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Contact: Christy Fleming, 307-548-5406

Lovell, W.Y. — Bighorn National Recreation Area is launching its new “Reel” Fun Adventures program series this summer, offering hands-on fishing experiences for youth, families, and first-time anglers.

Supported by a National Park Foundation Jr. Ranger Angler Grant, the program provides free fishing clinics, equipment, and educational activities designed to teach the basics of fishing, outdoor safety, and responsible stewardship of local fisheries.

The programs are centered around the newly repurposed pond at the Visitor Center, which has transitioned from a reflection pond to a community fishing pond in partnership with Wyoming Game and Fish. The 2026 season will serve as a pilot year to evaluate fish habitat and community use.

The season kicks off with a special event on June 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. featuring a pond re-dedication and family-friendly fishing activities. Equipment will be available for those who do not have their own. Bring a lawn chair, lunch, water, and snacks to participate in a fun day of fishing.

Additional programs will be offered throughout the summer. Event details will be shared on the Bighorn Canyon Facebook page and park website.

Contact: Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005

PORT ANGELES, Wash. – Olympic National Park is seeking proposals to provide visitor concession services at Kalaloch Lodge. The new concessioner will provide lodging, food and beverage, retail, campground (group site), firewood, and other related services over a 10-year term. Proposals must be submitted electronically by Aug. 3, 2026. The existing contract concludes on Sept. 30, 2027.  

Concession contracts enhance the visitor experience by providing hospitality services that federal agencies typically do not offer, while still advancing the National Park Service mission. Concession operations can also expand employment opportunities in the communities surrounding national parks.  

All proposals from qualified offerors are evaluated using the same criteria to ensure a fair and competitive process in accordance with the National Park Service Concessions Improvement Act of 1998.  

The prospectus, which describes this business opportunity and includes the terms and conditions under which the National Park Service will award the concession contract, is available at: 

Olympic National Park (Lodging, Food & Beverage, Retail, Campground (group site), Firewood, and Other Services - Concessions (U.S. National Park Service) 

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Five future canine rangers are already capturing hearts across the country. Born March 30, Denali’s newest sled dog puppies are now live on the park’s beloved Puppy Cam, offering a front-row seat to the next generation of working dogs in action.

The kennels harnesses the spirit of sled dogs (canine rangers) to forge lasting bonds between people and wild places. The Puppy Cam provides a digital extension for this bond, allowing people to visit virtually from around the world and watch the puppies grow into future Denali canine rangers.

This year’s litter comes with a patriotic twist. In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, each puppy is named after one of the nation’s iconic national parks — Sequoia, Mammoth, Rainier, Teton, and Mesa. Another pup, Acadia, will soon join the team from a partner kennel.

The mother (dam) of the puppies born in the park is Spark, a Denali Kennels canine ranger from our 2023 Fire-themed litter, and the father (sire), Trapper, is from Sage Mountain Kennel in Fairbanks, Alaska. Acadia’s dam is Katniss from Middle Earth Mushing Kennel in Fairbanks, and her sire is Soldier from Sage Mountain.

Later this month, Sage Mountain will select two puppies from this litter who will stay in the park for a few more weeks and then return to Fairbanks to join their teams. Around the same time, we will also acquire one puppy from a litter born at Middle Earth Mushing Kennels on April 3, for a total of four puppies that will become Denali canine rangers.

Arranged breeding and splitting litters with partners strengthens the health of the kennel's lineage, as well as the health of all freight-style Alaskan huskies. Physical traits of freight-style include long legs to break trail through deep snow, compact paws to resist buildup of ice between toes, and sturdy coats and puffy tails to keep warm in the depths of sub-arctic winter. In addition, it’s important that canine rangers have character traits that include tenacity, an unbridled love to pull and run as part of a team, and social skills that tolerate attention of many thousands of admirers to visit the kennels each summer.

Currently, visitors to the park can experience the kennels (and perhaps get a glimpse of the puppies) on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Beginning on May 15, the kennels will be open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offer a free sled dog program at 2 p.m. Additional programs will be added at 10 a.m. on May 20 and 4 p.m. on June 1.

