The day that Yellowstone roads close is always bittersweet. It’s a sure sign of the change in seasons (as if the multiple snowstorms in October this year didn’t adequately drive home the point…) Between now and mid December, snow will accumulate and National Park Service staff will groom the roads for over-snow travel. While we often will take a trip down to Old Faithful mid winter, it’s rare that we make it around the entire lower loop. So for us, it’s goodbye to most of the park interior until spring.

Our annual ritual is to mark the occasion by taking one last trip around the loop before the roads close. This year, we were rewarded with a beautiful sunrise, quiet thermal basins, and three otters at Fishing Bridge. Here are some of the sights from that trip for you to enjoy!

Visiting the park just before the roads close is not for the faint of heart! This time around, it was -3 degrees at sunrise along the Gibbon River, and the roads were icy and snow packed almost the entire way. Extra warm layers, snow tires, food, water, and self-sufficiency are a must. In the final weekend, all the restaurants and hotels are closed, and gasoline is available by credit card only – the service stations are not staffed. Always check the current road status, as early snowstorms can cause closures and hazardous travel. If you are up for the challenge and are adequately prepared, you’ll be rewarded with a near-empty park.

Stay tuned for a video of the otters! To see more sights of the last days of the park before winter, see the video Before the Yellowstone Park Roads Close.

 

Images © Jenny Golding/A Yellowstone Life