Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are no public accommodations in Canyon, but
Yellowstone Expeditions
( 800-728-9333;
www.yellowstoneexpeditions.com
)
runs a winter yurt camp there for its cross-country ski and snowshoe tours.
Four-day tours from West Yellowstone cost around $950 per person, including transportation, heated accommoda-
tions, food and a guide.
Visitor centers at Old Faithful and Mammoth are open during the winter season. There are winter warming huts
at Mammoth, Indian Creek, Old Faithful (in yurts), West Thumb, Fishing Bridge, Madison and Canyon; the latter
two have fast food. All except Mammoth and Old Faithful are open 24 hours. Snowmobile fuel is available at
Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Old Faithful and Mammoth. Mammoth Clinic is open weekdays and Old Faithful Clinic
is open periodically.
Snowmobile Regulations
The park service enforces a daily cap of snowmobiles into the park, proposed at a total of 325 for 2012, and snow-
mobilers must be accompanied by a commercial guide, in a maximum group size of 10. Regulations are once
again under review so it would be wise to check current regulations before heading out on a snowmobile vacation.
Snowmobiles are banned from all the park's side roads, including the Lake Butte Overlook, Firehole Canyon
Dr and a section of the Grand Loop Rd from Canyon to Tower. All other roads are groomed for oversnow travel.
The Canyon to Washburn Hot Springs Overlook section of the Grand Loop Rd is open to Nordic skiers. Snowmo-
bile operators must carry a valid state driver's license. The speed limit between the West Entrance and Old Faith-
ful is 35mph; elsewhere it is 45mph. Roads are only open 7am to 9pm and off-road snowmobiling is prohibited.
See the boxed text,
Click here
,for snowmobiling safety tips.
Camping in the Park
Most of Yellowstone's campsites are in natural junctions, areas once frequented by Native
Americans as well as early trappers, explorers and the US Army. There are around 2200
formal campsites in the park, plus well over 100 backcountry sites.
Aside from backcountry campsites (which require a hike to reach), camping inside the
park is allowed only in 12 designated campgrounds and it is limited to 14 consecutive
days from July 1 to Labor Day, and 30 days for the rest of the year. Check-out time is
11am. See
Click here
f
or details on backcountry camping.
The National Park Service has seven campgrounds available on a first-come, first-
served basis only. Call 307-344-2114 for recorded NPS campsite information.
Xanterra runs five of the park's 12 campgrounds (Canyon, Madison, Fishing Bridge,
Bridge Bay and Grant Village) and these are a few dollars pricier than the national park
campgrounds. They feature flush toilets, cold running water and vending machines, and a
couple have pay showers.
A few campsites are reserved for backpackers and cyclists at all campgrounds except
Slough Creek and Canyon. Slough Creek fills early due to popularity with anglers and
wolf watchers. Canyon is popular because of its central location. Boaters favor Grant Vil-
lage and Bridge Bay; canoeists and anglers often base themselves at Lewis Lake. The
