing Bridge was re-opened around 11 a.m., and traffic was moving smoothly over the pass early Tuesday afternoon, despite continuing snowfall. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Gateway Towns, Yellowstone

Yellowstone south entrance reopens after closure due to wildfire

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Authorities have closed the main connector road between the south end of Yellowstone National Park and northern border of Grand Teton National Park after a wildfire that started last month has grown to nearly 7,000 acres. The closure means vacation travelers must detour at least 150 miles to move between the neighboring parks, which are connected by an 8-mile scenic parkway. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Grand Teton, Yellowstone, berry fire, closures, fire, road closures, safety, south entrance

Yellowstone roads begin opening to autos for season

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Spring is a great time to see Yellowstone National Park as the landscape begins to shed its winter garb of ice and snow. Animals are becoming more active with the change of season, and newborn wildlife begin moving through the park. Most importantly for local residents, it's a chance to visit Yellowstone before the summer crowds arrive, bringing traffic and congestion to the world's first national park. Road segments throughout the park will follow a staggered opening in the next few weeks, with the road from West Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone already open for the season, allowing visitors to travel by car to two of the park’s iconic locations. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Gateway Towns, Yellowstone, spring, traffic

Yellowstone invites anglers to annual spring meetings

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Wildlife officials are working to restore native fish species like Yellowstone cutthroat trout to waters across the region.

Yellowstone National Park staff members will travel to gateway communities next week to talk with anglers about the ongoing efforts to restore native fish species, the threat of aquatic invasive species, and the park’s fishing regulations. In addition to the general public, local fly shop employees and fishing guides are encouraged to attend the outreach meetings. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Gateway Towns, Wildlife, Yellowstone, fishing