Yellowstone to Open Montana Entrances Today (Video)

Yellowstone National Park opened its Montana entrances on Monday, according to the National Park Service, expanding access to the beloved park weeks after it began a phased reopening.

The park will open its West Entrance near West Yellowstone, North Entrance near Gardiner, and Northeast Entrance near Cooke City, the NPS noted. The park’s Grand Loop Road will also be accessible.

“Yellowstone National Park is an incredible place for Americans to enjoy the great outdoors, and the American people having access to their public lands is now more important than ever,” U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt, said in a statement. “The park entrances in Wyoming opened about two weeks ago, so it’s great that we’ve been able to work with the Governor of Montana to safely restore access to the remaining entrances.”

Visitors to the park will be able to use facilities like restrooms, go on approved tours, and go boating or fishing, but the NPS said it will encourage the use of masks in crowded areas. While the park currently remains closed overnight, the NPS expected “limited overnight accommodations will begin reopening later in June.”

The opening comes on the same day Montana entered Phase 2 of its reopening plan, lifting the 14-day quarantine for out-of-state visitors and increasing capacity on places like restaurants and bars, according to the state’s governor.

The move also follows Yellowstone’s phased reopening on May 18, making its Wyoming entrances accessible. Two days later, a woman was attacked by a bison there after she got too close to the animal.

Additionally, Xanterra Travel Collection, which includes several lodges and campgrounds in the park, confirmed to Travel + Leisure it will begin reopening its doors to guests this month.

The company will focus on campgrounds and cabins with private baths, including Old Faithful Lodge, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and Canyon Lodge, as well as open its restaurants for take-out options and offer some tours like guided fishing and horseback rides, a spokeswoman shared with T+L.

If you can’t get to Yellowstone immediately, cure your wanderlust with the park's virtual tours, including a live stream of Old Faithful.