The authorities in Yellow National Park have issued a recent notification that beginning September 8, 2022, visitors are no longer required to get a day-use ticket to access the Tower Junction to Slough Creek.
This means that guests of Yellowstone Tours can now enjoy driving through the 6-mile corridor between these two major points in the park.
Limited Access as a Precaution
The required day-use tickets were first introduced in August, following the major flooding that inundated the park in June. It was meant to slowly allow access into the parts of Yellowstone that were heavily impacted by the flood, until such time that it was determined the area can handle an increased number of guests.
Finally, after a month of observing limited flow through this corridor, Yellowstone authorities have now deemed it to be completely safe enough to remove the day-use ticket requirement.
A Bustling Corridor
This is definitely great news, especially for those looking forward to joining guided tours in Yellowstone. The corridor itself, after all, offers plenty of outdoor activities for everyone.
From hiking to fishing, to auto touring, or wildlife watching, there’s no shortage of options for the intrepid explorer out for an adventure in Yellowstone.
However, those driving down this corridor are advised that it leads to a dead end. This means that drivers of vehicles going in should be aware that they will need to use turnaround areas in the corridor, and that they are fairly limited.
As such, it is best to be mindful of the speed, as well as spotting these turnaround areas. Knowing where the turnarounds are is important depending on how heavy the crowds are that day and the traffic in this part of the park.
Other Important Notices
Visitors would also do well to note that although the corridor is now openly accessible for all, there are still certain entrances that remain closed because of flood damage.
The entrances that remain closed to access include the rest of the Northeast Entrance Road and the Lamar Valley side closest to Warm Creek.
Meanwhile, the Gardiner and Montana entrances in the north, as well as the Cooke City/Silver Gate and Montana entrances in the northeast are open, but only to limited access and capacity.
To avoid the hassle, it’s best to coordinate with a professional Yellowstone tour guide group, so you can be sure to make the most out of your trip. While it’s great to see this beautiful and amazing national park recovering well, your safety as a visitor will always come first.
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most majestic areas of the country with some of the best Yellowstone tours. However, that magnificence comes with some unfamiliar dangers. Yellowstone is full of various forms of wildlife, including bears, bison, elk, and wolves.
Believe it or not, bison have caused injury to more people in the park than any of the other wildlife. Bison are considered the largest land mammal in North America. They are beautiful creatures, but they can be dangerous. In fact, bison can run roughly three times as fast as you, so taking precautions is always your best bet.
Don’t Approach Wildlife
Bison, as well as the other animals in Yellowstone National Park, are completely unpredictable and wild. While they may appear calm and approachable, they most certainly are not.
Keep Your Distance and Remain on Trails
It is recommended that you stay a minimum of 25 yards away from bison. As you are hiking in Yellowstone, make sure to stay on the trails. Avoid venturing off into the meadows, especially if you see bison nearby.
Avoid Feeding Wildlife
Wildlife can become dependent on human food. Unfortunately, when this happens, the animals become increasingly aggressive toward humans and must be put down. Therefore, you should never feed bison or other wildlife. At the same time, keep any food or strong-odored items well sealed when not in use.
Don’t Block Traffic and Stay in Your Vehicle
When viewing Yellowstone wildlife and scenery from the roads, make sure that you never block vehicle or wildlife traffic. Use the provided pullouts to watch Yellowstone wildlife and provide cars behind you the option to go around. If you encounter a wildlife traffic jam, stay n the vehicle. You should never pursue any animal in the park to obtain a picture.
Stay Safe in Yellowstone National Park
If you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park in the near future, it is important that you understand how to not only protect yourself but the park and Yellowstone wildlife as well. Your safety cannot be guaranteed while within the national park, but following the rules and staying aware of your surroundings will help prevent common accidents and injuries. It will also keep the wildlife safe.
Aside from keeping the aforementioned Yellowstone wildlife safety rules in mind, consider opting for Yellowstone Tours which are offered by certified guides.
People often wonder what the best hike in Yellowstone is. However, this tends to come down to personal preference. There are easy trails that take you to impeccable views, while there are longer, more difficult trails that also lead to impressive payoffs. Below are 5 of the most popular hikes in Yellowstone National Park that you won’t want to miss if you’re planning on hiking Yellowstone.
#1: North Rim Trail
Located in the Grand Canyon area of Yellowstone, the North Rim Trail is a moderate hike of roughly eight miles that follows the northern edge of the canyon. On this trail, you will encounter some of the most popular viewpoints in the area, including Grand View, Lookout Point, Crystal Falls Overlook, and Brink of the Upper Falls.
#2: Fairy Falls Trail
As one of the best waterfall hikes in Yellowstone, Fairy Falls Trail offers incredible waterfall views, as well as an impressive view of the Grand Prismatic Spring. From beautiful wildflowers to bears, there is a lot to see on this easy, kid-friendly hike to the 200-foot-high Fairy Falls waterfall. This is also the area of a younger pine forest, which is recovering from a late 1980s forest fire.
#3: Midway Geyser Basin Trail
For an up close and personal look at the Grand Prismatic Spring, the Midway Geyser Basin Trail is a short yet rewarding trail at less than one mile. Often referred to as the boardwalk trail, this trail will allow you to encounter all of the beautiful colors of the Grand Prismatic Spring—pinks, blues, purples—that are harder to see from the overlook point.
