Northeast entrance is still under 10 feet of snow :-( BUT


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Posted by Granite Head (69.163.85.128) on 15:00:52 04/04/18

In Reply to: Visitor info posted by Carol

As you know, the direct route from Laurel via Red Lodge takes you over the beautiful Beartooth Range, but the pass is NOT going to be plowed out until the latter part of May, at the earliest. See the link below.
However, unless there's a freak of weather, you can get back on I-90 and drive west to Livingston, turn south towards Gardiner and come in the north entrance, which on April 23 will be the only access on that side of the park.
There's plenty to see and do regardless of where you are. Coming in north entrance will give you the opportunity to explore Mammoth Hot Springs thermal area, and to make your way through the Northern Range where there will be plenty of bison and pronghorns, and with any luck you could get a look at wolves, coyotes, foxes, moose, elk, deer, marmots, badgers, an assortment of birds, and certainly bears including mothers with cubs. The photo is of the first bear I saw last spring, April 13 2017, a large(probably male) black bear. That same day I watched a male grizzly; he wasn't as close, wildlife often isn't, so if you enjoy animal-watching, bring binoculars. If there are wolves around you'll know it by all the people in the pullouts with spotting scopes set up. They're always happy to show you what they see if you show the least bit of enthusiasm :-)
You can drive all the way from Mammoth to Cooke City, a couple of miles outside northeast entrance, but not beyond, you'll have to backtrack to get back to Laurel if you go that far. So it would be a long day (shortened a bit if you don't go all the way to the northeast entrance) but my vote would be to do it, even if it's like speed-dating just to get a taste of what the park is like.
Let us know if there's anything else we can offer to make it easier for you to decide!




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