Bicycling Routes Lake Area (check for seasonal closures) Two gravel roads are open to BOTH bicycle and 8 Natural Bridge service road near Bridge Bay automotive traffic: The Old Gardiner Road and (1 mile/1.6 km). Blacktail Plateau Drive allow two-way bike traffic 9 The old roadbed along the lakeshore between Bicycling and one-way auto traffic. Please do not block Lake Hotel and the Grand Loop Road (1 mile/ entrance gates when parking at these locations. 1.6 km). in Yellowstone The following routes (shown and numbered in Tower–Lamar Area blue on the map) are restricted to bicycle and foot 10 Mount Washburn from the Chittenden Road travel only. Distances listed are one way. parking area to the summit (2.5 miles/4 km). National Park Mammoth Area Bicycles are not permitted on the southern trail between the summit and Dunraven Pass 1 Abandoned railroad bed paralleling parking area. the Yellowstone River, beginning west of the Heritage & Research Center to the park 11 Old Chittenden service road between Grand boundary at Reese Creek (5 miles/8 km). Loop Road and Tower Fall Campground (2 miles/3.2 km). (Check locally: sometimes 2 Bunsen Peak Road to a Mammoth housing & closed for bear management.) maintenance area (6 miles/9.7 km). West Entrance Area Information 3 Riverside Trail from Boundary Street trail- If you are traveling with an organized bicycle head (in West Yellowstone) to Barnes Road group, contact Yellowstone National Park for (1.4 miles/2.3 km). permits and restrictions: Old Faithful Area Visitor Services Office: 307-344-2107 4 Fountain Freight Road at the Fairy Falls Lodging and camping reservations: Trailhead, located 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Xanterra Parks & Resorts: 307-344-7311 Old Faithful (5.5 miles/8.9 miles). Add 1.25 www.YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com miles (2 km) if you continue on Fountain Flats General Information, Yellowstone National Park: Drive to Grand Loop Road. 307-344-7381 5 Daisy Geyser cut-off to Grand Loop Road www.nps.gov/yell south of Biscuit Basin. (1 mile/1.6 km). 6 The paved trail from the Old Faithful Inn to Emergency: 911 Morning Glory Pool (1.4 miles/2.3 km). Bicycles are not allowed beyond Morning Glory Pool. 7 Lone Star Geyser Trail (south of Kepler Cas- cades pullout) from the Grand Loop Road to Lone Star Geyser (2.4 miles/3.9 km). Yellowstone National Park P.O. Box 168 Yellowstone, WY 82190 www.nps.gov/yell Cover photo: NPS/Peaco Revised April 2011 Bicycling in Yellowstone Regulations Road Conditions and Safety Yellowstone’s bicycling opportunities can be • Bicycle riders on public roadways in Yellow- Review the map on the opposite side of this rewarding and challenging because of terrain stone must obey the same rules and regulations brochure for road information. and climate. Snow-covered roads and mountain that apply to motorized vehicles. • RED ROADS are narrow and rough without passes prevent bicycling from November through • Bicycles are not allowed on park trails, board- road shoulders. Consider these poor road most of April. Cool, cloudy days are typical in walks, utility corridors, or service roads (except conditions when planning your bicycle travel in May and June. Warm days with afternoon thun- those listed under “Bicycling Routes”). the park. derstorms and cool nights characterize July and • Bicycles must exhibit a white light on the front • SPRING CAUTION: During May and June, August. September and October generally have and a red light or reflector on the rear during high snowbanks make travel more dangerous, clear, cool days with occasional snowstorms. periods of low visibility. especially in the south-central area of the park. The routes listed in this brochure are available • Bicycle riders on public roadways must ride in • ROAD CONSTRUCTION: A parkwide road when the park’s roads open to vehicles; consult single file. Riding abreast is prohibited. improvement plan is underway. Expect road the park newspaper or park website for dates. construction; inquire locally for details. Camping in Yellowstone Bicycling is allowed for a short time before • BE VISIBLE! Heavy traffic, large vehicles, wide roads open in spring and after they close in fall. Camping for bicyclists is limited to the developed mirrors, narrow roads, and erratic driving Over-snow bicycling is not allowed at any time. campgrounds located throughout the park. Five behavior are potential hazards that contribute Bicycle Touring campgrounds accept reservations; seven are to the bicycle-motorist related accidents that first-come, first-served. Their seasonal openings occur each year in the park. Wear a helmet Bicycle touring through Yellowstone National and closings are listed on the park website and in and high visibility clothing! Park can be a rewarding experience, although