YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — A large section of Yellowstone National Park reopened Wednesday, just two weeks after massive flooding caused the National Park Service to close it.
The flooding happened at the beginning of the park’s busy summer tourism season.
What’s Closed and What’s Open
Yellowstone’s south loop reopened to the public June 22. The north loop will remained closed for the foreseeable future, according to the park service.
The northern loop plans to reopen within the next two weeks, which is far earlier than first expected. That means visitors will be able to access Dunraven Pass, Tower, Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris.
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With plans to open the north loop, visitors will have access to about 80% of Yellowstone National Park by early July, according to a news release from the National Parks Service.
The National Park Service said it is working with the Federal Highway Administration on a range of temporary and permanent options to restore access to Silver Gate and Cooke City at the park’s northeast entrance.
Getting into the Park
If you plan on visiting Yellowstone this summer, the National Parks Service expects you to follow a schedule called the Alternating License Plate System.
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It is in place to make sure the south loop doesn’t become overwhelmed with people trying to visit.
- License plates with an odd-numbered final digit can only enter the park on odd days of the month
- License plates with an even-numbered final digit (including zero) can only enter on even days of the month
- Personalized plates with a mix of letters and numbers that end with a letter will enter depending on the last number on the tag
- Personalized plates without numbers are only allowed to enter on odd days of the month
- Motorcycle groups traveling together may only enter on even dates
- If you are towing an RV, with no in-park overnight reservations, the vehicle being driven will be the plate number used to enter
Staff will turn away vehicles attempting to enter the park on the wrong day according to the National Park Service.
There are some visitors who are allowed to enter on any day of the month. Those visitors are as follows:
- Visitors with proof of overnight reservations in the park
- Includes hotels, campgrounds and backcountry reservations
- Must show printed or digital reservation confirmation — DOWNLOAD RESERVATION CONFIRMATION BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE PARK because cell service is spotty. All vehicles in the reservation need their own copy.
- Current commercial use operators with active commercial use permits
- Commercial motor coaches
- Essential services like mail and delivery, employees, and contractors
- Bicyclists or visitors walking into the park
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Keep in mind while making reservations and planning the following issues:
- Dining Reservations
- There is not an exception for visitors with dining reservations, so make sure you make a reservation based on the license plate of the car you plan to drive
- Gateway Communities
- You can only travel through the park on days that correspond to your license plate, even if you have a reservation in a gateway community and must access it by driving through the park
The National Park Service listed additional information and answers to commonly asked questions on its website.
Park Attractions
Not sure what’s open and what’s closed inside Yellowstone? The National Park Service made it easy for you to check. This Yellowstone planning site through the park service lists everything that is open and closed inside the park, including the area around Old Faithful.
Use the website to make sure the things you want to see are actually open before heading to the park.
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