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This week in Yellowstone National Park, from April 30th to May 6th, 2026, I will tell you about another road opening in the park, share about the Bearmuda triangle, and also let you know why many think May is the best month to visit. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, a cool trail to hike, the snowpack update, the wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”
LISTEN TO THIS AS A PODCAST
The text below is my notes for the podcast. They may be incomplete.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/id1789397931
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41E5WWldz4s7n6NXh2Lahr
RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/
Disclaimer: I may miss a few details, so please feel free to reach out with any questions. I also mention park locations casually. If you’re unfamiliar, a quick search can help. This report only covers drivable areas of the park.
Also, this podcast is a passion project. If you enjoy it, I’d love a review or a quick email! To support my work, check out my hiking and wildlife-watching guidebooks, or join me for a guided hiking tour in Yellowstone’s backcountry. For more information, visit outdoor-society.com or contact me directly. Seriously though, come book a trail tour with me.
EXPERIENCE OF THE WEEK
Driving Canyon to the East Entrance, Or Vice Versa
On May 1, a quieter but incredibly rewarding stretch of Yellowstone National Park opens back up for the season. The road between Canyon Village and the East Entrance gives you a little bit of everything Yellowstone does well: wildlife, thermal features, big lake views, and a steady sense that the park is just starting to wake up. According to the National Park Service, this road typically opens May 1, weather permitting, and early May conditions can still feel like a mix of winter and spring.
Heading south from Canyon, you almost immediately drop into Hayden Valley. This is one of the park’s most famous wildlife areas, but early May can feel a little slow at first. Animals are there, but they’re not always easy to spot right away. The National Park Service notes that wildlife activity increases through spring as animals emerge from winter patterns, and that’s exactly what you see here. Bison are usually the most reliable, often with newborn calves, while bears and other predators start showing up more consistently as the month goes on. It’s a place where patience really pays off.
Not much farther along, you reach Mud Volcano, and the landscape changes completely. This is one of Yellowstone’s more active and acidic geothermal areas, known for bubbling mud pots and strong sulfur smells. The National Park Service notes that these features are driven by acidic hydrothermal systems, which break down rock into mud. It’s not as colorful as other basins, but it feels raw and very alive.
A short drive into the valley brings you to LeHardy Rapids, which is one of those quick stops that’s easy to skip but worth your time. The Yellowstone River pushes through a narrow section here, and in spring runoff, it’s loud and fast. The National Park Service highlights this area as a good place to observe aquatic life and birds, and it’s common to see harlequin ducks and other waterfowl using the open water.
As the road approaches Fishing Bridge and Yellowstone Lake, things start to open up again. This area is a bit of a transition zone, both in scenery and wildlife. Spring is a good time to keep your eyes open for bears here, especially along the stretch between Fishing Bridge and Sylvan Pass. The National Park Service notes that grizzly bears are most visible in spring as they forage in open areas after emerging from hibernation, and this corridor is one of the better places to look.
Near Lake Lodge, there’s also a chance, though never a guarantee, to spot great gray owls. These birds prefer forest edges and meadows, and spring is one of the better times to look, especially early or late in the day. It’s one of those sightings that feels more like a bonus than something to plan around.
If you’re looking to stretch your legs, Storm Point Trail is a great option. It’s a relatively short hike that I will be talking about in the hiking section. Nearby, Mary Bay offers a quieter lakeside stop where you can take in the scale of the lake, which the National Park Service identifies as the largest high-elevation lake in North America.
One of the best views on this entire drive comes from Lake Butte Overlook. From up here, you get a sweeping look at Yellowstone Lake and the surrounding mountains, including the Tetons in the distance. It’s an easy stop that really puts the size of the landscape into perspective. Just expect some wind and some ravens.
As you continue east, the climb toward Sylvan Pass brings another shift. At over 8,500 feet, this is one of the higher road sections in the park, and in early May, it can still feel like winter. Snowbanks are common, and conditions can change quickly. This is also a good place to watch for bighorn sheep along the rocky slopes, something the National Park Service notes as typical habitat for them in Yellowstone.
Finally, as you approach the East Entrance, the geology starts to change. The volcanic features that define much of Yellowstone begin to give way to the rugged terrain of the Absaroka Range. According to the National Park Service, this area is made up of older volcanic rocks that have been heavily eroded over time, creating a very different look and feel compared to the geyser basins and plateaus deeper in the park.
That’s really what makes this drive so special in early May. It’s not just about getting from Canyon to the East Entrance. It’s about watching Yellowstone come back to life in real time. Wildlife is slowly becoming more active, the landscape is shifting, and every few miles feels a little different from the last. It’s quieter than most routes this time of year, a little less predictable, and often overlooked, which is exactly why it’s worth your time.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Is May The Best Month to Visit The Park?
If you’re trying to pick the “perfect” time to visit Yellowstone National Park, May makes a very strong case. It’s not perfect in the traditional sense, nothing in Yellowstone ever is, but that’s exactly why it stands out. This is the month where wildlife is active, landscapes are changing by the day, and the crowds haven’t fully arrived yet. You just have to be willing to accept a few tradeoffs.
