TRAVEL TIPS - Yellowstone Treasures - page 424

a pet unattended and/or tied to an object is prohibited.” Xanterra accommodations brochures
add: “Pets are not allowed in the hotel rooms; however, dogs and cats are permitted in the
cabin facilities if quiet and housebroken. Pets may not be left unattended.” Consider seriously
whether it might be best to leave your pet at home.
Picnic areas and restrooms. All picnic areas have tables and well-maintained restrooms, but
many do not have water. The toilets, usually of the vault (outhouse) or chemical type, are in-
dicated in this guide by the icon .
Ranger stations. Go to a ranger station for backcountry camping, boating, and fishing per-
mits, or to report a problem. There are two kinds of rangers in Yellowstone, the law enforce-
ment rangers and the ranger-interpreters who answer questions and present programs and
hikes for visitors.
Religious services. Held in numerous park locations on Saturdays and Sundays; details are
available at visitor centers.
Road conditions. Call [phone] for information about park roads; 511 for road condi-
tions in Montana or Wyoming.
Rock climbing. Rock climbing is dangerous and not recommended in Yellowstone. It is illegal
in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Swimming. There are no swimming pools in Yellowstone, and all bathing is prohibited
“where water flows entirely from a hydrothermal spring or pool.” You may swim in two places
where river and hot spring water mix naturally: the Firehole River along Firehole Canyon
Drive and the Boiling River in a part of the Gardner River near Mammoth Hot Springs.
River, stream, and lake water is very cold and may contain organisms dangerous to your
health, so keep your head out of the water.
Telephones. A few public phones are located in visitor centers, lodgings, and restaurants. Ser-
vice for cell phones is provided in some parts of the park, most reliably at Canyon, Grant,
Mammoth, and Old Faithful, by some wireless companies. The NPS plans to add new com-
munications towers in the near future.
Theft and vandalism. Both crimes have become more prevalent as the number of visitors has
increased. Lock your car doors, and keep all valuables out of sight.
Winter visits. Only the road between the North and Northeast Entrances is plowed in winter.
Other roads are groomed for snowmobile and snowcoach travel. Book your trip through the
park concessionaire or through private snow-coach, snowmobile, and cross-country ski tour
operators. See www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/wintbusn.htm .