Yellowstone

Dear All, I am happy to present you to some info that I gathered during last few hours of doing nothing. Hope we can make it. Nurlan Aldassugurov. Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. May - Facility or Service Opening Dates

May 4

Canyon Village - Service Station(credit card service available at the pumps all season) Old Faithful - Snow Lodge Rooms and Restaurant; Upper Store; Lower Service Station (credit card service available at the pumps all season) Madison Campground (concession) Mammoth - Hotel and Dining Room; Terrace Grill Fast Food

May 11

Fishing Bridge - General Store Old Faithful - Inn, Gift Shop & Food Service Mammoth - Trail Rides; Service Station

May 14

Grant Village Mini Store

May 17

Old Faithful - Clinic

May 18

Canyon Village - Wrecker Service Fishing Bridge RV Park (concession) Lake Yellowstone - Hotel & Cabins Norris Campground Old Faithful - Lodge, Cabins & Food Service; Gift Shop; Wrecker Service Roosevelt/Tower - Tower Fall Store; Tower Fall Campground

May 19

Lake - General Store

May 20

Canyon - General Store

May 22

Old Faithful - Service Station (credit card service available at the pumps all season)

May 25

Bridge Bay - Dock Rental; Campground (concession) Canyon Village - Repair Service Fishing Bridge - Wrecker & Repair Service Grant Village - Lodging & Main Restaurant; Lake House Restaurant; Grant General Store; Service Station; Wrecker & Repair Service Lake - Lake Clinic Old Faithful - Clinic; Repair Service Slough Creek Campground

Informati on Every Visitor Needs to Know Yellowstone is a wilderness filled with natural wonders that are also potential hazards at times. There is no guarantee of your safety. Regulations are strictly enforced to protect you and the park's wonders. This page is designed to provide the basic rules at a glance. It is not comprehensive and should be used merely to obtain a simple familiarity with some of our more important rules. You will find additional rules defined in more detail on our Rules & Regulations Main Page. Avoid These Situations Your visit may be marred by tragedy if you violate park rules. Law enforcement rangers strictly enforce park regulations to protect you and the park. Please help keep our contacts with you pleasant by paying special attention to park regulations and avoiding these problems: • •

Speeding (radar enforced) Driving while intoxicated (open container law enforced)

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Off-road travel by vehicle or bicycle Improper storage of food Camping violations Pets off leash Littering Swimming in thermal pools Removal or possession of natural (flowers, antlers, rocks, etc) or cultural features (artifacts) Feeding or approaching wildlife Spotlighting (viewing animals with artificial light) Boating and fishing violations Failure to remove detachable side mirrors when not pulling trailers

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Scalding Water Can Ruin Your Trip Yellowstone's thermal features, rare among the earth's wonders, are extremely fragile. Boardwalks and trails protect you and preserve delicate formations. You must stay on boardwalks and designated trails. Scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust. Pools may be near or above the boiling temperature and can cause severe, possibly even fatal, burns.

Pets are prohibited in thermal areas. Swimming or bathing in thermal pools or streams, where water flows entirely from a thermal spring or pool, is prohibited. Where swimming is allowed, swim at your own risk. Thermal waters may contain organisms know to cause infections and/or amoebic meningitis, which can quickly be fatal. Obtain more information at any ranger station or visitor center. Unpredictable Wildlife—Keep Your Distance! You will see more of an animals natural behavior and activity if you are sensitive to its need for space. Do not approach any wildlife, especially those with young. View them from the safety of your vehicle. If an animal reacts to your presence, you are too close. Each year a number of park visitors are injured by wildlife when they approach animals too closely. You must stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other large animals - bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, wolves, and coyotes. BISON may appear tame and slow but they are unpredictable and dangerous. They weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kg) and sprint at 30 miles per hour (48 kph), three time faster than you can run! Every year visitors are gored and some have been killed. COYOTES quickly learn bad habits like roadside begging. This may lead to aggressive behavior toward humans. Never approach or feed a begging coyote. BEARS - Be alert for tracks and sign. The best way to avoid a bear is to take all necessary precautions to avoid surprise encounters. Review both our backpacking page and our bear encounters page for important information on this subject. If precautionary measures fail and you are charged by a bear, you can still usually defuse the situation. Pepper spray is a good last line of defense and it is effective in more than 90% of the reported cases where it has been used. Become familiar with your pepper spray, real all instructions, and know its limitations. Pepper spray must be instantly available, not in your pack. Remember, carrying pepper spray is not a substitute for vigilance and good safety precautions. If you are injured by a bear (regardless of how minor), or if you observe bear or bear sign, report it to a park ranger as soon as possible. Someone's safety may depend on it.