These aren’t just cute faces. Denali’s sled dogs are working rangers, carrying on a 100-plus-year tradition of helping protect the park’s vast wilderness. From hauling supplies to patrolling remote terrain, these dogs are essential to operations in one of the wildest places in America.

For 104 years, the Denali Sled Dog Kennels has been the only sled dog kennel in the National Park Service and one of the oldest sled dog kennels in the country. While the role of the kennels has evolved over time, human and canine rangers have worked together since 1922 to uphold the tradition of preserving the park’s vast wilderness by dog team.

Denali’s dogs are authentic working dogs; they continue to run patrols and haul materials in Denali’s two million acres of federally designated wilderness area. The kennels continue to embrace wilderness values and share the region’s rich mushing history with visitors.

Funding for the Puppy Cam is made possible through a partnership with Alaska Geographic, using proceeds from their Denali Park Store which helps support interpretation, education, research, and science activities in the park.

Alaska Geographic works in partnership with public land agencies to connect people with Alaska’s national parks, forests, refuges and conservation lands through the creation and delivery of exceptional educational products and programs. Learn more about Alaska Geographic at www.akgeo.org.

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Beginning May 4, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will close Bullhead Trail from Monday through Thursday each week, excluding federal holidays, through November 19. During this time, the park will continue the rehabilitation of the Bullhead Trail in partnership with Friends of the Smokies.  

Hikers are welcome to hike Bullhead Trail Friday through Sunday and on federal holidays. The park plans to reopen the trail fully in November.  
The Bullhead Trail is one of several routes that lead to Mount Le Conte, offering a challenging 13.6-mile roundtrip hike to the summit. Through this rehabilitation, the park will enhance overall trail safety by: 

• Repairing tread surfaces 
• Improving drainage 
• Constructing trail structures such as staircases, turnpikes and retaining walls 
• Removing tripping hazards like exposed rocks and roots

 

Specific improvements to the Bullhead Trail include: 

• Regrading 3 miles of trail surface for improved safety and better trail drainage 
• Repairing existing drystone retaining walls, adding new stone steps and building turnpikes and erosion control structures  
• Removing tripping hazards, including roots and rocks 
• Widening sections of trail that are eroding and sloughing off of the hill side 
• Pruning overgrown vegetation in the trail corridor to improve views and the hiker experience

 

The park is also improving the top sections of several trails around the top of Mount Le Conte to address erosion and rehabilitate parts of those trails. These efforts will also help protect the park’s natural resources.  

Following the completion of the Ramsey Cascades Trail rehabilitation in 2024, the park and Friends of the Smokies began the rehabilitation of Bullhead Trail as the next project in the Trails Forever program. This program funds a permanent, highly skilled trail crew dedicated to the rehabilitation of high-use trails throughout the park.  

The program also funds youth trail crews from the American Conservation Experience and Southeast Conservation Corps who assist with the rehabilitation each year. There will also be volunteer opportunities to assist the crew each Wednesday on Bullhead Trail starting May 20.  

To date, Friends of the Smokies has contributed more than $4 million to rehabilitation projects, including those on Abrams Falls, Trillium Gap, Rainbow Falls, Alum Cave, Chimney Tops, Forney Ridge and Ramsey Cascades trails.

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Beginning Monday, May 11 through Thursday, May 14, and then again Monday, May 18 through Thursday, May 21, trail access will be closed above Nymph Lake to the Dream Lake/Lake Haiyaha junction for a bridge replacement project. This popular trail section will reopen Friday through Sunday (May 15 through May 17) and close again on Monday, May 18 to reopen by May 21.

Dream Lake, Emerald Lake and Lake Haiyaha will only be accessible from the Lake Haiyaha Trail during this temporary closure. Park visitors should plan ahead for the additional distance to reach those destinations. All other trails in the Bear Lake area will remain open.

Trail conditions can vary greatly in the spring. Be prepared for cool temperatures and varying conditions. Trails in lower elevation areas can be icy. In higher elevation areas of the park, be prepared for walking on snow and ice. Traction devices are advised in higher elevations.

For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park Information Office at (970) 586-1206.  

