Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Emergency telephone number.
Call
911
for emergency medical, fire, or ranger response.
Entrance fees.
The cost to enter the park: automobile $25, motorcycle $20, good for 7 days.
An individual arriving on foot, on skis, or by bike pays $12 for the same period. The park
keeps 80 percent of these fees for necessary projects. Various types of annual passes are avail-
able. Use your admission receipt to reenter Yellowstone and to enter Grand Teton National
Park.
Fishing.
Permitted in most Yellowstone streams and lakes, but a permit must be purchased
and regulations followed. Permits are available at ranger stations, visitor centers, and Yellow-
stone General Stores. They cost $18 for 3 days, $25 for 7 days, or $40 for a year. Increases will
help fund the 2011 Native Fish Conservation Plan. Anglers under 16 years of age may fish
without a permit when supervised by an adult or obtain a free permit signed by an adult.
Pick up a copy of the fishing regulations from any visitor center, ranger station, or marina
in the park, or from one of the sporting goods stores in gateway communities. You are re-
sponsible for following the regulations and being able to measure your fish and identify the
different species. All native sport fish species now come under catch-and-release-only rules. If
you'll be fishing in Montana, Wyoming, or Idaho waters outside park boundaries, you'll need
to purchase a state fishing license. (See the last section in the Living Things chapter for more
about fish and fishing.)
Flying private planes.
Pilots who plan to fly to the Yellowstone area must be aware of the
challenges of mountain flying: density altitude issues, short runways, downdrafts and moun-
tain weather to watch out for, as well as personal limitations. Refer to the index for airports in
the vicinity.
Geyser basin walks.
Before you set out on a walk, especially one around the geyser basins,
take a few precautions to make your visit enjoyable.
The sun at this elevation can be brutal, especially between 10
AM
and 4
PM
, so provide your-
self with a hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and sunscreen lotion. Be prepared with rain gear for the
rainstorms and even hail that can come up quickly in any mountain environment, especially
during the late afternoons. Take your own drinking water; there is none along the walkways.
Neither pets nor smoking are allowed in the geyser basins. The only restrooms near most
routes through the geyser basins are in the parking lots.
Photographers and anyone who wears eyeglasses should know that the spray from geysers
contains silica, which can damage glass. Wipe off lenses and eyeglasses immediately if they
are dampened by spray.
Park regulations state: “You must stay on boardwalks and designated trails.” Be sure to
watch small children vigilantly. Geyserite formations are extremely brittle and can easily break
through, and even pools that do not look very hot may scald you!