Attention Anglers and Boaters Yellowstone National Park's fishing season opens the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and closes the first Sunday in November. Details are available on our fishing pages. Permits are required for the use of boats or float tubes. Backcountry Permits Permits are required for overnight backcountry use and may be obtained in person up to 48 hours in advance from any ranger station. Rangers will provide information on weather, trails, and other conditions. See our Backcountry Trip Planner for online details. Bicycling Bicycling is permitted on established public roads, parking areas, and designated routes. There are no bicycle paths along roadways. Bicycles are prohibited on backcountry trails and boardwalks. We strongly recommend that safety gear, including helmet and high visibility clothing, be worn by all bicyclists. Park roads are narrow and winding; most do not have a shoulder or shoulders are covered by gravel. During April, May, and June, high snowbanks make travel more dangerous. Road elevations range from 5300 to 8,860 feet (1,615 2,700 m). Relatively long distances exist between services and facilities. Motorists frequently do not see bicyclists or fail to give them sufficient space on the road. Drivers sometimes pass on hill crests, blind curves, or in oncoming traffic. Vehicles, especially motor homes or those towing trailers, may have wide mirrors posing an additional hazard. For more information about bicycling in Yellowstone, visit our bicycling pages or ask at a visitor center. Fallen Trees Following the fires of 1988, thousands of dead trees, known as snags, were left standing in Yellowstone. These snags may fall with very little warning. Be cautious and alert for falling snags along trails and roadways, and in campsites and picnic areas. Avoid areas with large numbers of dead trees. Again, there is no guarantee of your safety.

Traffic Yellowstone has more than 350 miles (564 km) of roads. Most are narrow, rough, and busy. Some sections are steep with sharp drop-offs. Drive cautiously and

courteously. Slow moving vehicles must use pullouts to observe wildlife or scenery and to allow safe passing by other vehicles. Watch for animals on the road, especially at night. Bicycles and motorcycles present special hazards. Drive defensively and wear seat belts. Yellowstone has a mandatory seat belt requirement for all passengers. Be especially cautious of ice and road damage. Cool temperatures may occur at any time of the year. The maximum speed limit is 45 mph (73 km per hour) unless posted otherwise. High Altitude Visitors with a cardiac or respiratory medical history should be aware that most park roads roads range between 5,300 and 8,860 feet in elevation. We recommend contacting a physician prior to your visit. Be aware of your physical limitations and drink plenty of fluids to forestall the dehydrating effects of the parks dry climate. Stop and rest frequently. Picnic Areas Overnight camping is not allowed in any of the park's picnic areas. Fires may be built only in fire grates available in picnic areas at Snake River, Grant Village, Bridge Bay, Cascade, Norris Meadows, Yellowstone River, Spring Creek, Nez Perce, and the east parking lot of Old Faithful. Please visit our picnicking page for more information. Important numbers to know while visiting. Emergency, dial 911 Park Information, 307-344-7381 CAMPSITE RESERVATIONS Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates campgrounds at Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Grant Village, and Madison. Same-day reservations can be made by calling: 307-344-7901. Future reservations can be made by calling: 307-344-7311 or 1-866GEYSERLAND (439-7375), or by writing: Yellowstone National Park Lodges, PO Box 165, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only campground

offering water, sewer, and electrical hookups, and it is for hard-sided vehicles only (no tents or tent-trailers are allowed). Please make your reservations early and/or plan to secure your campsite as early in the day as possible. Campgrounds may fill by early morning, especially during peak season (early July—late August). It is recommended over 30' make are limited number available in sites are located at RV Park and West

that recreational vehicles reservation since there of campsites over 30' Yellowstone. Large RV Flag Ranch, Fishing Bridge Yellowstone.