The National Park Service today announced it has awarded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the construction contract to reconstruct Company Creek Road. USACE’s Rapid Response Team began work this week to rebuild an elevated interim road across federal lands. The interim road will provide similar access to the upper Company Creek area as the hasty corduroy road that has been used since floods in December 2025. Work is expected to last a few weeks.

NPS will develop a plan to provide more permanent and sustainable access across federal lands. In addition, the NPS and Chelan County continue to explore options and funding for future projects in the Stehekin Valley.

The elevated interim road will use federal dollars to construct approximately 1,000 to 1,100 linear feet of an elevated interim road across federal lands. Approximately 200-300 linear feet of the proposed new road alignment are on lands outside federal jurisdiction due to the shift in the river’s location. There is a private land component to the project which creates a gap between the elevated interim road and the remainder of Company Creek Road beyond the damaged area. The NPS will continue to coordinate with Chelan County and local homeowners for integration with the federal portion of the project.

The path for the elevated interim road was determined in coordination with subject matter experts and an extensive design team. The team considered many factors, including shortening construction time in order to build before spring runoff, the available quantity of materials to construct, and the ability of the road to survive spring floods, while minimizing impacts as much as possible on cultural and natural resources in line with the NPS mission. The alignment also sought to minimize unintended consequences and impacts to other areas and properties in Stehekin Valley.

The elevated interim road is not designed to replace a levee. The Federal Lands Transportation Program funding authorized for this emergency work allows the NPS to only construct a road and features directly associated with a road, such as armoring along the road prism, which the NPS is incorporating into the design.

Due to the flood event in early December 2025, there was a substantial geomorphic change in the lower Stehekin Valley as the river shifted into its historic floodplain, eliminating safe vehicle access beyond the damaged area. The area where Company Creek Road once was now lies within the Stehekin River channel. It is not feasible or sustainable to rebuild the road in its earlier alignment due to this highly dynamic river system and continuous changes.

Updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.

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In 2026, tickets are required to ride the Logan Pass Shuttle.

Logan Pass shuttles will provide express transportation to Logan Pass for visitors seeking longer experiences in the alpine area of Going-to-the-Sun Road. This shuttle service replaces Glacier National Park’s previous first-come, first-served shuttle system. Shuttles to Logan Pass will not pick up passengers who do not have shuttle tickets.

The Logan Pass Shuttle will provide access to Logan Pass from both the west and east sides of Going-to-the-Sun Road. West side routes will provide express service to Logan Pass, departing from Apgar Visitor Center and Lake McDonald Lodge and servicing stops at The Loop and Logan Pass only. East side routes will provide express service to Logan Pass, departing from St. Mary Visitor Center and Rising Sun.

Shuttles are wheelchair-accessible. Smoking, pets, and open alcohol containers are prohibited. Bear spray must be safely secured to prevent accidental discharge. Most shuttles have bike racks.

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All shuttles drop off at Logan Pass in the morning and return to boarding locations in the afternoon.

 

Boarding Location Departure Times

West side boarding locations (in green) include Apgar Visitor Center and Lake McDonald Lodge. East side boarding locations (in gold) include St. Mary Visitor Center and Rising Sun Picnic Area.

Apgar Visitor Center	Lake McDonald Lodge	St. Mary Visitor Center	Rising Sun Picnic Area
6:00 am	7:00 am	6:00 am	6:00 am
7:00 am	9:00 am	7:00 am	7:00 am
9:00 am		8:00 am	8:00 am
10:00 am		9:00 am	9:00 am
		10:00 am	10:00 am
		11:00 am	11:00 am

 

Logan Pass Return Times

Logan Pass shuttles will depart Logan Pass approximately every 60-90 minutes. The last shuttle to depart Logan Pass for the day to return to west side boarding locations (Apgar Visitor Center/Lake McDonald Lodge) is at 7:30 pm. The last shuttle to depart Logan Pass for the day to return to east side boarding locations (St. Mary Visitor Center/Rising Sun Picnic Area) is at 8:00 pm. There are no other public transportation services available to return from Logan Pass to your parked vehicle if you miss the last shuttle. 