The biggest reason to visit in May is the wildlife. According to the National Park Service, spring is one of the most active times of year for animals. Bears are emerging from hibernation, bison calves, often called “red dogs,” are being born, and elk, pronghorn, and even wolves are easier to spot in open valleys like Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. With vegetation still low, animals are simply easier to see than they are later in summer when everything grows in and visibility drops.
There’s also a timing advantage that people don’t always think about. Animals are moving more, feeding more, and spending time in open terrain, which increases your chances of seeing something without having to go far. It’s one of the few times of year when you can head out early or late and realistically expect multiple wildlife encounters in a single outing. That alone makes May stand out compared to other months.
Then there’s the crowds, or more accurately, the lack of them. May sits right between the winter closure and the surge of summer visitation. The National Park Service notes that the majority of Yellowstone’s annual visitors arrive between June and September, which means May is noticeably quieter. Parking is easier, traffic is lighter, and you’re far less likely to feel rushed at major stops. You can actually take your time, whether that means watching a herd of bison for longer than planned or lingering at a geyser basin without feeling like you need to move along.
The landscape itself is part of the draw. May is a transition month in every sense. Snow still clings to higher elevations while the valleys begin to turn green. Rivers and waterfalls swell with snowmelt, making them more powerful and dramatic. Cooler air makes geothermal features feel more vivid, with steam hanging low across basins and drifting through the trees. It’s a version of Yellowstone that feels active and constantly changing, rather than settled into a single season.
That said, May comes with some very real downsides, and it’s better to know them ahead of time. The biggest one is access and amenities. Yellowstone doesn’t fully open all at once. Roads open in phases throughout April and May, and full access to the entire park often doesn’t happen until later in the month, depending on weather. Even when roads are open, services lag behind. Lodges, restaurants, visitor centers, and even bathrooms can be limited or just beginning to open for the season, which can catch people off guard if they’re expecting a full summer experience.
Trail conditions are another factor. Snowmelt turns many lower-elevation trails into mud, and higher-elevation hikes are often still snow-covered or closed altogether. Boardwalks in thermal areas can be icy in the mornings, and some trails may be closed for resource protection or seasonal conditions. If hiking is your main goal, May can be inconsistent, depending on where you go and what kind of conditions you’re willing to deal with.
Weather is the final piece of the puzzle. May in Yellowstone is unpredictable, even by mountain standards. You might have a warm, sunny afternoon followed by a snowstorm overnight. The National Park Service notes that snow can linger well into the month, especially at higher elevations, and sudden changes can impact both travel and plans. Flexibility is not just helpful, it’s necessary if you’re visiting this time of year.
So is May the best month to visit Yellowstone? It depends on what you’re looking for, but if wildlife, space, and a more dynamic version of the park are high on your list, it’s hard to beat. You’ll likely see more animals, deal with fewer crowds, and experience Yellowstone in a way that feels a little more raw and a little less polished than peak summer.
It’s not the easiest time to visit, and it’s not the most predictable. Still, for a lot of people, that’s exactly what makes it the best.
RANDOM YELLOWSTONE FACT OF THE WEEK
The “Bearmuda” Triangle
Like most places that are seasonally awesome in the park, you won’t find this place on any official map. People call it the “Bearmuda Triangle,” and it loosely covers the area between Lamar Valley, Tower Junction, and the slopes around Specimen Ridge. If you’re visiting in early to late May, this is one of the best places in the park to spend time looking for bears.
The reason has a lot to do with what bears are eating this time of year. By May, most grizzly bears have emerged from their den. Adult males typically come out first, followed by females and then females with cubs. After months without food, they need to rebuild energy, but early spring in Yellowstone isn’t exactly overflowing with options. Instead of big, dramatic feeding events, much of what bears are doing is slower and more methodical.
They’re grazing. A huge part of a bear’s spring diet is actually plant-based. As the snow melts, the first green shoots begin to appear, things like grasses, sedges, and forbs. Bears spend long stretches of time with their heads down, slowly moving across hillsides and valley bottoms, feeding on this early vegetation. You’ll also see them digging. Those long claws aren’t just for show; they’re used to tear into the ground in search of roots like biscuitroot and yampa, which are rich in nutrients and become available as the soil thaws.
This is one of the main reasons the “Bearmuda Triangle” is so productive in May.
The northern range tends to green up earlier than higher elevations, creating a patchwork of feeding areas that draw bears out into the open. The mix of rolling hills, exposed slopes, and wide valleys makes it easier to both find food and see bears while they’re doing it. Unlike summer, when vegetation grows tall and dense, May keeps things relatively open, which is why sightings can feel more frequent.
As the month goes on, things build. Early May can still feel quiet; you might spot a single bear working a hillside or moving slowly across a meadow. By mid to late May, more bears are active across the landscape, and females with cubs become more visible as they move farther from den sites. At the same time, food options continue to expand, with more plant growth and other seasonal opportunities emerging.
Not every bear you see out there will be a grizzly, either. Yellowstone is also home to American black bears, and knowing the difference is worth knowing. Grizzly bears are generally larger, with a distinct shoulder hump, a slightly concave face, and long claws built for digging. Their color ranges from blonde to dark brown. Black bears, despite the name, can also be brown, but they lack the shoulder hump, have a straighter facial profile, and shorter claws that are better suited for climbing trees.