the park newspaper. Mammoth Campground is • PLAN FOR TRAFFIC. Traffic is heaviest from advance preparation is essential. More than the only one open all year. mid-June to mid-September with daily peaks 300 miles of roadway exist, and the distances Bicycle campers need to plan logistics carefully from mid-morning to late afternoon. Roads between developed areas are long. Road eleva- in Yellowstone. Long distances separate camp- most heavily used are those serving the well- tions range from 5,300 ft. to 8,860 ft. (1615 m grounds, which typically fill early each day known points of interest in the park. Plan to 2700 m), requiring extra time and energy during summer. If you have access to a vehicle, your route to avoid peak traffic periods and between points of travel. Some notable climbs use it to find a campsite in your destination heavily used roadways. Pull over to allow inside the park are: Craig Pass (8,261 ft/2518 m), campground early each day. Camping motorists to pass if you are impeding traffic Sylvan Pass (8,530 ft/2600 m), and Dunraven is not available at Old Faithful. flow. On the few service roads open to bikes, Pass (8,859 ft/2700 m). A limited number of campsites are reserved for yield the right-of-way to other users such as All bicycle touring groups—private, nonprofit, hikers and bicyclists, except at Slough Creek. hikers or horse riders. commercial, etc.—must contact the Visitor Bicyclists camping without a vehicle can use these Further the interests of all cyclists by staying on Services Office (307-344-2107) for permits, sites for $5 per individual per night. Vehicle designated routes, off foot trails, and out of special regulations, and other information. campsites range from $12 to $20 per night closed areas. Repair Services depending on the campground. (Fees are valid as of February 2011 and are subject to change.) Repair services and parts are available in the gateway community of West Yellowstone, Groups are required to camp in group campsites Montana, and in the more distant communities. at Madison, Bridge Bay, or Grant; call Xanterra Rentals are available from several bicycle shops Parks & Resorts well in advance of your arrival to outside the park and at the Old Faithful Snow check on group campsite availability. Lodge (May to September). BICYCLING IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 89 Park boundary To Livingston to Bozeman 52 mi/84 km 59 mi/95 km To Bozeman Jardine 84 mi/135 km Gardiner Road between Gardiner and Cooke City 1 Cooke City open all year North Entrance Silver 5314ft 212 1620m 8 mi Gate Colter Pass 5 km Yellowston 8048ft/2434m e MONTANA WYOMING Northeast Entrance 7365ft Northeast Entrance R 2245m to Red Lodge 69 mi/111 km Mammoth Hot Springs iv e to Billings, MT 125 mi/200 km r Full services + 18 mi to Cody, WY 68 mi/109 km 29 km Road closed from early US 212 (Beartooth Highway) November to mid-April Slough Creek closed beyond Cooke City West Yellowstone to mid-October to late May Blacktail park boundary 6270ft 31 mi/50 km 2 Plateau Drive 1911m 29 mi Pebble Creek Bunsen Peak Road 47 km 7250ft/2199m Tower-Roosevelt Yellowstone Full services + Tower Fall Association Institute LA Indian Creek M 11 A Road closed from R mid-October to late May VAL 21 mi LEY 34 km 19 mi 31 km Chittenden Road Obsidian Cliff 7383ft 191 10 2250m Mt. Washburn 10243ft MONTANA 287 WYOMING 3122m Dunraven Pass 8859ft 2700m 191 Canyon Village Full services + 287 Norris Norris Geyser Basin 7484ft 2281m 12 mi 19 km Lower Falls West Yellowstone Upper Falls to Ashton Road closed from Y 14 mi e 60 mi/97 km early November ll 23 km o to mid-April H w 20 3 A Y s 14 mi D 16 mi t E o 23 km Gibbon Falls N 26 km n e V ALL West West Entrance EY 6667ft R Yellowstone iv 2032m Firehole Canyon Drive Madison e 6806ft r 2091m Mud Volcano 16 mi 26 km 9 Lake Village Full services (except gas) + Fishing Bridge Fountain Flat Drive Full services (except lodging) + Fountain Paint Pot 4 Bridge Bay Firehole Lake Drive Road closed from Midway Geyser Basin 8 early November East Entrance to early May 6951ft 2119m 27 mi 43 km 20 MON 14 East Entrance TA 16 NA Biscuit Basin 5 to Cody ID 6 AH 53 mi O Old Faithful 21 mi 85 km 34 km Black Sand Basin Full services + East YELLOWSTONE LAKE Sylvan Pass Divide 7733ft 8530ft Kepler Cascades 8391ft 2357m Craig 2558m 2600m Pass West Thumb 17 mi 8262ft Geyser Basin 7 27 km 2518m C O N T IN E N T A L Grant Village Full services + D I V 7988ft ID 2435m E WYOMING 22 mi Lewis 35 km Lake Lewis Lake Lewis Falls C O N T I N E N T A L D IV IDE Road closed from early November to mid-May Bechler South Entrance 6886ft 2099m Yellowstone South Entrance G to Jackson Road closed Grassy Lake r as 64 mi/103 km in winter Reservoir sy La ke Elevations R o Bechler to Ashton ad Flagg Ranch Tower to Canyon Junction 26 mi/42 km John D.