CAMPSITE RESERVATIONS

AVAILABILITY &

Availability is firstfollowing seven National Park: Indian Mammoth, Norris, and Tower Fall. Sites available on a firstCampgrounds may be to obatin a site. type (tent, vehicle, or campgrounds is not

come, first serve at the campgrounds in Yellowstone Creek, Lewis Lake, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, at these campgrounds are come, first-served basis. filled by 11 a.m.; arrive early Overnight camping of any RV) outside designated permitted.

CAMPFIRES Wood and charcoal fires are permitted only in locations with fire grates. Special fire restrictions are occasionally put in place when the danger of wildland fires is great. If you plan to light a fire in the park, please ask about current fire restrictions at the entrance station when you arrive or email our Visitor Services Office immediately prior to your visit.

Campground Sites

Approximate Fee Dates

Elev (ft) Toilet

Showers & Dump Laundry Station nearby for a Fee

Bridge Bay*

>425

5/25-9/16

$17**

7,800

Flush

Nearby

Canyon*

>250

6/8-9/9

$17**

8,000

Flush

X

X

Generators Permitted RV Sites (8AM - 8 PM)

X

Call for availability & reservations

X

Call for

availability & reservations Fishing Bridge RV*

Grant*

>325

>400

5/18-9/30

6/21-9/23

$35**+

$17**

7,800

7,800

Flush

Flush

X

X

Sewer

X

X

Call for availability & reservations

X

Call for availability & reservations

Indian Creek

75

6/8-9/17

$12

7,300

Vault

10@ 40; 35 @ 30; pullthrough

Lewis Lake

85

6/15-11/4

$12

7,800

Vault

a few @ 40’ X

Call for availability & reservations

X

all pullthrough

X

2 @ 50’ (signed); 5 @ 30’

Madison*

>250

5/4-10/28

$17**

6,800

Flush

Mammoth

85

All Year

$14

6,200

Flush

Norris

>100

Pebble Creek

Slough Creek

Tower Falls

>30

29

>30

5/18-9/24

6/8-9/24

5/25-10/31

5/18-9/24

$14

$12

$12

$12

7,500

6,900

6,250

6,600

Flush

X

Vault

some long pullthroughs

Vault

14 @ 30’, walk through first to assess sites beyond #16

Vault

all @ 30’ or less; has hairpin curve

* Reserve through Xanterra Parks & Resorts - call: 307-344-7311 or TDD: 307-344-5395 - Online reservations are not available at this time. **Plus sales tax + 1-4 people Dates are approximate and may change because of weather or resource management concerns. Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant Village, and Madison campgrounds all contain accessible sites.

Hikes Hiker / Biker Campsites Camping for front country hikers or bicyclists is limited to the developed campgrounds located throughout the park. Campsites are available by reservation (through Xanterra Parks and Resorts) and on a first come, first served basis. The distances separating campgrounds and the fact that the campgrounds typically fill early each day during the peak visitation season will pose logistical problems for the front country hiker or bicycle camper in Yellowstone. A limited number of campsites are reserved for hikers and bicyclists at all campgrounds with the exception of Slough Creek. Camping is not available at Old Faithful. If you are traveling with a group of hikers or bicyclists, call Xanterra Parks and Resorts prior to your arrival to check on group campsite availability; not all campgrounds can accommodate groups. If you have access to a vehicle, use it to find a campsite in your destination campground early each day. Hikers or bicyclists camping without a vehicle can use designated hiker/biker sites for $ 4.00 per individual per night. All other vehicle campsites range from $ 10 to $ 16 per night depending on the campground. Opening and closing dates vary considerably for each campground. Check the Calendar Page or Camping Page to make sure that a campground is open if you are planning a spring or fall visit to Yellowstone. Water Should you drink the water? Intestinal infections from drinking untreated water are increasingly common. Waters may be polluted by animal and/or human wastes. When possible, carry a supply of water from a domestic source. If you drink water from lakes and streams, bring it to a boil or use a water filter to reduce the chance of infection. Yellowstone's weather is unpredictable. A sunny warm day may become fiercely stormy with wind, rain, sleet, and sometimes snow. Lightning storms are common; get off water or beaches and stay away from ridges, exposed places, and isolated trees. Begin your hike by stopping at a ranger station or visitor center for information. Trail conditions may change suddenly and unexpectedly. Bear activity, rain or snow storms, high water, and fires may temporarily close trails.