#4: Observation Point Trail
Old Faithful is Yellowstone’s most popular geyser. Erupting between 100 and 180 feet and roughly every 94 minutes, Old Faithful can be seen by hiking Yellowstone via the moderate Observation Point Trail. This trail provides you with a unique vantage point of the geyser. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the observation point before the next eruption to ensure you don’t miss it.
#5: Clear Lake-Ribbon Lake Loop Trail
At roughly four miles, the Clear Lake-Ribbon Lake Loop Trail is an easy to moderate hike that offers a lot of variety for those looking to take in popular hotspots and the backcountry. From wildflower meadows and forests to hydrothermal activity, this trail will take you to the majestic, emerald green lake known as Clear Lake and the beautiful Ribbon Lake covered in lily pads.
There are many beautiful trails and places to see in Yellowstone National Park. With great hikes for everyone, this is by far one of the best national parks in the United States. Consider requesting information about Yellowstone Guided Tours to experience the park with an entertaining and informative guide.
There are many good reasons to visit Yellowstone National Park, and you’ll undoubtedly have an amazing time while you’re there. However, you can boost the pleasantness of your experience by hiring a tour guide. Here’s why you should consider going on guided Yellowstone tours instead of doing it alone:
Meet a Friendly and Knowledgeable Guide
One of the most noteworthy benefits of visiting Yellowstone National Park with a tour guide is talking to a friendly and knowledgeable agent. This person will likely be a resident of the area who can give you exciting information about the location’s history.
Having someone right there who knows about the locale will make your trip much more meaningful. You’ll also have some thrilling stories to tell your friends and family members from what you learn from your guide.
Go To Specific Landmarks and Hot Spots
You won’t have to concern yourself with maps, GPS systems, or strangers. Your tour guide can take you directly to the most frequently visited spots and attractions. He or she can direct you to sites where you can take photos and videos of the wildlife or gorgeous nature structures.
You can go on hiking or camping adventures if you like, or sit and watch the animals in the most comfortable areas. The best part of guided tours is that you can customize your experience based on what you want to see.
Benefit From Having an Organized Itinerary
Tour guides have experience in customer service and time management, and they are there to ensure that you reap the benefits of a complete and organized itinerary. Vacationers often over-plan their trips and end up not doing everything they set out to do.
With an experienced guide at the helm, every event on your journey will fit into a time slot. You’ll also have an extra person there to remind you when it’s time to move on to the next event. That way, you’ll get a fully packed vacation and have time left over to relax and post pictures of your adventures. The visit to Yellowstone might be a once-in-a-lifetime event, so you’ll want to get the most out of it.
Engage in Exhilarating Activities
You have the right to be active or passive during your Yellowstone tour. If you want to be involved, you can participate in several adventurous activities. Hiking is one of the most common events visitors partake in when visiting the area. Choose from one of the gorgeous hiking trails in the area to take your family.
You can also sign up to take some boat rides while you’re there. A certified guide or instructor can ride alongside you to ensure you’re safe while exploring the water. Fishing trips are another common adventure people go on when visiting Yellowstone.
Now that you’ve read the benefits, you can be confident that taking a guided tour for Yellowstone sightseeing is the best option for you. Guided tours are available through reservations with a respectable provider near the location. Contact a service provider for updated pricing and service listings.
The devastating floods that hit Yellowstone National Park in mid-June of 2022 forced the park to close for over a week and for all Yellowstone guided tours to get canceled. However, the park started letting visitors into the south loop on June 22 to help increase economic flow to the area. The park’s access will be restricted during this recovery period using the Alternating License Plate System.
What Is the Alternating License Plate System?
While Yellowstone south loop tours are now available for visitors, the north loop is still closed. The Alternating License Plate System or ALPS will help restrict visitors to prevent stressing the park’s recovery effort. Entry will be based on both the days of the month and a person’s license plate. The rules for this system start by gauging a few simple factors:
Whether each visitor’s license plate number’s last digit is odd or even
If the day of the week is odd or even, such as June 24 being an even day
Letting in the appropriate visitors based on if their last digit matches the day
So, if a visitor’s license plate reads “B34 3323” they would be let in on all odd days but not on even days. Personalized license plates will fall into the odd category if they use all letters and will use the last digit available if the plate features numbers and letters. For example, if a plate reads “T0D 4EVR,” the plate would be even because of the four.
Exceptions to This Rule
Any commercial use operators with active commercial use permits for Yellowstone will be allowed to enter the park, regardless of license. The same is true of commercial motor coaches, essential service operators, and overnight visitors. For example, someone staying overnight in the park who leaves for the day won’t be barred from coming back to camp if their plate is odd on an even day.
Motorcyclists and motorcycle groups, which make up a heavy portion of visitors to the park, will be allowed to visit only on even days. However, groups staying in the park will be allowed to come and go, as long as they have valid overnight camping permits. Overnight use will be available from trailheads in the south starting on July 1 and not before.
Planning Yellowstone Guided Tours
If you’re interested in Yellowstone south loop tours, it is important to know that some things remain closed in the park until further notice. These include the Canyon Village lodges and cabins, the Canyon, Madison, Lewis Lake, and Norris Cabins, and the Fishing Bridge visitor center and trailside museum.
Park managers are currently attempting to reopen roads throughout Canyon Village, Tower Junction, and Mammoth Hot Springs, though the current timeline for reopening will vary based on their overall progress. Thankfully, Yellowstone guided tours should be available for many sections of the park, and rangers will discuss appropriate destinations with each tour guide to ensure safety and security.
