THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
The National Park Service (NPS) signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and associated Wetlands/Floodplains Statement of Findings (SOF) to reconstruct the North Entrance Road between Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, and Gardiner, Montana, in Yellowstone National Park.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park hosted 856,467 recreation visits in August 2026, down 3% from August 2025 (881,936 recreation visits).
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The Department of the Interior today announced that Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cameron “Cam” Sholly will conclude nearly three decades of federal service and almost eight years leading America’s first national park.
Official NPS source
Effective Friday, Sept. 4, the remaining fishing restrictions on the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon (downstream of Norris Campground) rivers and all associated tributaries will be lifted due to cooling weather and water temperatures. Anglers will be able to fish these rivers, in addition to most other park rivers, streams and lakes, daily from sunrise to sunset as specified in the 2026 Fishing Regulations booklet.
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Beginning Aug. 31, Yellowstone National Park will temporarily close Buffalo Creek, a tributary of Slough Creek in the northern part of the park, for treatment to remove invasive fish as part of ongoing conservation efforts to preserve native species. It will reopen to the public on Sept. 7.
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Grand Teton National Park is entering the next phase of several major construction projects, bringing changes to visitor access at Taggart Lake Trailhead and along the Moose-Wilson Road corridor. Visitors should plan ahead for changing conditions, follow posted closures and allow additional time when traveling through construction areas.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service has approved an amendment to the Record of Decision for the Moose-Wilson Corridor Comprehensive Management Plan in Grand Teton National Park.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park hosted 958,706 recreation visits in July 2026, down 2% from July 2025 (975,109 recreation visits).
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Celebrate America’s Story at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area During National Park Week Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area invites visitors of all ages to “Celebrate America’s Story” during National Park Week, August 22–30, 2026, and to take part in a full season of engaging programs running through September. With hands-on activities, stewardship opportunities, and adventures on land and water, Bighorn Canyon offers a memorable way to experience the landscapes and stories that define our nation.
Official NPS sourceGrand Teton National Park, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Western Federal Lands Highway Division, will begin a roadway rehabilitation project on North Park Road (U.S. Route 89/191/287) starting in early August. The project is expected to take about two months to complete.
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Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Fort Laramie National Historic Site will spotlight the rich history of the 1830s Fur Trade on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, 2026.
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Grand Teton National Park will temporarily close a section of Moose-Wilson Road on Tuesday, July 28, Wednesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 30 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
Official NPS source
Beginning Saturday, Aug. 1, people may apply to the 2026-2027 winter lottery for permits to snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park without a commercial guide.
Official NPS sourceGrand Teton National Park will temporarily close a section of Moose-Wilson Road on Tuesday, July 21, and Wednesday, July 22, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to allow crews to safely complete a critical phase of ongoing road construction.
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The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now HIGH.
Official NPS sourceThe Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has confirmed a second case of measles in Teton County.
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Yellowstone National Park hosted 903,025 recreation visits in June 2026, down 3% from June 2025 (928,250 recreation visits).
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Yellowstone has lifted the remaining temporary trail, backcountry campsite and fishing closures near Old Faithful that were put in place after a May 4 bear incident in which two hikers were injured by an adult female grizzly bear with cubs.
Official NPS sourceGrand Teton National Park law enforcement rangers will conduct a series of high-visibility enforcement (HVE) operations throughout the summer to promote safe driving behaviors and reduce serious traffic incidents in the park.
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Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is excited to share a variety of programs in July.
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An update on facilities and operations at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area for America 250.
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A 12-year-old visitor was injured by a bison in Yellowstone National Park on June 26 at approximately 9:15 a.m.
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If you plan to visit Yellowstone National Park this Fourth of July, plan ahead to protect yourself and this wild and awe-inspiring place. Summer is the busiest time in the park, so please pack your patience. Expect crowds at popular areas and lines at entrance stations, construction areas, and roadside wildlife sightings.
Official NPS source
Visitors hiking to Delta Lake in Grand Teton National Park this summer should expect temporary delays and work zones as restoration and improvements take place along the heavily traveled route.
Official NPS sourceGrand Teton National Park will reopen the northern section of Moose-Wilson Road between the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and Moose to through traffic on June 19, marking a major milestone in the park’s 2026 construction season.
Official NPS source
On the morning of June 8, occupants of a vessel on Yellowstone Lake discovered the body of a 41-year-old male, Brandon Rhea of Denver, Colorado, floating in the water near Rock Point on the northwest shore of the lake near Bridge Bay.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service has selected Grand Teton Lodge Company to provide lodging, food and beverage, retail, and other services at Grand Teton National Park.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park hosted 570,272 recreation visits in May 2026, up 1% from May 2025 (566,363 recreation visits).
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The Beartooth Highway (US-212) from Red Lodge to Cooke City, Montana, is now open for the season.
Official NPS source
This summer, visitors to Yellowstone National Park are being urged to plan ahead – both to stay safe and to help protect one of America’s most iconic wild landscapes.
