Island Park Travel and Tourism

19/11/2023

13/11/2023

If you’re a traveler to Island Park and use the trails all winter please buy your stickers when you’re here to help maintain the trails you use!

13/11/2023

01/11/2023

Spring, summer and fall is officially at an end for the 2023 season in Yellowstone. All entrances except the north and the northeast are officially closed to automobile travel. Winter season opening for over snow vehicle travel is scheduled for December 15, 2023.

28/10/2023

For those traveling to visit Yellowstone before it closes on November 1. This is today so please be aware your travel plans to Yellowstone could change without notice.

25/10/2023

If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone before it officially closes you need to check for road closures! This time of year the entire Park could close and depending on weather it will only open if it’s safe! Call the number above for more information!

10/24/23: Dunraven is now closed and will likely be closed for the season. The East Entrance Road is also temporarily closed due to weather conditions.

Expect more road closures as we have a winter storm warning with 6 to 12" expected above 7000' and 12 to 24" above 8000'. All elevations in Montana are expecting at least 4" of snow and up to 2 feet in some areas.

We are offering 1/2 price private tours through the end of October to help folks navigate this large winter storm. This offer is good for tours from West Yellowstone only.

We know that Yellowstone's mountain roadways are not the place to learn winter driving, and we want to get our guides a few more days before the end of the season on November 1st.

You may call our office at 406-995-2399 to make a reservation. Offer good for tours this week only.

17/10/2023

Another Restaurant Update...Tis the season!!

03/10/2023

If your plans to visit Yellowstone this time of year be aware of road closures. They happen often with the fulcuatiin of weather.

***UPDATE*** At 10:45am the East Entrance to Pelican barricade is open. Dunraven Pass between Tower Falls and Canyon Junction remains closed at this time. At 12:30pm, Dunraven Pass is open for visitor travel. Intermittent icy conditions are possible. Drive with caution.

It's snowing this morning in Cooke City. And that, of course, brings a few road closures. Check out this statement from Yellowstone.

03/10/2023

On the evening of Sept. 30, a hunter shot and killed a large adult female grizzly bear in self-defense after it charged the man while hunting for elk, northwest of Henrys Lake.

28/09/2023

Information on medical facilities in the area, please feel free to print and share!

22/09/2023

**Friday, September 22nd at 8:53 am**
The Beartooth Highway is CLOSED.
Please use WY296, Chief Joseph Scenic Highway to reach Cooke City and the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

22/09/2023

‼️The presence of quagga mussel larvae has been confirmed in the Snake River.‼️This invasive species can quickly spread and clog pipes that deliver water for drinking, energy, agriculture, recreation, and a variety of other uses. They can also kill off fish and other aquatic wildlife. Here is what you can do to help:

👉🏻If your watercraft (including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, boats, and others) has been on the Snake River in the Centennial Park area of Twin Falls in the past 30 days, please take it to an Idaho State Department of Agriculture hot wash station in Twin Falls for proper treatment. DO NOT attempt to decontaminate watercraft yourself.

👉🏻All boat ramps and public access to the water in the Centennial Park area are closed until further notice as the investigation in the area continues. The public’s cooperation in staying out of the impacted area is crucial to the success of ISDA’s efforts.

👉🏻Anyone who owns a watercraft must be vigilant in practicing the steps of CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY.

👉🏻Visit https://agri.idaho.gov/main/plants/snake-river-quagga-mussel-veligers/ for the latest information.

06/09/2023

Campground Closures
We want to thank everyone who visited the U.S. Forest Service - Caribou-Targhee National Forest, we hope you have enjoyed your stay. As the summer comes to a close, so do our campgrounds. Use the chart below to see when your favorite campsite will close for the season. Dates are subject to change depending on weather. If you have any further questions, you can reach out to the district offices.

05/09/2023

On November 1st, most of Yellowstone National Park's roads will close for the season. The only road that is open year round is the road between the north entrance at Gardiner and the northeast entrance at Cooke City.

This means you have two months to enter through the West Gate Of Yellowstone and explore the interior of Yellowstone. Once this entrance closes, it does not open until the guided snowmobile and snowcoach season that runs December 15 through March 15.

📷: West Entrance of Yellowstone courtesy of Yellowstone National Park / National Park Service

31/08/2023

Yellowstone National Park closes October 31, 2023. Please plan your visit accordingly.

01/08/2023

😮 Full moon looks like a giant eye as it passes behind a rock arch in Utah!

An incredible photograph of a full moon passing through a rock arch at Arches National Park makes the final picture look like a giant eye.

A great way to celebrate the Earth's moon is to hike and explore America's public lands during a full moon - the next one is on July 3rd.

