07/13/2022
⚠️ 7/12 FLOOD UPDATE ⚠️
Yellowstone will reopen Slough Creek for overnight backcountry use July 13. Located in the northern area of the park, Slough Creek is one of the park's most visited backcountry areas. In addition, bicycles will be allowed to enter the North and Northeast Entrance roads for a limited distance. The park closed immediately following a historic flood event in June and has rapidly reopened areas when safe to do so. Approximately 93% of paved roads and 88% of Yellowstone's backcountry will now be open!
Slough Creek
▪️Starting July 13, public access to Slough Creek from Tower Junction will be limited to overnight backcountry permit holders, stock outfitters, and approved commercial guides and operators.
▪️Park staff will coordinate directly with current backcountry permit holders and commercial operators to allow them to enter/exit the area during daylight hours.
▪️At this time, outside of permit holders allowed into the corridor (as described above), visitors will not be allowed on the 6-mile segment of road from Tower Junction to the Slough Creek Campground Road until further notice. This is largely due to limited traffic capacity on this section of road, the road closure after Slough Creek, construction traffic, and other factors that are being monitored as the road partially opens. The park will monitor use within this corridor and determine if expanded day use can occur at a later date.
Parkwide
▪️Currently 88% of Yellowstone’s backcountry is open to overnight and day use.
▪️Currently 88% of the 1,000 miles of park trails are open with 12% closed due to historic flooding. The majority of closed trails are in the northern portion of the park.
▪️Currently 88% of the 293 backcountry campsites in the park are open with 12% closed due to limited access, flood impacts, and high water.
▪️Crews are continuing to evaluate damage and make repairs throughout the park.
North and Northeast Entrances
▪️The North Entrance Road (Gardiner, MT to Mammoth Hot Springs) and Northeast Entrance Road (Cooke City/Silver Gate, MT to Tower-Roosevelt) remain closed to vehicular traffic while temporary repairs are completed.
▪️Visitors can now access the park on bicycles and by foot through these entrances.
👉From the North Entrance, cyclists can travel 1 mile to the Rescue Creek Trailhead.
👉From the Northeast Entrance, cyclists can travel 6 miles to the Barronette Meadows area.
Temporary and extremely limited access from the North Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs
▪️A temporary and extremely limited access road (Old Gardiner Road) between the North Entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs is currently an active construction zone and being converted to two lanes before winter.
▪️At this time, ONLY approved personnel and limited commercial use authorization holders are allowed on the road.
▪️Normal visitor vehicular traffic, bicycles, pedestrians and horses are not allowed.
▪️Visitors may access the park through the North Entrance through approved guiding and outfitting services.
‼For more information, including details about backcountry access, ongoing flood recovery efforts, and FAQ's, visit: go.nps.gov/220613