Official NPS sourceGrand Teton National Park will open its 2026 summer season with a series of significant infrastructure improvement projects that may impact road and trail access in some areas through mid-November.
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Bighorn National Recreation Area is launching its new “Reel” Fun Adventures program series this summer, offering hands-on fishing experiences for youth, families, and first-time anglers.
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As part of ongoing monitoring efforts to document recovery of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with Yellowstone National Park, is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within Yellowstone National Park. Agency biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will begin the field captures May 1 and continue through Oct. 15.
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The roads in the Yellowtail Habitat are open and cleared of hazardous trees thanks to the work of United States Forest Service, National Park Service and Wyoming Game and Fish crews.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone entrances and roads scheduled to open at 8 a.m. Friday, April 17 will instead open at noon due to a significant winter storm with heavy snow, low temperatures and strong winds.
Official NPS sourceJoin Bighorn Canyon staff and volunteers for the annual Junior Ranger Day scavenger hunt on April 18, 2026. This year the park is celebrating its 60th anniversary and the Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center’s 50th anniversary. The theme of the scavenger hunt is ‘Then and Now’.
Official NPS sourceGrand Teton National Park is planning a 196-acre prescribed fire near Mormon Row, starting as early as April 9, if conditions allow.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park reminds boaters and anglers to clean, drain and dry all boats, trailers and equipment prior to arriving in the park to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) into park waters. In 2026, boating season begins May 23 and extends through Oct. 31.
Official NPS source
The Kane Fire is now 100 percent contained.
Official NPS sourceThe Kane Fire is now 75 percent contained, showing strong progress as firefighters continue their work. With fire activity decreasing, the number of personnel assigned to the fire is being reduced, with about half of crews beginning to leave the area today.
Official NPS source
Fire crews took advantage of a delay in predicted winds yesterday allowing for continued strong progress on the Kane Fire. Containment has increased to 50 percent and total acreage has been confirmed at 1915 acres.
Official NPS sourceIt’s officially spring at Grand Teton National Park. The 14-mile section of the Teton Park Road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge is cleared of snow and open to walking, running, biking and skating.
Official NPS source
Fire crews made significant progress on the Kane Fire yesterday, increasing containment to 30 percent. Due to these efforts, firefighters are in a strong position moving forward and will continue working to safely suppress the fire and secure containment lines.
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The Kane Fire remains approximately 1900 acres and Wildland fire managers estimate the fire’s containment at 10%. Additional Wildland fire crews from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Wildland Fire Service, and cooperating agencies continue to assist with suppression efforts.
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The Kane Fire grew to approximately 1900 acres Sunday night and fire managers estimate the fire’s containment at 10%. Additional Fire Crews from Forest Service, BLM and cooperating agencies arrived Sunday evening.
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A wildfire was reported in the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area on Saturday March 21 at 5pm. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and an investigation to the cause in ongoing.
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Yellowstone National Park welcomed 4,762,988 recreation visits in 2025.
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On March 9, Yellowstone biologists working in the northern part of the park reported seeing the first grizzly bear of the spring season. The bear was observed in the backcountry scavenging on a bull bison carcass.
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Starting this year, Yellowstone National Park will extend the fishing season on three rivers in the park.
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The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is seeking public input on an environmental assessment (EA) for the reconstruction of the new permanent North Entrance Road in Yellowstone National Park. Goals for the new road alignment include continuing to provide year-round access between Gardiner and Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana, improving the road’s safety, and ensuring long-term visitor access while protecting natural and cultural resources.
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Yellowstone National Park’s winter season begins Monday, Dec. 15.
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Grand Teton National Park, in partnership with Grand Teton National Park Foundation, is proud to announce the completion of a multi-year effort to transform three of the most popular access points along the Snake River: Moose Landing, Pacific Creek Landing, and Jackson Lake Dam.
Official NPS sourceThe parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now HIGH and Stage 1 fire restrictions that went into effect August 12 have been lifted.
Official NPS source
On the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 16, a male, age 29, sustained injuries from a bear while hiking on the Turbid Lake Trail, located northeast of Mary Bay in Yellowstone Lake.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service (NPS) is now accepting proposals for a 15-year business opportunity in Grand Teton National Park to provide lodging, campgrounds, food and beverage and other visitor services.
Official NPS sourceOn Sunday, September 7, 2025, nonprofit search and recovery organization Bruce’s Legacy located a body believed to be Wesley Dopkins in Jackson Lake.
Official NPS source
Effective immediately, select rivers and streams that were partially closed to fishing due to warm water temperatures and low flows are now open without restrictions. There are currently no temperature-related restrictions in place parkwide.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park hosted 881,936 recreation visits in August 2025, up 2% from August 2024 (868,259 recreation visits).
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As part of ongoing monitoring efforts to document recovery of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with Yellowstone National Park, is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within Yellowstone National Park. Agency biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will begin the field captures Sept. 1 and continue through Oct. 15.