Photo courtesy of Zach Cooley

31/07/2023

23/07/2023

Yesterday morning, a woman was found deceased on the Buttermilk Trail west of West Yellowstone following an apparent bear encounter. Investigators confirmed grizzly bear tracks at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Custer Gallatin National Forest has issued an emergency closure of the Buttermilk area for human safety. Please avoid the area. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Generally, the Buttermilk Area Closure is located about 8 miles west of West Yellowstone. It follows the Continental Divide Trail (Forest Service Trail #116) from the trailhead near Targhee Pass on Highway 20 south to the confluence with Cream Creek Road (Forest Service Road #1703 and Road 484). The area closure follows these roads to the east and north back to the Forest Service boundary just south of Highway 20 and to the west to connect with the Continental Divide Trail (Trail #116).

Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded. People venturing into the outdoors should “Be Bear Aware” by following these precautionary steps:

- Carry and know how to use bear spray.
- Travel in groups whenever possible and plan to be out in the daylight hours.
- Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers.
- Watch for signs of bears such as bear s**t, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses.
- Make noise, especially near streams or in thick forest where hearing and visibility are limited, to alert bears to your presence.
- Don't approach a bear.

Learn more: fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear

13/07/2023

It's a beautiful evening on the Island Park Reservoir

12/07/2023

The new and improved casting pond is open! Stroll by and check it out behind the Union Pacific Dining Lodge on Yellowstone Avenue.

08/07/2023

Saturday 8th soup of the day chicken noodle or Clam Chowder with sandwich...

07/07/2023

05/07/2023

FIREWORKS tonight at 10pm! We will kick Off the night at 8pm with Live Music by Perfect Chaos! Dinner will be served until 9pm. We hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!

03/07/2023

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to get off of the water in Island Park.

This includes Big Springs, Henrys Lake and the Island Park Reservoir.

03/07/2023

BE BEAR AWARE! Grizzly bear tracks were spotted on Harriman trails yesterday 🐻

To avoid a bear encounter, remember to make lots of noise, travel in groups, and watch for signs of bears along the trail. Always carry bear spray and know how to use it if a bear charges.

02/07/2023

This small detour while visiting Island Park or Yellowstone is well worth the time. Mesa Falls is one of our areas treasures!

Not everyone enjoys going for a drive, but many actually find it quite nice and enjoyable. In fact, some would say going for a nice drive is even...

16/12/2022

Did you know that the runway at WYS is 8,399' long! That's over a mile and a half!

The runway can handle just about any aircraft. Here is Air Force One (Boeing VC-25, Military version of the B-747-200) in 2009 when the President visited Yellowstone.

16/12/2022

Trumpeters showing off in the Island Park area. Photo by Jody Petto.

15/12/2022

Registration is Now Open!
https://www.myracepass.com/series/1775/registrations/

15/12/2022

13/12/2022

Thursday, December 15 the West Entrance to Yellowstone Opens for the Winter 2022.

Access through the west entrance and into the interior of Yellowstone National Park is via guided snowcoach and snowmobile tours only.

Learn more at https://destinationyellowstone.com/play/activities/guided-tours/snowcoach-snowmobile/.

📷: Yellowstone National Park / National Park Service

13/12/2022

Love this mountain and all its beauty!

Happy International Mountain Day from a state literally named for mountains!

Just outside West Yellowstone, Montana is Two Top Mountain with its famous ghost trees. These formations form with abundant snow, and we are definitely having a snowy winter so far this year!

📷: Dobson Entertainment Inc

11/12/2022

While it has been snowing for awhile now out in the Central Mountains area, it's been pretty quiet down here in the valley locations. Yes, snow is still on the way! Yes, it has slowed down a little bit. This just means it currently looks like the valley areas are more likely to see more snow Sunday PM into Monday AM. That won't be the end of it either, snow with this system will linger even into Tuesday. With that in mind, here's a look at forecast snow totals from now (about 7PM Saturday) until 5AM Monday. In the comments, look for a gif of potential timing for some of that snow based on one model run. Keep checking back for updates throughout the weekend.

09/12/2022

[UPDATE: this alert had expired. Please check 511 for updates and road conditions.]
-- SH 32: Road closed at SH 33 (near Tetonia). Blowing snow, Reduced visibility.
-- SH 33: Road is now open.
-- SH 47: Road closed from First South Street (near Ashton) to 4350 East Road; 1900 North Road (1m N of Warm River). Drifting snow, Reduced visibility. Blowing snow, Reduced visibility.
Please check https://511.idaho.gov or the 511 app for updates.