Day Hikes Near Norris Ice Lake Trail (direct route) Ice Lake is a lovely, small lake nestled in the thick lodgepole pine forest. Some of the area was heavily burned in 1988. Hikers can continue from Ice Lake to Wolf Lake, Grebe Lake, and Cascade Lake, and then on to Canyon. Trailhead: 3.5 miles east of Norris on the Norris-Canyon road Distance: 0.3 miles (0.5 km) Level of Difficulty: Easy, handicapped accessible backcountry site on lake, may need assistance to reach lake due to some terrain level change Artist Paint Pots This is one of the overlooked yet wonderful short hikes of Yellowstone. The trail winds across a wet meadow on boardwalk then enters a partially burned lodgepole pine forest. The thermal area within the short loop at the end of the trail contains some of the most colorful hot springs and small geysers found in the area. Two mudpots at the top of

the hill allow closer access than Fountain Paint Pots. Caution for flying mud! Remind folks to stay on the trail throughout the area. Trailhead: 4.5 miles south of Norris on the Norris-Madison road Distance:1 mile (1 km) roundtrip Level of Difficulty: Easy with one steep uphill/downhill section, trail erodes easily so may be rutted after rains

Day Hikes Near Madison Harlequin Lake This is a gentle ascent through burned lodgepole pines to a small, marshy lake popular with mosquitos and waterfowl (but not harlequin ducks). Nice quick hike to escape the road for a little bit. Trailhead:1.5 miles west of Madison Campground on the West Entrance road Distance: 1 mile (1 km) roundtrip Level of Difficulty: Easy Two Ribbons Trail This is a completely boardwalked trail that winds through burned lodgepole pine and sagebrush communities next to the Madison River. Good examples of fire recovery and regrowth as well as buffalo wallows. There are no interpretive signs or brochures other than the wayside exhibits at the trailheads. Trailhead: Approximately 5 miles east of the West Entrance, no marked trailhead, look for wayside exhibits next to boardwalk in large pull-outs Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles (2 km) roundtrip Level of Difficulty: Easy, mostly accessible

Day Hikes Near Mammoth Wraith Falls This short, easy hike through open sagebrush and Douglas-fir forest to the foot of Wraith Falls cascade on Lupine Creek. Trailhead: Pullout ¼ mile east of Lava Creek Picnic area on the Mammoth-Tower Road

Distance: 1 mile (1 km) round trip Level of Difficulty: Easy

Day Hikes Near Old Faithful Observation Point Loop Trail This trail gains about 200 ft. in elevation to a prominent overlook providing a great view of the Upper Geyser Basin. Trailhead: Firehole River footbridge behind Old Faithful Geyser Distance: 1.1 mile (1.8 km) loop Level of Difficulty: Moderate Black Sand and Biscuit Basin Trails

Easily accessed by boardwalks less than a mile in length, Emerald Pool, Sunset Lake, Jewel Geyser, and Sapphire Pool are among the features found in these less visited basins. Both areas are included in the Old Faithful area trail guide. Trailhead: 0.5 and 2 miles north of Old Faithful area, respectively Distance: Less than 0.5 (0.8 km) miles each Level of Difficulty: Easy Midway Geyser Basin Trail The boardwalk leads visitors by impressive features including Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring. Trailhead: Parking area 6 miles north of Old Faithful Distance: 0.5 mile (0.8 km) loop Level of Difficulty: Easy