Official NPS sourceGrand Teton National Park is moving forward with a project to enhance visitor access and improve facilities at the popular Taggart Lake trail area and would like public input about the proposed improvements.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park hosted 975,109 recreation visits in July 2025, down 2% from July 2024 (992,352 recreation visits).
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Stage 1 fire restrictions will go into effect Aug. 12 in Yellowstone National Park due to the VERY HIGH fire danger level.
Official NPS source
On the afternoon of July 30, Yellowstone helitack crews detected the Ash Fire in the Bechler area located in the southwest corner of Yellowstone National Park.
Official NPS sourceTeton Interagency Fire managers have elevated the fire danger rating to “very high” for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge. Conditions in the Teton Interagency Dispatch area are drying rapidly, and a fire may start easily, spread rapidly and burn intensely
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On Monday morning, July 28, a 17-year-old male suffered significant thermal burns to his foot and ankle area in the vicinity of Lone Star Geyser near Old Faithful.
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Teton Interagency Fire crews continued suppression efforts Sunday on the Signal Flat Fire, which remains estimated at 7.8 acres and is now 100% contained.
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Beginning Friday, Aug. 1, people may apply to the 2025-2026 winter lottery for permits to snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park without a commercial guide. Authorized in 2013, the Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program allows permit holders to enter the park for up to three days with a group of up to five snowmobilers.
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At approximately 5 p.m. July 11, Yellowstone National Park staff lethally removed an adult female black bear following a series of concerning incidents at a backcountry campsite located in the Blacktail Deer Creek drainage in the northern part of the park.
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Yellowstone National Park hosted 928,250 recreation visits in June 2025, up 1% from June 2024 (914,612 recreation visits).
Official NPS sourceA 30-year-old man from El Paso, Texas, drowned in Jackson Lake near Swim Beach in the Colter Bay area of Grand Teton National Park on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 2.
Official NPS sourceGrand Teton National Park is preparing for a busy Fourth of July holiday and urges visitors to plan ahead, check conditions, and recreate responsibly.
Official NPS source
Leave fireworks at home – it's wildfire season! If you will visit Yellowstone National Park this Fourth of July, plan ahead to protect yourself and this wild and awe-inspiring place. Summer is the busiest time in the park, so please pack your patience. Expect crowds at popular areas and lines at entrance stations, construction areas, and roadside wildlife sightings. Follow our tips enjoy your visit and protect the park for generations to come.
Official NPS sourceAround 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, Grand Teton National Park rangers responded to reports of multiple high-end luxury sports cars drag racing on both lanes of the Teton Park Road and creating a variety of hazardous driving conditions for other visitors.
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Teton Interagency Fire managers have elevated the fire danger rating to “high” for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge.
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Effective Thursday, June 19, 2025, select Yellowstone National Park rivers and streams will close to fishing daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise the following day due to warm water temperatures and low river flows.
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Yellowstone National Park hosted 566,363 recreation visits in May 2025, up 8% from May 2024 (522,450 recreation visits).
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On June 10, a 30-year-old man from Randolph, New Jersey, was injured by a bison in Yellowstone National Park.
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On Monday May 26, the first confirmed wildland fire of the season in Yellowstone National Park was detected by hikers on the Bighorn Pass Trail.
Official NPS source
If you plan to travel to Yellowstone National Park this summer, plan ahead to protect yourself and this wild and awe-inspiring place.
Official NPS sourceBiologists with the U.S. National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey will conduct bear capture operations in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway from May 24 to October 15.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park staff trapped and killed an 11-year-old male grizzly bear on May 14 after the bear repeatedly sought out human food sources in developed areas of the park.
Official NPS sourceOn the morning of Tuesday, May 13, Grand Teton National Park staff discovered the carcasses of two yearling grizzly bears in a closed area south of Colter Bay.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service plans to improve and expand recreation opportunities at Mormon Row, one of the most photographed locations in Grand Teton National Park.
Official NPS sourceOn May 4, 2025, a 47-year-old man from Cape Coral, Florida, was injured by a bison in Yellowstone National Park.
Official NPS sourceOn Tuesday May 6, 2025, Grand Teton National Park law enforcement rangers found a deceased grizzly bear along Highway 26 within the park east of the Buffalo Fork River.
Official NPS sourceFamilies and aspiring Junior Rangers of all ages are invited to participate in Junior Ranger Day Saturday, May 3. This free, public event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose and is hosted by Grand Teton National Park with support from community partners.
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Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 18, 2025, select entrances and roads in Yellowstone National Park will open for the summer season, weather permitting, as part of the annual spring opening.
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It’s officially spring at Grand Teton National Park! The 14-mile section of the Teton Park Road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge is cleared of snow and now open to walking, running, biking and skating.
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Bears across Teton County are becoming active with the spring transition.
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Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area will be hosting a number of speakers throughout the winter months on many different topics surrounding birds and fish. For a complete list of speakers, dates, and times, read the full article and watch out social media for updates.
