Press Release: Wyoming Alternatives to Yellowstone National Park
UPDATE: Yellowstone National Park is OPEN at the EAST ENTRANCE near Cody, Wyoming, the SOUTH ENTRANCE near Jackson, Wyoming and the WEST ENTRANCE near West Yellowstone, Montana. A majority of the park is accessible to visitors, including the north and south loops of Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road.
Stay up to date on conditions by signing up to receive Yellowstone road alerts. Text ‘82190’ to 888-777 or call 307-344-2117 for recorded information.
June 14, 2022—Cheyenne, Wyoming— Yesterday, Yellowstone National Park officials announced temporary closures to all entrances into the park due to heavy flooding, rockslides and extreme hazardous conditions. As a result, all in-park operations including lodging, campgrounds, food services and tours, are closed until further notice.
“We will not know timing of the park’s reopening until flood waters subside and we’re able to assess the damage throughout the park… I appreciate the efforts of the Yellowstone team and partners to safely evacuate areas of the park and of our gateway community partners who are helping us through this major event. We appreciate the support offered by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service and the Montana and Wyoming governors,” said Superintendent Cam Sholly in an official public statement.
While Wyoming continues to support the National Park Service to ensure the safety of citizens, visitors and staff, the Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT) and its tourism partners have compiled the following resources to ensure visitors find accommodations and safe experiences across the state. While there are countless experiences throughout the Cowboy State, the following are a selection of what Wyoming has to offer.
Yellowstone Gateway Communities:
- Northeast and Northwest Wyoming: The communities of Cody, Powell, Lovell, Thermopolis, Greybull, Sheridan and Gillette are brimming with historical sites and western accommodations, including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Bighorn National Forest and much more.
- Cody: Located 65 miles from the east entrance, Buffalo Bill’s Cody is helping visitors rebook lodging by calling 307-586-1574 or 307-586-1571.
- Southwest Wyoming: The communities of Jackson, Dubois, Pinedale, Rock Springs and Evanston provide an abundant of wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities, including Grand Teton National Park, Shoshone National Forest, Fremont Lake and Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.
- Grand Teton National Park: Grand Teton National Park continues to remain open, while the south entrance into Yellowstone is closed. Masks are currently required in all park buildings. For more information, nps.gov/grte/index.htm.
- Central Wyoming: The communities of Lander, Riverton, Casper and Rawlins offers some of the best culinary delights and cultural experiences in the state, including the Wind River Hotel and Casino, world-class fly-fishing on the North Platte River, Sinks Canyon State Park and the Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum.
- Southeast Wyoming: The communities of Cheyenne, Laramie, Saratoga, Torrington and Douglas are where history leads to adventure, with sites including natural hot springs, Oregon Trail Ruts, Vedauwoo National Recreation Area, Terry Bison Ranch and much more.
Wyoming State Parks: Wyoming State Parks offer an abundance of outdoor recreation and camping opportunities across the state, including, hiking, biking, fishing, paddle boarding and much more. For a full list of state parks and to make a reservation, visit wyoparks.wyo.gov.
Wyoming Wonder Map: Explore one place to easily map out Wyoming adventures. With a few taps, visitors can populate this interactive map with the attractions, hiking trails, camping sites and more. Find more at travelwyoming.com/map.
Wyoming Road Conditions: Nearly all Wyoming roadways remain open, while only sections of Wyoming’s highways near Yellowstone have been temporarily closed. Visitors are encouraged to visit wyoroad.info to stay up-to-date on the latest road conditions.
For more information on Wyoming’s attractions, outdoor spaces and communities, visit TravelWyoming.com. WOT will continue to update its travel resources and advisory here as new information develops throughout the coming days and weeks.
Visitors are encouraged to stay up to date by visiting Yellowstone National Park’s alerts page frequently and signing up to receive Yellowstone road alerts by texting ‘82190’ to 888-777 or call 307-344-2117 for recorded information.
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