Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The gravel road beyond the archives building, following the former Northern Pacific
roadbed, is open to cars and bicycles. It continues for 5 miles (8 km) along the river in park
territory and leads to Corwin Springs.
he
North Entrance Arch,
sometimes called the Roosevelt Arch, is just inside the bound-
ary. Stagecoaches loaded passengers from the railroad station in Gardiner and passed through
the arch to enter the park. President Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone and dedicated
the arch in April 1903. It's inscribed near the top with words from the Act of Congress that set
aside this land “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”
The North Entrance Arch was constructed from columnar basalt quarried near Gardiner.
According to research unearthed by Ruth Quinn for her book about architect Reamer,
there is conflicting historical evidence as to whether he or Major Chittenden of the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers had the final say in the design of the arch.
0.1/5.2
Sign about the Arch.
Some Plants and a Snake Near Gardiner
Since precipitation is low (about 12-13 in/30-33 cm per year) and the elevation lower than
the rest of the park, the ecology here is different. As the road ascends to Mammoth Hot
Springs, the vegetation changes from dry desert plants, such as Idaho fescue and the oc-
casional prickly pear cactus, to higher elevation plants like Rocky Mountain juniper and
rabbitbrush.