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The Department of the Interior today announced the purchase from the State of Wyoming and permanent protection of the 640-acre Kelly parcel, a picturesque landscape known for mountain views and world-class wildlife habitat within Grand Teton National Park.
Official NPS source
The Department of the Interior today announced the purchase from the State of Wyoming and permanent protection of the 640-acre Kelly parcel, a picturesque landscape known for mountain views and world-class wildlife habitat within Grand Teton National Park.
Official NPS source
Teton Park Road, Moose-Wilson Road, and Signal Mountain Summit Road will be open to winter recreation starting Friday, December 20.
Official NPS source
Enjoy hot cocoa, coffee, goodies, bird watching, and new art in the gallery at Bighorn Canyon’s annual Holiday Open House on December 21, 2024.
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Yellowstone National Park’s winter season begins Sunday, Dec. 15. Annually from mid-December until mid-March, visitors can travel most of the park’s roads from the West, South, East and North entrances by approved commercially guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches and via the non-commercially guided snowmobile access program.
Official NPS sourceGrand Teton National Park hosted more than 3.5 million recreation visits between January and October, already making 2024 the second busiest year on record.
Official NPS sourceStarting this week, Teton Interagency Fire crews will burn piles created from fuel reduction projects in Grand Teton National Park.
Official NPS sourceAn elk reduction program begins Saturday, November 16 continuing through Sunday, December 8 in Grand Teton National Park.
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Yellowstone National Park hosted 346,025 recreation visits in October 2024. This is a 16% increase from October 2023 (299,127 recreational visits). This October’s visitation showed a 9% increase from October 2021 (316,662 recreation visits).
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The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Patrick Malone as program manager of Region 6, 7 and 8 National Trails Office. In this role, Malone will administer the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail, California National Historic Trail, El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail, Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, Old Spanish National Historic Trail, Oregon National Historic Trail, Pony Express National Historic Trail, Santa Fe National Historic Trail, Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, and the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program.
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Bighorn Canyon has closed specific tent camping sites for the safe removal of hazardous trees at Trail Creek Campground. RV and tent camping sites are still available at this time.
Official NPS source
Applications for the 2025 Artist In Residence season will open November 15, 2024, and run through January 31,2025. For application instructions, please read this article.
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On November 1, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with Grand Teton National Park, honored the legacy of grizzly bear #399 by returning her ashes to the Pilgrim Creek area of the park, where she spent much of her life.
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The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, seeks public comment on a proposal to significantly improve 27 miles of the Northeast Entrance Road between Tower Junction and Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance.
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The last day for visitors to drive most of Yellowstone National Park’s roads will be Thursday, Oct. 31. The West, South and East entrances and nearly all roads will be closed to regular vehicle traffic Nov. 1. The park annually closes roads at this time of year to prepare them for the winter season and snowmobile and snowcoach travel, which will begin Dec. 15.
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On the evening of Tuesday, October 22, 2024, grizzly bear 399 was fatally struck by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, WY.
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The National Park Service wants to hear from you as we consider improvements to the Taggart Lake experience at Grand Teton National Park.
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Crews finished repairs to the boardwalks ahead of schedule, and Artists Paintpots are now open.
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With summer coming to an end, Bighorn Canyon begins winterization procedures and hosting Fall programs.
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The last day for visitors to drive the Beartooth Highway (US-212) between Red Lodge, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance near Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana, is Monday, Oct. 14.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park hosted 852,435 recreation visits in September 2024. This is a 2% increase from September 2023 (838,458 recreational visits). This September’s visitation showed an 3% decrease from September 2021 (882,078 recreation visits).
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Teton Interagency Fire managers have elevated the fire danger rating to “Very High” for Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest and the National Elk Refuge. When the fire danger is "Very High," fires can start easily from most causes and may spread rapidly with quick increase in intensity right after ignition. Small fires can quickly become large fires and exhibit extreme fire intensity, such as long-distance spotting. These fires can be difficult to control and can often become much larger and longer lasting.
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After 11 days of searching, Yellowstone National Park will scale back efforts to locate Austin King in the vicinity of Eagle Peak and transition from a rescue to recovery today, Oct. 2.
Official NPS sourceOn September 22, 2024, shortly before 8:00 p.m. Devils Tower Law Enforcement was informed of a rock climber who sustained a fall.
Official NPS sourceAs part of the National Park Service’s established protocol regarding officer-involved shootings, Yellowstone National Park has released body worn camera footage from a July 4, 2024, officer-involved shooting at Canyon Village.
Official NPS sourceMotorists, cyclists, and hikers on the Moose-Wilson Road should plan ahead for delays and closures. Roadwork schedules may change without notice, or be delayed, due to weather conditions or other extenuating circumstances.
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2024 AIR Lindsey Winslow will be hosting events during her stay at Bighorn Canyon for all ages to join on October 5, 2024.