Fountain Paint Pot Trail Yellowstone's four types of thermal features can be seen in one short walk along this loop trail: geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles. A trail guide is available for this area, which also includes the Firehole Lake Drive area. Trailhead: Parking area 8 miles north of Old Faithful Distance: 0.5 mile (0.8 km) loop Level of Difficulty: Easy

Day Hikes Near Grant Village & West Thumb West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail Stroll through a geyser basin of colorful hot springs and dormant lakeshore geysers situated on the scenic shores of Yellowstone Lake. Trails and boardwalks are handicapped accessible with assistance. Trailhead: West Thumb Geyser Basin, 1/4 mile east of West Thumb Junction Distance: 3/8 mile (1 km) roundtrip Level of Difficulty: Easy; boardwalk trail with slight grade as trail descends to and climbs up from the lake shore Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail

Hike to a high mountain meadow for a commanding view of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake and the Absaroka Mountains. Trailhead: Trailhead sign at entrance to West Thumb Geyser Basin parking area Distance: 2 miles (3 km) roundtrip Level of Difficulty: Moderate; mostly level terrain with a moderately strenuous 400-foot elevation gain near the overlook Duck Lake Trail Climb a small hill for a view of Duck and Yellowstone lakes and explore the effects of the 1988 fires that swept through this area. Trail descends to lakeshore. Trailhead: Trail begins in West Thumb Geyser Basin parking area, across the lot from Lake Overlook trailhead. Distance: 1 mile (1.6 km) roundtrip Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Minimizing the Dangers of a Bear Encounter Yellowstone is home to both grizzly and black bears. Although the risk of an encounter with a bear is low, there are no guarantees of your safety. Minimize your risks by following the guidelines below: Make bears aware of your presence on trails by making loud noises such as shouting or singing. This lessens the chance of sudden encounters, which are the cause of most bear-caused human injuries in the park. Hike in groups and use caution where vision is obstructed.Do not hike after dark. Avoid carcasses; bears often defend this source of food. If you encounter a bear, do not run. Bears can run over 30 miles per hour, or 44 feet per second, faster than Olympic sprinters. Running may elicit an attack from otherwise non-aggressive bears. If the bear is unaware of you, detour away from the bear. If the bear is aware of you and nearby, but has not acted aggressively, slowly back away. Tree climbing to avoid bears is popular advice but not very practical in many circumstances. All black bears, all grizzly cubs, and some adult grizzlies can climb trees. Running to a tree may provoke an otherwise uncertain bear to chase you. Some bears will bluff their way out of a threatening situation by charging, then veering off or stopping abruptly at the last second. Bear experts generally recommend standing still until the bear stops and then slowly backing away. If a bear makes physical contact, drop to the ground, lie face down, and clasp your hands behind your neck. It may take all the courage you have, but lie still and remain silent. Resistance will only provoke the bear. Before moving, listen and look around carefully to make sure the bear is no longer nearby. Mammoth Hot Springs

Old Faithful Area Natural Highlights

Madison Area Natural Highlights

Yellowstone Fact Sheet GENERAL • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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World’s First National Park A designated World Heritage Site A designated Biosphere Reserve Site 3,472 square miles or 8,987 square km 2,219,789 acres or 898,317 ectares 63 air miles north to south (102 km) 54 air miles east to west 87 km) 96 % in Wyoming 3 % in Montana 1 % in Idaho Highest Point: 11,358 ft / 3,462 m (Eagle Peak) Lowest Point: 5,282 ft / 1,610 m (Reese Creek) Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined Approximately 5% of park is covered by water; 15% is grassland; and 80% is forested Precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at the north boundary to 80 inches (205 cm) in the southwest corner Temperatures (average) range from 9° F / -13 C in January to 80° F / 27 C in July at Mammoth Hot Springs Record High Temp: 98° F / 37 C (Lamar 1936) Record Low Temp: -66° F / -54 C (Madison 1933)

