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Yellowstone National Park 2021 Spring Bike Opening





National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior


Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2021              21-008


Morgan Warthin
Phone: 307-344-2015
Email: yell_public_affairs@nps.gov


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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
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Spring Bicycling Begins on Select Yellowstone Roads
Cyclists - Anticipate Harzards and Vehicles on the Roads


Bicyclists - Must Plan Ahead for Safety.


Mammoth Hot Springs, WY - Beginning Wednesday, March 31, bicyclists willing to brave the unpredictable elements of spring can cycle select roads in Yellowstone National Park. Road segments include Mammoth Hot Springs to Willow Park and the West Entrance to Roaring Mountain. Until conditions improve, it will not be possible to bicycle between Mammoth Hot Springs and the West Entrance because the road construction area (about five miles between Willow Park and Roaring Mountain) is under construction, unpaved, deeply rutted, and muddy.


The following sections of the Grand Loop Road between the West Entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs are now open to cycling:


     • West Entrance to Madison Junction

     • Madison Junction to Norris Junction

     • Norris Junction to Mammoth Hot Springs


      On April 2, the road from Norris Junction to Mammoth Hot Springs will close to all travel from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to allow for heavy equipment operations. It will reopen at 4:30 p.m.


There is no bicycle access to Old Faithful or Canyon until the first interior park roads open to public motorized vehicle at 8:00 AM on Friday, April 16th, 2021.

 

As conditions allow, bicycles will be permitted from the East Entrance to the east end of Sylvan Pass, and the South Entrance to West Thumb. Check the Spring and Fall Bicycling web page for the status of the road segments.


There is no bicycle access to Old Faithful or Canyon until those interior park roads open to public motorized vehicle access on Friday, April 16th.


Electric or pedal-assist bikes are not allowed on park roads when they are closed to motorized, public travel. Check the Park Roads web page for 2021 spring opening dates to public vehicles.


A spring bicycle trip into Yellowstone must be taken seriously. Quickly changing weather can be challenging. Roads may close temporarily due to weather conditions. Snow and ice may still cover sections of road. Tall snow banks may line roads and pullouts may be snow packed. Wildlife may be on the roads.


Bicyclists will likely encounter and must yield to snowplows and other motorized vehicles operated by park employees or construction workers readying the park for spring opening. Bicyclists are required to ride single file and follow all other rules of the road.


Bicyclists should prepare to encounter bears, bison, elk, wolves, and other wildlife at any time. It’s illegal to approach wildlife, within any distance that disturbs or displaces the animal. Riders are strongly encouraged to turn around if they encounter wildlife on the road and carry bear spray. Riders must stay out of closed areas.


No services are available along these sections of road. Cell phone coverage throughout the park is sparse and unreliable for communicating emergencies. Riders should plan for self-rescue or repair, and be prepared to spend an extended period of time in winter conditions in the event they experience a mechanical breakdown, injury, or other emergency.


A spring bicycle trip in Yellowstone must be taken seriously for these reasons:

      • Snowplows and other motorized vehicles operated by park employees or construction workers on the road

      • Quickly changing weather conditions

      • Temporary road closures due to weather conditions

      • Snow and ice covering sections of road

      • Roads lined with tall snow banks and pullouts packed with snow

      • Wildlife on roads

      • No services available

Stay safe while cycling in Yellowstone by following these guidelines:

      • Only ride during daylight hours.

      • Anticipate encountering bears, bison, elk, wolves, and other wildlife.

      • Turn around if wildlife are on the road. It’s illegal to approach wildlife, within any distance that disturbs or displaces the animal.

      • Carry bear spray.

      • Stay out of closed areas.

      • Ride single file and follow all other rules of the road.

      • Plan for self-rescue or repair. Cell phone coverage throughout the park is sparse and unreliable for communicating emergencies.

      • Prepare to spend an extended period of time in winter conditions in the event of a mechanical breakdown, injury, or other emergency.


The road from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to Silver Gate / Cooke City, Montana, at the park's Northeast Entrance is open all year to cyclists and automobiles, weather permitting. Some interior park roads don't open to automobile travel until Memorial Day weekend.


Cyclists can call 307-344-2109 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays for updated road access information, or call 307-344-2113 for 24-hour weather information before committing to any ride in the park.


Updated Yellowstone National Park road information is available 24 hours a day at: http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm or by calling: 307-344-2117.



Spring Biking Information and Map - NPS Graphic West Yellowstone, Montana Gardiner, Montana Cooke City, Montana Silver Gate, Montana

Cleck here for an Adobe pdf file Spring Biking Flyer.



~ ~ Yellowstone Biking ~ ~




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