It's spring, the time of year when bicyclists rule the road at the Yellowstone National Park.
With park road crews clearing snow and preparing the roads for motorized traffic, certain park roads have been opened to bicycle-only traffic.
Since March 21, bicyclists have been allowed to ride between West Yellowstone (A), Madison, Norris, and Mammoth Hot Springs (B), a distance of about 54 miles.
Cyclists will have the roads to themselves for about a month before the RVs, Winnebagos, and other motor vehicles arrive. But expect to run into the park's year-around visitors.
Warnings
Park officials say:
“Cyclists are asked to ride single file, encouraged to carry bear spray, and should be prepared to turn around and backtrack when encountering wildlife on the road.
“… The weather is unpredictable, and severe winter conditions can be encountered at any time. There are no services open in the interior of the park and riders should be prepared to take care of all their own needs. The cleared section of the road may be narrow and covered with a layer of snow and ice, and pullouts may remain filled with snow. Cyclists should expect to encounter snowplows or other vehicles operated by park employees or construction workers traveling in conjunction with park operations.”
Where to call
Yellowstone National Park reports there may be bicycle-only road openings at the South Entrance to West Thumb and the East Entrance toward Sylvan Pass. Cyclists can call 307-344-2109 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays for updated road access information.
Further, that road along the park's northern border between Mammoth Hot Springs (B) and Cooke City (to the east) is open year-round to cars and bicycles, weather permitting.
See more info at the Yellowstone Nationan Park press release.
Glacier
Glacier National Park in Montana also is undergoing its spring snowplowing schedule. Visitors can bicycle beyond the motor vehicle closures when crews are not working.
Park officials say several park roads, including the Camas Road and Cut Bank Road, are typically not plowed, but are allowed to melt out, with vehicles allowed on them once the roads have dried. This spring, however, given paving on the Sun Road at Avalanche Creek, the Camas Road will be plowed in April to accommodate spring bicycle and hiker use.
Crews are currently working on the Going to the Sun Road beyond Lake MacDonald.
Check on road conditions by phoning 1-800-226-7623. More at Spring plowing gets underway…
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