Apgar/Lake McDonald Return Times	St. Mary/Rising Sun Return Times
7:30 am (Apgar VC only)	7:00 am
8:00 am	8:00 am
8:30 am (Apgar VC only)	9:00 am
10:00 am	10:00 am
10:30 am (Apgar VC only)	11:00 am
11:30 am (Apgar VC only)	12:00 pm
12:30 pm	3:00 pm
1:30 pm	4:00 pm
3:00 pm	5:00 pm
3:30 pm	6:00 pm
4:30 pm	7:00 pm
5:00 pm	8:00 pm
6:00 pm
7:30 pm

Logan Pass Return Times Vary

Westbound shuttles depart Logan Pass every 30-90 minutes throughout the day beginning at 7:30 am. The last shuttles of the day depart at 7:30 pm. Eastbound shuttles depart Logan Pass approximately every hour from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 3:00 to 8:00 pm. However, visitors should be prepared for NO SHUTTLE DEPARTURES between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm going eastbound.

*While shuttles try to stay on schedule, weather, road conditions, and wildlife can delay park shuttles. The above return times are approximate times and are not guaranteed.

 

Logan Pass Shuttle Service

Shuttle service begins July 1, 2026 and continues through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

How Do I Get a Shuttle Ticket?

To ride the Logan Pass Shuttle in 2026, visitors must have a ticket. Tickets are valid for one day and have specific departing times and locations. Tickets can not be purchased at the park. They can only be purchased on Recreation.gov for a $1 processing fee.

Please note: the park cannot predict the opening date of the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Typically, the Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open by early July. However, some years see snowstorms and avalanches continuing through May, making it impossible to predict an opening date.This fluctuating date may impact the shuttle start dates.

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BOZEMAN, MT - As part of ongoing monitoring efforts to document recovery of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with Yellowstone National Park, is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within Yellowstone National Park. Agency biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will begin the field captures May 1 and continue through Oct. 15. Capture operations can include a variety of activities, but all areas where work is being conducted will have major access points marked with warning signs. It is critical that all members of the public heed these signs.
 
Monitoring of the grizzly bear population is vital to ongoing research and management of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. To attract bears, biologists use natural food sources such as recently road-killed deer and elk. Potential capture sites are baited with these natural foods and if indications are that grizzly bears are in the area, culvert traps or foot snares are used to capture bears. Once captured, bears are handled in accordance with strict safety and animal care protocols developed by the IGBST and approved by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Whenever bear capture activities are being conducted for scientific purposes, the area around the site will be posted with brightly colored warning signs to inform the public of the activities occurring. These signs are posted along the major access points to the capture site. It is important that the public heed these signs and do not venture into an area that has been posted. For more information regarding grizzly bear capture efforts call the IGBST trapping hotline at 406-994-6675. Information about the grizzly bear research and monitoring is available from the IGBST website.  

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MOSCA, Colo.—The National Park Service broke ground today on an approximately $14 million project to rehabilitate employee housing at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Partners, including the National Park Foundation, joined NPS leadership and elected officials for a ceremonial event marking the start of long-needed improvements.

Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in 2020, the project will rehabilitate 13 existing park housing units located within the park. Originally built in the 1960s, these units support more than 25 park employees and their families. The project will upgrade fire protection and wastewater systems, address water damage, update both interior and exterior finishes, and ensure units meet accessibility standards.

“This housing project addresses a long-standing need for the park,” said Superintendent Andrea Compton. “The rehabilitation will help us attract and retain employees to support our visitors and ensure our employees have safe and dependable places to live in a remote setting. Employees living onsite are able to provide prompt assistance to visitors during emergencies and quickly address repairs at facilities such as the campground or roads.”

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is home to the tallest dunes in North America, serving as the centerpiece in a vast landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Each year, over 400,000 visitors visit Great Sand Dunes and enjoy the park’s diverse outdoor recreation opportunities, including exploring over 30 square miles of dunefield, hiking to alpine lakes, and experiencing dark night skies. In 2024, park visitor spending contributed an estimated $30.9 million to the local economy, part of a $1.2 billion total generated by National Park Service lands across Colorado.