WILDLIFE • • • • • • • •

7 species of native ungulates 2 species of bears Approximately 50 species of other mammals 311 recorded species of birds (148 nesting species) 18 species of fish (6 non-native) 6 species of reptiles 4 species of amphibians 5 species protected as "threatened or endangered" Threatened: bald eagle, grizzly bear, lynx Endangered: whooping crane, gray wolf

LATITUDE / LONGITUDE / UTM (NOTE: ALL UTMS ARE "Nad83") 1. Center of the park: 44 36 53.25 (Lat) -110 30 03.93 (Long) UTM Zone 12: 4940281 N, 539584 E 2. Old Faithful: 44 27 37.31 (Lat) -110 49 41.59 (Long) UTM Zone 12: 4923021 N, 513665 E 3. Mammoth: 44 58 34.79 (Lat) -110 42 03.37 (Long) UTM Zone 12: 4980364 N, 523580 E 4. Entrances: East Entrance: 44 29 18.42 (Lat) -110 00 13.80 (Long) UTM Zone 12: 4926609 N, 579209 E North Entrance: 45 01 46.39 (Lat) -110 42 31.32 (Long) UTM Zone 12: 4986275 N, 522949 E Northeast Entrance: 45 00 12.09 (Lat) -110 00 04.62 (Long) UTM Zone 12: 4983809 N, 578510 E South Entrance: 44 07 56.97 (Lat) -110 39 52.83 (Long) UTM Zone 12: 4886643 N, 526824 E West Entrance:

FLORA • • •

8 species of conifers Approximately 80% of forest is comprised of lodgepole pine More than 1,700 species of native vascular plants

44 39 30.27 (Lat) -111 05 49.87 (Long) UTM Zone 12: 4945010 N, 492295 E

ROADS AND TRAILS

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More than 170 species of exotic (non-native) plants 186 species of lichens

GEOLOGY • • • • • • • •

An Active Volcano Approximately 2,000 earthquakes annually Approximately 10,000 thermal features More than 300 geysers One of the world’s largest calderas, measuring 45 by 30 miles (72 by 48 km) One of the world's largest petrified forests Approximately 290 waterfalls, 15 ft. or higher, flowing year-round Tallest waterfall: Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River at 308 ft. (94 m)

YELLOWSTONE LAKE • • • • • •

136 sq. miles (35,400 hectares) of surface area 110 miles (177 km) of shoreline 20 miles (32 km) north to south 14 miles (23 km) east to west Average depth: 140 feet (43 m) Maximum depth: about 400 feet (122 m)

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5 park entrances 466 mi / 750 km of roads (310 mi/499 km paved miles) 950 mi / 1,529 km of backcountry trails 97 trailheads 287 backcountry campsites

VISITATION • • •

2000 - 2,838,233 visitors Record year: 1992 – 3,144,405 visitors Winter visitors: Approximately 140,000

FACILITIES • • • • • • •

9 visitor centers and museums 9 hotels/lodges (2,238 hotel rooms/cabins) 7 NPS-operated campgrounds (454 sites) 5 concession-operated campgrounds (1,747 sites) 2,000+ buildings (NPS and concessions) 49 picnic areas 1 marina

EMPLOYEES CULTURAL RESOURCES • • • • • • •

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During the summer: Approximately 800 National Park Service (about 380 year-round) Approximately 3,700 work for concessions

1,000+ documented archeological sites • 1,106 historic structures 6 National Historic Landmarks (Obsidian Cliff & 5 buildings) Nearly 200,000 museum objects MAILING ADDRESS 20,000 titles in Park Research Library 2,500 linear feet of historic documents National Park Service P.O. Box 168 About 90,000 photographic prints and negatives Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168 Internet Website: www.nps.gov/yell/

Fees & Reservations The entrance fee is $25 for a private, noncommercial vehicle; $20 for each snowmobile or motorcycle; or $12 for each visitor 16 and older entering by foot, bike, ski, etc. This fee provides the visitor with a 7-day entrance permit for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Remember to keep your admission receipt in order to re-enter the parks. Snowmobile operators must possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license. Advance reservations are not needed to enter the park. Annual or Lifetime Passes are possible alternatives to the above fees.