December 16th, 2022 Each week on the social media pages of The Outdoor Society, I have been posting “Find the Animal Friday” images from Yellowstone National Park.Some are easy, some are hard, but all are done to help you get ready to spot wildlife when you visit Yellowstone National Park. This week, I am sharing …
Despite Flooding and Closures, Yellowstone’s 2022 Visitation Numbers Are Surprising. At least, to me.
Leading up to the intense and devastating flooding of June 2022, Yellowstone National Park and the surround communities were preparing for the yearly influx of summer visitors. The previous year, 2021, saw a record number of visitors (4.8 million) and all signs were pointing toward a repeat, if not an increase. After all, the park …
Where to Find a Toilet in Yellowstone National Park This Winter
Finding a place to relive oneself is challenging enough when visiting any national park. In Yellowstone during the winter, it is even more of a challenge. In theory, there is a place to stop every eight miles, but when you need to go, the places to stop can see like an eternity away. Having visited …
Yellowstone’s Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel To Reduce Services This Winter
Situated within walking distance to the picturesque terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs and offering quick access out to the wildlife watching wonderland of Lamar Valley, the Mammoth Hotel has been a favorite place for park visitors to stay for decades. This winter, that will change. On November 8th, Xanterra, the behemoth company in charge of …
Yellowstone’s North Entrance to Reopen to the Public for the First Time Since June 2022
It brings me great joy to finally type the following words: Yellowstone National Park’s North Entrance is finally reopening to the public. On Nov. 1st at 8am, restrictions will be lifted and individuals can drive the newly paved road connecting the park with the town of Gardiner. For four long months, since the June 2022 …
Yellowstone visitation continues to be below pre-Covid numbers
The closure of the North and Northeast gates to Yellowstone National Park led to yet another month of lowered visitation numbers. Yellowstone National Park hosted 567,587 recreation visits in September 2022. This is a 36% decrease from September 2021 (882,078 recreational visits), the most-visited September on record, and an 18% decrease from September 2019 (693,118) …
Yellowstone’s North Entrance Reopening Date Delayed
“Yellowstone National Park in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration has determined that the Old Gardiner Road (a limited-access road between Gardiner, Montana and Mammoth Hot Springs) will open to regular traffic no later than Nov. 1, 2022. The two-lane project will be extended up to two weeks to ensure over 5,000 feet of guardrail …
Yellowstone National Park Visitation Woes Continue in August of 2022
The June 2022 flood waters that eroded away roads and trails in Yellowstone National Park may have receded months ago, but the damage to both the park’s infrastructure and reputation is still being felt throughout the region. Despite the overwhelming majority of the park being open for visitors in July and August, park visitation numbers …
Olympic National Park’s Ruby Beach Has Reopened
Great news for this who love Olympic National Park’s Ruby Beach. After three months of being closed to public access, the National Park Service has announced that the picturesque coastal area is now once again open for the public. Visitors can expect a better entrance road, updated parking lot, improved paths for accessibility and more! …
The Best Salmon Watching in Olympia, Washington
Olympia doesn’t have a great reputation around the state. From Spokane to Bellingham, and Vancouver to Ocean Shores, the capitol of Washington State is known mostly for politics and a somewhat drab, occasionally unsettling downtown scene. Outsiders might quickly stop by on trips to more exotic locations, but for most, Olympia is skipped over. Even …