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On Monday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2024, a 60-year-old woman visiting Yellowstone National Park from Windsor, New Hampshire, reportedly suffered second and third-degree burns to her lower leg while walking in a thermal area near Mallard Lake Trailhead at Old Faithful.
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Effective immediately, the Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park is now open to fly fishing from sunrise to sunset. The park has lifted the partial fishing closure on this river and its associated tributaries due to cooler water temperatures.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park hosted 871,163 recreation visits in August 2024, up 3% from August 2023 (846,389 recreation visits). This August’s visitation showed an 5% decrease from August 2021 (921,844 recreation visits).
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A new National Park Service report shows that 4.5 million visitors to Yellowstone National Park in 2023 spent $623 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 8,560 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $828 million.
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The elk mating season, commonly referred to as the rut, has begun in Yellowstone National Park.
Official NPS sourceRoad and lake conditions update for Labor Day Weekend 2024.
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The third of four Artists In Residence (AIR), Katrina Bell will be here September 9 -23. “I am thrilled to be coming to Bighorn Canyon because I am very captivated by its stunning landscapes and deep historical significance. During my residency, I aim to explore the canyon's rich cultural heritage through my photography. By capturing the stories and traditions that have shaped this extraordinary place, I hope to offer a deeper understanding of its significance and inspire a renewed appreciation for its natural and cultural treasures,” said Katrina when asked about why she wanted to participate in the program.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park hosted 992,352 recreation visits in July 2024, up 2% from July 2023 (969,692 recreation visits). This July’s visitation showed an 8% decrease from July 2021 (1,080,767 recreation visits).
Official NPS sourceUpdates on road and lake conditions as of August 7, 2024.
Official NPS source
A list of Ranger, Volunteer, and Partner led programs for August 2024.
Official NPS sourceThe parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now VERY HIGH, and Stage 1 fire restrictions will go into effect Saturday, July 27.
Official NPS source
This is an update on the hydrothermal explosion that occurred just before 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park.
Official NPS source
Today, July 24, the National Park Service (NPS) announced a decision about the future management of bison at Yellowstone National Park. The Record of Decision, a culmination of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and National Environmental Policy Act process that began in 2022, will allow the NPS to manage bison based on new scientific information and circumstances that have changed since the previous EIS, completed in 2000.
Official NPS source
Beginning Thursday, Aug. 1, people may apply to the 2024-2025 winter lottery for permits to snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park without a commercial guide. Authorized in 2013, the Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program allows permit-holders to enter the park for up to three days with a group of up to five snowmobilers.
Official NPS sourceUpdates on road and lake conditions as of July 17, 2024
Official NPS source
The park hosted 914,612 recreation visits in June 2024, up 8% from June 2023 (847,864 recreation visits). This June’s visitation showed a 3% decrease from June 2021 (938,845 recreation visits).
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On Thursday, July 11 at about 10:40 a.m. a car with five occupants inadvertently drove off the roadway and into the Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal feature near Roaring Mountain between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction in Yellowstone National Park.
Official NPS source
Effective Monday, July 15, 2024, select Yellowstone National Park rivers will close to fishing due to warm water temperatures and low river flows. This closure will protect the park’s native and wild trout fisheries and remain in effect until conditions improve
Official NPS sourceThe parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now HIGH.
Official NPS source
Teton Interagency Fire managers have elevated the fire danger rating to high for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the National Elk Refuge beginning Tuesday, July 9.
Official NPS sourceOn the morning of July 4, Yellowstone National Park law enforcement rangers confronted an individual shooting a semi-automatic rifle toward a dining facility at Canyon Village located in the central part of the park. The shooter has been identified by the Park County, Wyoming coroner as Samson Lucas Bariah Fussner, 28, of Milton, Florida. Fussner died after an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement. The investigation into this incident, including the actions of the National Park Service (NPS) law enforcement rangers, is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and will be reviewed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming.
Official NPS source
"Voices of Yellowstone: First Peoples Celebration" will take place Aug. 4-10, 2024, in Gardiner, Montana. This week-long event, hosted by Yellowstone Forever in partnership with Yellowstone National Park and in collaboration with the Pretty Shield Foundation, Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, and Gardiner Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, aims to honor and celebrate the diverse cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of Yellowstone—past, present, and future.
Official NPS source
Grand Teton National Park is seeking public input through August 12, 2024, on draft desired conditions for the park and specific management areas. Desired conditions are statements that describe resource conditions, visitor experiences and opportunities, and facilities and services that the National Park Service strives to achieve and maintain in a particular park or area. Desired conditions help park managers answer the question “what are we trying to achieve?”
Official NPS sourceImportant road and lake conditions as we approach the Fourth of July Holiday.
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At this time, Yellowstone National Park can confirm, based on multiple creditable sightings, that a white bison calf was born in Lamar Valley on June 4, 2024.
Official NPS source
If you will visit Yellowstone National Park this Fourth of July, plan ahead to protect yourself and this wild and awe-inspiring place. Follow the top things to know to enjoy your visit and protect the park for generations to come!
