As America’s first national park, Yellowstone offers a 2.2 million acre natural experience unlike any other. The park is home to around half of the world’s active geysers, incredible geological wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, and a host of wildlife. It presents an opportunity for tourists to experience an intact ecosystem, protected from the impacts of humans.
Yellowstone is also home to over 1,300 plant taxa, ranging from species typically found in the Rocky Mountains to those found in the Great Plains. At least two endemic species rely on the unusual habitat created by the park’s geothermal features. Yellowstone’s vegetation management is focused on minimizing human impacts on the native plant life. Driving off-road in your large SUV, even when there’s snow on the ground, is a great way to damage that plant life.
Most roads in Yellowstone National Park are closed between November and late-April, with the road between the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through the park to Cooke City, Montana, usually being the only one open year round. Other roads might be open to over-snow travel, but that’s only for snowmobile and snowcoach tours. Off-roading with a vehicle or bicycle, and driving personal vehicles on the closed, snow-covered roads is not allowed in Yellowstone National Park. Read more on Yellowstone regulations below.
Yellowstone National Park Regulations:
- Willfully remaining near or approaching wildlife, including nesting birds, within any distance that disturbs or displaces the animal.
- Hunting or feeding wildlife.
- Traveling off boardwalks or designated trails in hydrothermal areas.
- Throwing anything into thermal features.
- Swimming in hot springs.
- Removing or possessing natural or cultural resources (such as wildflowers, antlers, rocks, and arrowheads).
- Leaving detachable side mirrors attached when not pulling trailers.
- Traveling off-road by vehicle or bicycle.
- Camping outside of designated areas.
- Spotlighting wildlife (viewing with lights).
- Imitating elk calls or using buglers. Imitating wolf howls.
- Using electronic equipment capable of tracking wildlife
- Launching, landing, or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) on lands and waters.
- Smoking is prohibited in geyser basins or on trails. There is no smoking in buildings or within 25 feet of building entrances.