Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From the East Entrance to Fishing Bridge Junction
The East Entrance Road is most noted for passing among high mountains and over Sylvan
Pass, as well as for spectacular views of Yellowstone Lake and of nearby mountain ranges.
Sparkling Eleanor and Sylvan Lakes catch your eye at the top of the pass, and farther along
are viewpoints from which you can often see all the way to the Grand Tetons. Before reaching
Fishing Bridge, the road closely follows the lakeshore. It's 26 miles (42 km) from the East En-
trance to Fishing Bridge Junction.
Special Caution:
Much of the area accessible from the East Entrance Road, especially around
the Pelican Creek drainage, is prime grizzly bear territory in the first half of the summer, when
the bears are feeding on spawning trout. It is prudent to check with rangers before hiking and
never to hike alone.
Road Log
0.0/26.0
Yellowstone Park boundary.
0.1/25.9
East Entrance station. Stop here to pay the entrance fee (see the Travel
Tips for fee information). A side road leads north to service buildings and the ranger station.
Restrooms are just inside the entrance.
Yellowstone Park's Eastern Edge
its boundaries are mostly straight, except for the eastern edge. In fact, if you look closely at
that ragged edge, you can imagine the outline of a cute snub-nosed bear cub. Its ear sticks
up at the Northeast Entrance, its brow and nose squiggle through the northern Absaroka
Range—and you might even make a case for a right paw east of Yellowstone Lake!
The original Yellowstone National Park was a perfect rectangle, its borders specified by
the 1872 act of Congress that set aside the land. The eastern border ran along the 110th
meridian “passing ten miles to the eastward of the most eastern point of Yellowstone lake.”
Then why is this side of the park so irregular today?