Official NPS sourceLook here for July 2024 Programs.
Official NPS source
Teton Interagency fire managers announced the fire danger has been elevated to “moderate” for Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge. The potential for fire activity has increased due to summer curing of vegetation combined with warmer and windy conditions.
Official NPS source
The park hosted 522,450 recreation visits in May 2024, up 15% from May 2023 (454,262 recreation visits). This May’s visitation showed a 10% increase from May 2021 (473,799 recreation visits).
Official NPS source
2024 July AIR Mike Hansen will be hosting special events on his work at the Lovell Visitor Center.
Official NPS source
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration today announced a $22 million grant to the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service to modernize and reconstruct a 0.7-mile segment of the Norris to Golden Gate roadway in Yellowstone National Park.
Official NPS source
Viktor Pyshniuk, 21 of Lynwood, Washington, was sentenced to seven days in jail for thermal trespass at Steamboat Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). In addition, he was placed on two years of unsupervised release and received a two-year ban from YNP for a closure violation. The court also ordered Pyshniuk to pay a $1,500 fine, $30 mandatory court processing fee and $20 special assessment.
Official NPS source
The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now MODERATE.
Official NPS sourceOn June 9, the first confirmed wildland fire of the season in Yellowstone National Park was detected by a motorist driving on Highway 191, located on the west side of the park.
Official NPS source
Today, June 6, the National Park Service (NPS) released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for a Bison Management Plan at Yellowstone National Park. The FEIS presents a broad range of actions for managing bison inside the park. This plan allows the NPS to manage bison based on new scientific information and changed circumstances, explore ways to increase the transfer of bison to American Indian Tribes, and continue working closely with Tribal Nations and agency partners in management.
Official NPS source
The month of June holds spiritual and cultural significance for the tribes closely associated with Mato Tipila – Bear Lodge (Devils Tower). The 1995 Devils Tower National Monument Climbing Management Plan established a voluntary closure for all climbing routes on the Tower out of respect for the cultural activities of Native Americans.
Official NPS source
On June 1, a bison gored an 83-year-old woman from Greenville, South Carolina, near the Storm Point Trail at Yellowstone Lake.
Official NPS source
The Beartooth Highway (US-212) from Red Lodge to Cooke City, Montana, is now open.
Official NPS source
Grand Teton National Park is proud to release the Grand Glimpse: 2024 State of the Park. The report shares updates in each of the park’s strategic emphasis areas and highlights the amazing accomplishments of park staff, volunteers, and partners who work to support these efforts.
Official NPS source
Weather-permitting, the Beartooth Highway (US-212), located east of the park’s Northeast Entrance between Red Lodge, Montana, and Cooke City, Montana, is projected to open in its entirety Saturday, June 1. Currently, the highway is partially open for 19 miles from Red Lodge, Montana, to Vista Point.
Official NPS source
Grand Teton National Park vegetation management specialists are once again engaged in habitat restoration projects in the park as part of a multi-phase restoration effort to replace approximately 4,500 acres of non-native grass fields with native sagebrush habitat. A healthy sagebrush ecosystem in Grand Teton is vital for the diversity and abundance of native plants and wildlife species like elk, bison, moose, pronghorn, and sage grouse that rely on them.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park is honored to host for a third year Yellowstone Revealed, a collaborative effort with Mountain Time Arts. The theme for this year’s experience is How the Land Remembers Us: Tribal Tipi Lodge and Buffalo Stories.
Official NPS source
If you plan to travel to Yellowstone National Park this summer, plan ahead to protect yourself and this wild and awe-inspiring place. Within the park’s 2.2 million acres, visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain half the world’s active geysers and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
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The opening of the Beartooth Highway (US-212), located east of the park’s Northeast Entrance between Red Lodge, Montana, and Cooke City, Montana, is delayed. The highway was scheduled to open on Friday, May 24, but will remain closed through the weekend due to winter weather conditions, significant snowfall and hazardous driving conditions.
Official NPS sourceDue to current and anticipated winter weather conditions and significant snowfall, some roads in Yellowstone National Park are, or will be, temporarily closed due to hazardous driving conditions.
Official NPS source
On Sept. 3-5, 2024, the 16th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem will take place in Big Sky, Montana. This year’s conference will focus on advancing conservation in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). Sponsored by Yellowstone Forever, the conference will highlight scientific study in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the efforts of the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee (GYCC).
Official NPS source
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 19, Teton Interagency Dispatch received a report of a 35-year-old male visitor from Massachusetts who was seriously injured by a bear in the area of the Signal Mountain Summit Road. Grand Teton National Park rangers and Teton County Search and Rescue personnel responded to the scene to provide emergency medical care and air lifted the patient via helicopter to an awaiting ambulance where he was transported to St. John’s Hospital. The patient is in stable condition and is expected to fully recover.