The Great American Outdoors Act remains one of the most significant conservation achievements of President Donald J. Trump’s administration. The law provides significant funding to address long-deferred maintenance needs across the National Park System, ensuring safe, resilient and accessible public lands for future generations.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host its annual synchronous firefly event at Elkmont from May 20-27. 

A lottery for vehicle reservations opens at 10 a.m. April 24 EDT and closes at 11:59 p.m. April 27 EDT. Visitors can enter the lottery at recreation.gov for a $1 fee. 

Every year, in late May or early June, hundreds of visitors gather near Elkmont to watch Photinus carolinus, a firefly species known for its synchronous flashing. The park limits access to the Elkmont area during the eight-day period of predicted peak firefly activity to ease traffic, keep visitors safe and protect the fireflies during their mating season.  

Visitors may select two preferred viewing days when entering the lottery. The park will issue 120 reservations per night for a total of 960 for the event. 

Each reservation admits one vehicle with up to seven occupants.  

Applicants will be notified by email by May 6 about their lottery status. Selected applicants will automatically receive a reservation, and a $29 reservation fee will be charged to the same card used for the application. 

The $29 fee covers the reservation, portable restrooms, supplies and staffing. 

Reservations are non-refundable, non-transferable and valid only for the date issued. There is a limit of one lottery application per household per season.  

Access is restricted after noon during the viewing period to vehicles with reservations and registered campers in Elkmont Campground. Overnight parking at Little River Trailhead, Jakes Creek Trailhead or the Appalachian Clubhouse is not allowed during this event.

WEST GLACIER, Mont. – As the summer season approaches, Glacier National Park is reminding visitors about important changes taking effect for the 2026 season. These changes, first announced in February, include the elimination of vehicle reservations anywhere in the park this year, as well as a new reservation-only shuttle system and three-hour parking limits at Logan Pass.   

To help visitors plan ahead, Glacier has created a dedicated page with everything you need to know about 2026 access and shuttle changes: Visiting Logan Pass in 2026 - Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service).   Here are key highlights to expect for a summer visit to visits to Glacier this year:  

What’s New for 2026  

• Glacier’s shuttles on the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass will run on a reservation-only system during the summer season.  
• Shuttle tickets will be available on Recreation.gov. Tickets will be released during two booking windows. A portion of tickets will be available 60 days in advance beginning May 2, 2026, at 8 a.m. MDT, on a rolling basis. The remaining tickets will be released daily at 7 p.m. MDT, beginning June 30, for next-day shuttles. 
• No vehicle reservations are required anywhere in the park this year.  
• Parking at Logan Pass is limited to three hours starting July 1 (weather permitting).  
• There will not be a Glacier National Park operated hiker/biker shuttle this spring, but local commercial operators with park permits will offer bicycle rental and transportation services during the hiker/biker season.    
• All Sun Tours and Red Bus tours that previously departed from the Apgar Visitor Center will now depart from the newly designated Quarter Circle Parking Lot.

  

Plan Ahead  Additional details about 2026 operations, summer planning tips, and shuttle updates are available online at Visiting Logan Pass in 2026 - Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service).   

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**GATLINBURG, Tenn.—**Great Smoky Mountains National Park will offer Cades Cove Vehicle-Free Days every Wednesday from May 6 to Sept. 30. These designated days give pedestrians and cyclists an opportunity to experience the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road without motor vehicles. 

Reminders for Vehicle-Free Day:  

• Vehicle-Free Days are popular and parking is limited. Please park only in designated spots to protect pedestrians, cyclists and roadside ecosystems. Remember to purchase a parking tag online, at the Great Smoky Mountains Welcome Center in Townsend or at fee kiosks at the Townsend Wye or Cades Cove before parking. 
• Avoid the morning rush by arriving in the afternoon. If there is no parking available in the morning, you will need to leave and return later. The park may ticket or tow illegally parked vehicles.  
• Only bikes (including Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes) are allowed. No scooters, skateboards or other non-motorized vehicles are permitted. Wear a helmet if you are biking, and follow the posted 20 mile per hour speed limit. 
• Come prepared. The Cades Cove Loop Road has lots of hills and little tree cover. Pack plenty of snacks, water and a first aid kit. There is no cell service, so plan accordingly. Cyclists should bring a toolkit that includes spare inner tubes, pumps, tire levers and a multi-tool. Weather can also be unpredictable, so pack a rain jacket and dress appropriately for the temperature.

