Information from destinationyellowstone.com
Some park areas, entrances and roads are not accessible year-round! From early November through late April, all roads south through the park are closed to wheeled vehicles, including the road to Old Faithful Geyser.
- November 7—all park roads closed to the public at 8 a.m. except from the North Entrance to Upper Mammoth Terrace, and Mammoth via Tower Junction to Northeast Entrance. Cooke City via Colter Pass to the Long Lake gate is not maintained for wheeled vehicle travel.
- The Beartooth Highway (Highway 212) between the junction of Highway 296 and Red Lodge, Montana is closed from the gate at Long Lake, 17 miles from the intersection of WY 296 (Sunlight Basin) and US 212; and at the Montana Stateline, 25 miles from Red Lodge. Travel between Red Lodge, Montana and the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone Park is not possible under the road re-opens in May/June 2012.
- The section of the Beartooth Highway (Highway 212), between the junction of Highway 296 and Red Lodge, Montana, closes will close at Tuesday, October 11th at 8:00 AM, from the gate at Long Lake, 17 miles from the intersection of Wyo. 296 (Sunlight Basin), and US 212; and at the Montana Stateline, 25 miles from Red Lodge at 8 a.m. on October 11, unless
an early snow storm would close the road on the preceding weekend. . Travel between Red Lodge and the Northeast Entrance is not possible on Highway 212 until it opens again in the spring.
2011-12 Winter Oversnow Vehicle Road Opening and Closing Schedule
Winter Opening Dates are Snow Permitting and all dates are subject to change!
- December, 15, 2011 – Most roads open to oversnow travel (weather and snow conditions permitting).
- December 22, 2011 – East Entrance Road (between East Entrance and Fishing Bridge) opens to oversnow travel.
Only two park roads are plowed in the winter and remain open for wheeled-vehicle use:
- The road between the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to the Northeast Entrance at Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana.
- From Mammoth Hot Springs to the parking area at the Upper Terraces (approximately 1/2 mile of road)
They are maintained only during daylight hours and may close during severe storms. Expect snowpack, ice, frost heaves, drifts. Mud/Snow tires or tire chains may be required and are recommended always. Speed limit for all vehicles is 45 mph (73 kph), or lower where posted—such as from North Entrance to Mammoth. Do not stop on the road or block traffic when viewing wildlife or scenery. Use pullouts. Trails and overlooks may be snow-covered, icy, and dangerous. Obey all trail closures. Walk cautiously at all times and watch your children.
Oversnow travel ends in March. Roads close at 9 PM on the days listed:
- March 1, 2012 – East Entrance to Lake Butte (Sylvan Pass.)
- March 4 - Mammoth to Norris closes at 9 pm
- March 6 - Norris Junction to Madison JJunction and Norris Junction to Canyon closes at 9 pm
- March 11 – Canyon to Fishing Bridge closes at 9 pm
- March 15, 2012 – All other groomed roads in the park are closed