Official NPS source
On Monday, May 20, 2024, the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center opens to the public for the season. Located in the Old Faithful area, the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center is a space where Indigenous artists, scholars and presenters from the 27 associated Tribes of Yellowstone National Park directly engage with visitors through demonstrations and discussions. Now in its third year, the center is a partnership between the National Park Service and Yellowstone Forever, with Tribal consultation.
Official NPS source
Elk calving season has begun in Yellowstone National Park.
Official NPS source
The road from Canyon Village to Tower Fall (Dunraven Pass) opens today, May 16, to public motor vehicle traffic.
Official NPS source
Weather-permitting, the following roads in Yellowstone National Park will open 8 a.m. Friday, May 10 to public motor vehicle traffic: South Entrance to West Thumb; West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass); West Thumb to Lake Village; Tower-Roosevelt to Tower Fall.
Official NPS source
Weather-permitting, the road from the East Entrance (near Cody, Wyoming) to Lake Village (via Sylvan Pass and Fishing Bridge Junction), and Canyon Village to Lake Village, will open Friday, May 3 at 8 a.m. to public motor vehicle traffic.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park will implement new measures to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) into park waters. The restrictions include a 30-day mandatory dry time for sailboats and some types of motorized boats before entering park waters and the prohibition of watercraft previously fouled by mussels regardless of dry time.
Official NPS source
A 40-year-old male, Clarence Yoder, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, approached a bison too closely (within 25 yards) on the afternoon of April 21, 2024, and was injured by the bison.
Official NPS source
Bears across Jackson Hole are emerging from their winter dens. The first routine grizzly bear sightings of 2024 in Jackson Hole began March 21 on the Bridger-Teton National Forest followed by Grand Teton National Park’s first bear sighting on March 26. The frequency of bear sightings has since increased as the winter snowpack disappears. As bears become active this spring, Bear Wise Jackson Hole partners remind residents and visitors to secure attractants of any kind and be bear aware.
Official NPS source
As part of ongoing grizzly bear and black bear research and management efforts and as required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with the National Park Service, is working to inform the public that scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within Yellowstone National Park.
Official NPS source
There will be two major road improvement projects in Yellowstone National Park in 2024. The Lewis River Bridge and Yellowstone River Bridge projects will cause traffic delays. It’s important that visitors plan accordingly for these delays located along the park’s southern and northern road corridors.
Official NPS source
Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 19, 2024, select roads in Yellowstone National Park will open to the public, weather permitting. Roads begin to open annually this time of year for the summer season.
Official NPS sourceBeginning Nov. 1, 2024, Yellowstone National Park will expand fishing access by allowing for year-round fishing opportunities at two locations in the park.
Official NPS source
Beginning Tuesday, April 2, bicyclists willing to brave the unpredictable weather of spring in Yellowstone National Park can ride 49 miles between the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, Montana, and Mammoth Hot Springs.
Official NPS source
While snow continues to periodically fall on the Tetons, Grand Teton National Park has opened the Teton Park Road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge to activities such as walking, biking and skating. Visitors are now invited to recreate on approximately 14 miles of the road heading north from the Taggart Lake parking lot to Signal Mountain Lodge. For safety reasons, visitors are reminded to avoid going beyond any barricades marking closures as plowing activities on adjacent roads continue.
Official NPS source
Starting April 1, 2024, Bighorn Canyon roads and parking areas on both ends of the park will be under construction through August. Visitors should expect delays and plan accordingly. Updates will be available throughout the summer on our social media pages, website, and visitor centers via phone or in person during regular business hours.
Official NPS source
American Forests has recognized Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly as its 2023 Forest Resilience Champion Award recipient.
Official NPS source
Pierce Brosnan, 70, of Malibu, California, was fined $500, and required to pay a $1,000 community service payment to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund, a $30 court processing fee, and a $10 special assessment. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on March 14, in Mammoth, Wyoming.
Official NPS sourceTo protect bears and increase visitor safety, Yellowstone National Park will create a new bear management area (BMA) in Hayden Valley, which will prohibit off-trail travel July 15-Sept. 15. The park also decommissioned an existing BMA in the Firehole River area. Additionally, skiers observed the first grizzly bear of 2024 on March 3.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park seeks public comment on proposed measures to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) into park waters. The proposals include a 30-day mandatory dry time for some types of motorized boats and sailboats before entering park waters and the prohibition of watercraft previously fouled by mussels regardless of dry time.
Official NPS source
The National Park Foundation (NPF) and National Park Service (NPS) today announced a $40 million gift to expand and improve NPS employee housing at Yellowstone, America’s first national park. The new investment made possible by donors who wish to remain anonymous will fund more than 70 new modular units to address the critical shortage of employee housing at the park.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park’s winter season wraps up early March as roads begin to close to snowmobile and snowcoach travel. By March 16, most visitor services and park roads will be closed including the South, West and East entrances. The park annually closes most roads at this time of year to prepare them for a spring opening for the public.