 

Vehicle-free Wednesdays were first implemented in 2020, although there have been vehicle free opportunities—such as vehicle-free mornings—for pedestrians and cyclists in Cades Cove for over 40 years. Since expanding the vehicle-free period to a full day, runners, walkers and cyclists have enjoyed experiencing Cades Cove Loop at a more relaxed pace. 
Learn more about vehicle-free days. 

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TUPELO, Miss. — On April 15, Natchez Trace Parkway will close Double Arch Bridge near Nashville and begin construction to install a permanent pedestrian safety barrier. The bridge will be closed to motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists until spring 2027. 

During construction, the Natchez Trace Parkway will be closed between Big Tree Overlook (milepost 440) and the Highway 96 off-ramp (milepost 437). Information about the 7.5-mile detour route and updated trip planning information is available on the parkway’s website and social media channels. 

“Visitor safety is our top priority,” said Superintendent Wendy Ross. “This project is an important step in ensuring the Double Arch Bridge continues to be a safe and welcoming place for everyone who visits the Natchez Trace Parkway.” 

This project will replace the current temporary barrier with a permanent safety barrier, which has been designed to be more durable, effective and aesthetically pleasing. Construction services will also incorporate preventative maintenance, including repainting the bridge. 

Bicyclists planning long-distance day rides on the parkway should park at the Highway 96 off-ramp parking area and ride south of milepost 437. For a shorter ride, park at the northernmost parking lot (milepost 442) and ride to Big Tree Overlook (milepost 440) and back. 

About the Double Arch Bridge. Completed in 1994, the 1,572-foot Double Arch Bridge spans Birdsong Hollow at a height of roughly 155 feet. It was the first segmentally constructed concrete arch bridge in the United States. It received the 1995 Presidential Award for Design Excellence for its innovative engineering. The structure is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places due to its exceptional design and construction. 

GATLINBURG, Tenn.— The National Park Service is seeking public input on proposed improvements to the Oconaluftee River Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Through this project, the park would improve connectivity with the gateway community of Cherokee, increase accessibility, repair riverbank erosion and enhance safety and the visitor experience. The NPS will accept comments through April 22.

The Oconaluftee River Trail is a 1.6-mile-long pedestrian and bike trail that connects the park’s Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum to downtown Cherokee. More than 100,000 people use the trail each year.

Proposed trail improvements include:
 • Improving accessibility and trail surface durability
 • Restoring approximately 275 feet of eroded bank along the Oconaluftee River
 • Replacing or repairing four existing footbridges
 • Building an accessible riverside viewing area along the Oconaluftee River
 • Creating a new connection between the park and Cherokee by building a trail from the Oconaluftee River Trail to Saunooke Bridge Road

Public input will inform planning, designing, and compliance to account for factors such as natural resources and cultural resources. Work on some or all the proposed improvements could begin in late 2026 or 2027. The park anticipates a series of partial and full trail closures to accomplish the work, which is estimated to take 12 months to complete.

How to comment: The preferred manner for providing comments is via an online form through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website. From the project website (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ORT), navigate the menu on the left-hand side of the page to “Open for Comment,” then open the “Oconaluftee River Trail” folder. Background materials are at the site, and the green “Comment Now” button links to the online form.

Comments can also be submitted in writing and postmarked by April 22 to:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
ATTN: Oconaluftee River Trail Project
107 Park Headquarters Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

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Yellowstone entrances and roads scheduled to open at 8 a.m. Friday, April 17 will instead open at noon due to a significant winter storm with heavy snow, low temperatures and strong winds.

The park received up to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow in certain areas, and more snow is forecast tonight with temperatures dropping to 10 F, creating hazardous driving conditions to include deep, wet snow, ice and poor visibility.