Official NPS source
On Feb. 22, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that 400 national parks reported a total of 325.5 million recreation visits in 2023, an increase of 13 million or 4% over 2022. Yellowstone National Park hosted 4,501,382 recreation visits in 2023, up 37% over 2022 (3,290,242 recreation visits). Lower visitation numbers in 2022 were likely due to an historic flood event that closed the park from June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened June 22 and two remained closed until October.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service recently announced that 400 national park units reported a total of 325.5 million recreation visits in 2023, an increase of 13 million or 4% over 2022. Grand Teton National Park hosted 3,417,106 recreation visits in 2023, a 22% increase from 2022. In recent years, Grand Teton has experienced changing visitation trends. Recreation visits in 2023 are most similar to the number of visits in 2019. While 2019 and 2023 had similar overall numbers in visitation, how that visitation occurred throughout the year was different. In 2019, Grand Teton had higher levels of visitation in the summer, with peak months being June, July, and August; while in 2023 the peak months shifted later in the year to July, August, and September.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, is considering construction of a new permanent North Entrance Road in Yellowstone National Park. Goals for the new road include providing year-round access between Gardiner, Montana, and Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana, natural hazard resiliency and the protection of natural and cultural resources.
Official NPS source
During the week of Feb. 5, the National Park Service (NPS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) moved 116 Yellowstone National Park bison to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Poplar, Montana. The Bison Conservation Transfer Program continues to make history, having relocated the largest number of live Yellowstone bison to American Indian Tribes in the world.
Official NPS source
How would you like to work, learn, play, and grow in Yellowstone’s wonderland this summer? Yellowstone National Park is currently recruiting for the 2024 Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), a residential work-based education program for students between the ages of 15 and 18. Visit the YCC program webpage to apply. Completed application materials must be submitted by March 1, 2024.
Official NPS source
On Sunday afternoon, February 4, Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) rangers requested helicopter assistance from Teton County Search & Rescue (TCSAR) to respond to an injured skier on Prospectors Mountain inside the park. The skier, a 29-year-old local woman, along with four men were near the top of the Banana Couloir at 10,800 feet when they triggered and were caught by an avalanche. Three in the group were able to self-arrest, while one of the men was carried 500 feet and the woman was carried by the snow slide approximately 1,500 vertical feet. Neither skier was fully buried, however, the woman sustained serious injuries.
Official NPS source
Opportunities for over-snow winter recreation will be available beginning Friday, January 12, on Teton Park, Signal Mountain Summit and Moose-Wilson roads in Grand Teton National Park. Enjoy activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and walking during this special time of year.
Official NPS source
Devils Tower National Monument is pleased to announce an addition to the Leadership Team with the selection of John Hinrichs as the new Facility Manager.
Official NPS sourceYellowstone National Park’s winter season begins Friday, Dec. 15.
Official NPS source
Winter has arrived in Grand Teton National Park – an excellent time for recreation in the snow but also a challenging time for wildlife in and around the Tetons. Wildlife biologists are asking visitors to avoid disturbing animals by following all winter closures and voluntarily avoiding bighorn sheep winter zones. In all other areas of the park, visitors should give wildlife plenty of space by maintaining 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from other animals. Visitors can safely enjoy watching wildlife by being respectful of their need for space, staying clear of their sensitive habitats, allowing them to maintain their vital energy reserves.
Official NPS source
Effective January 10, 2024, Grand Teton National Park will change the backcountry camping permit fee to $20, plus a $7 per person, per night fee to camp overnight in the backcountry. Grand Teton began charging for backcountry permits in 2014 and last modified the fees in 2018.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) recently confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the carcass of an adult mule deer buck found near Yellowstone Lake in the southeastern section of the park. This is the first confirmed positive detection of the disease in Yellowstone National Park.
Official NPS sourceAn elk reduction program begins Saturday, November 18 continuing through Sunday, December 10 in Grand Teton National Park. The park’s enabling legislation of 1950 authorizes Grand Teton National Park to jointly administer an elk reduction program, with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, when necessary for the proper management and conservation of the Jackson Elk Herd.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service (NPS) is at the beginning of a master planning effort to reestablish Colter Bay as a key destination and central location for all visitors to stay, play and learn in Grand Teton National Park. The NPS is seeking public input from November 13 to January 11, 2024, on a range of high-level planning concepts focused on improving visitor use and experience in the Colter Bay area, located in the northern part of the park. Increasing visitation, changing visitor and employee needs and aging infrastructure highlight an opportunity to plan for the next generation of Colter Bay. The park will use this feedback to develop alternatives for the Colter Bay Legacy planning effort. Grand Teton wants to hear from you about the problems and opportunities to consider through this planning process.
Official NPS source
Yellowstone National Park hosted 299,127 recreation visits in October 2023. This is a 26% increase from October 2022 (236,567 recreational visits). It is also a 75% increase from October 2019* (171,339 recreational visits) when several short-term, weather-related road closures likely impacted visitation.
Official NPS source