Additionally, NorthWestern Energy crews are currently working to restore full power to Canyon Village and Old Faithful due to weather-related outages.

Park crews will continue plowing roads through tonight and will assess conditions in the morning.

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MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park reminds boaters and anglers to clean, drain and dry all boats, trailers and equipment prior to arriving in the park to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) into park waters. In 2026, boating season begins May 23 and extends through Oct. 31.

Yellowstone faces an increased risk of invasion by highly invasive zebra and quagga mussels following recent detections in waterways within a day’s drive of the park (2025 upper Colorado River in Colorado; 2022 Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota; and 2023 Snake River in Idaho).

Clean, Drain, Dry

Clean all plants, animals, mud, sand and other debris from your boat, anchor, boots and equipment. Use high-pressure, hot (120-140 F) water, if possible.

Drain all water from your boat, including the motor, bilge, livewell and other compartments before you arrive. Leave drain plugs out during transport. Do not move water or organisms from one water body into another.

Dry all compartments and equipment in the sun until thoroughly dry.

Felt-soled footwear is banned because they can carry microscopic disease organisms even after cleaning. Clean, drain, and dry actions are critical steps to protect the park’s and nation’s waterways.

30-Day Dry Time
To protect park waters and respond to the growing AIS threat, there is a 30-day dry time requirement for sailboats and certain motorized boats (inboard, inboard/outboard and inboard jet) prior to launching. Non-motorized watercraft and vessels with outboard motors are exempt from this requirement. Large, trailered watercraft pose the highest risk of transporting and introducing invasive mussels and other AIS because they are difficult to inspect and less likely to be completely drained/dried or fully decontaminated. Manual decontamination with the use of hot water is not always 100% effective in removing all mussels. A 30-day dry time will mitigate the risk.

Previously Fouled Watercraft
Watercraft (motorized or non-motorized) previously fouled by mussels, regardless of dry time, will be denied launch. The launch of fouled watercraft increases the chances of false mussel detection by routine environmental DNA monitoring of park waters. This could result in significant impacts to operations and public recreational opportunities.

Prevention
Yellowstone National Park straddles the Continental Divide and is located at the headwaters of the Yellowstone, Snake, and Missouri River drainages, which flow into the Gulf and Pacific Ocean drainages. Mussels have caused irreversible ecological damage and extensive impacts to infrastructure and recreation in waterways throughout the Midwestern and Eastern United States, as well as in the lower Colorado River Basin. In both 2022 and 2023, Yellowstone’s AIS inspectors intercepted and denied launch to mussel-fouled watercraft, highlighting the urgency and severity of the threat. In 2025, inspectors at Grand Teton National Park south of Yellowstone intercepted a mussel-fouled watercraft that was bound for Yellowstone Lake.

These proactive measures are required to ensure the long-term ecological integrity of park waters and downstream mussel-free waters in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Failure to prevent invasion by zebra and quagga mussels could result in widespread negative impacts to natural resources, recreational values and local businesses, and could undo over two decades of work to restore native Yellowstone cutthroat trout to the park. Prevention of an AIS introduction is critical because there are no effective eradication methods, and control/containment is both costly and environmentally consequential.

Fire management staff plan to conduct prescribed burning in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park beginning on April 16. Crews expect to broadcast burn about 92 acres on the valley floor. This work builds on 2025 fuels reduction efforts that treated 261 acres and areas affected by the 2024 Happy Fire. 

Prescribed fire is a proactive tool and one of the most effective ways to reduce wildfire risk. Regular, low‑ to moderate‑intensity burns mimic natural fire behavior and help reduce flammable vegetation and overgrowth. 

“Pre‑season fuel reduction is an integral part of fire management for the parks. Getting into priority areas during favorable conditions allows crews to work safely and effectively,” said Ross Garlapow, fuels technician. 

A seasonal public closure remains in place in Cedar Grove until April 24, allowing the prescribed burn to occur without impacting visitors. While prescribed burns produce significantly less smoke than wildfires, some people may still be sensitive to smoke and should monitor air quality when visiting areas with prescribed burning.