Even in a place nicknamed the “Bearmuda Triangle,” though, nothing is guaranteed. Bears cover a lot of ground, and their movements change daily depending on food, weather, and human activity. You might scan for an hour and see nothing, or you might pull up and spot a bear right away. That unpredictability is part of the experience.
If you’re visiting in May, your best chances are still early morning and late evening, when bears are most active. Spend time watching open slopes, south-facing hillsides, and areas where new green growth is coming in.
That’s really what defines the “Bearmuda Triangle” this time of year. It’s not about a single hotspot or a guaranteed sighting. It’s about timing, landscape, and behavior all lining up. In May, bears are out, they’re feeding constantly, and they’re doing it in places where you can actually see them pretty easily.
WEATHER FOR THE COMING WEEK
As always, this is the best forecast for the week at the time of recording. The forecast can change numerous times in a week, but this should be within the ballpark of what you’ll experience when visiting the park.
I am too lazy to type it all out, so you’ll have to listen to the podcast to get the weather forecast, or just contact me.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/id1789397931
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41E5WWldz4s7n6NXh2Lahr
RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/
SNOWPACK UPDATE
As of April 29th, the snowpack is around 82%% of normal for this time of year. The eastern and northern ranges of the park are 93% of normal, while the western and southern sides are 72% of normal. Last year on this date, we were averaging around 95% of our normal level.
ROADS CONDITIONS
The road between West Yellowstone and Old Faithful, all the way up to Mammoth and out to Canyon, is open. The road from Gardiner, Montana, to Cooke City, Montana, is also open, as it is open all year long. The Plug, connecting Cooke City to Cody, is open. The East entrance to Fishing Bridge and through Hayden Valley is opening on the 1st. Please be aware that this road can close at any time due to inclement weather.
For up-to-date information, call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting “82190” to 888-777.
CAMPING INFO
There is only one campground open in the park right now, and that is the Mammoth Campground, which is open year-round.
WILDLIFE WATCHING UPDATE
You have to listen to the podcast to get this information. Sorry.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/id1789397931
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41E5WWldz4s7n6NXh2Lahr
RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/
PICK UP A GUIDEBOOK
Love what you have heard on this podcast and want more information on wildlife watching? Get a copy of my wildlife-watching guidebook to the region! Available in both ebook and paperback formats, my book will help you spot wildlife like a seasoned local. Please consider buying a book directly from me, as I make next to nothing when they are sold on Amazon. Grab your copy now at outdoor-society.com!
TRAIL ALERTS AND UPDATES
The backcountry Conditions Page is updated! I have a link to it in the show notes.
Right now, bear sightings are becoming more common and will only be increasing with every passing week. Carry bear spray. Have it readily accessible and not in a backpack. Know how to use it.
TREK OF THE WEEK
Storm Point Trail
If you’re heading out on the Storm Point Trail in the first week of May, it feels a bit like stepping into Yellowstone right as it’s waking up. Nothing is fully “on” yet, but everything is starting to move, and that includes both the landscape and the wildlife.
The hike itself is short and easy, about 2.3 miles round trip, starting near Indian Pond just east of Fishing Bridge. Right away, you’re walking through an open meadow, and this is where things get interesting in May. This stretch of grassland and wet ground is prime habitat for bison, and it’s very common to see them here, sometimes right on or near the trail. In fact, this area is specifically noted as good habitat for bison and other wildlife moving between forest and lake (National Park Service; trail guides). That also means you need to be paying attention. Bison may look slow, but they’re unpredictable and are responsible for more injuries in Yellowstone than any other animal. I’ll be talking about this more in next week’s episode.
As you move farther along, the trail dips into the trees and eventually works its way out to the shoreline of Yellowstone Lake. Early May out here can feel raw. The lake is often still cold and gray, sometimes with ice lingering along the edges, and the wind can come off the water hard. That’s where the name “Storm Point” really makes sense.
Wildlife is a big part of what makes this hike stand out, but it’s not just the obvious stuff. You’ll likely see waterfowl, maybe ducks riding the waves or working the shoreline, and if you look carefully around the rocky point, there’s a good chance of spotting yellow-bellied marmots. The mix of meadow, forest, and lake creates a surprising amount of diversity for such a short walk.
Now, the part that really defines this trail in spring is the bears. This area is well known for grizzly activity, especially in late spring and early summer, and the trail is sometimes closed because of it. Even when it’s open, you should assume bears are around. The National Park Service makes it very clear that both grizzly and black bears use this entire region, and hikers are advised to carry bear spray, make noise, and travel in groups when possible. Early May is right in that window where bears are out of hibernation and moving through lower elevations like this, often using the same meadows and forest edges you’re walking through.
What makes Storm Point unique is that you’re not deep in the backcountry, but you’re also not separated from wildlife. You’re right in it. Bison grazing in the meadow, birds along the lake, and the very real possibility that a bear has passed through the same trail earlier that day.
That’s also why flexibility matters. It’s not uncommon for this trail to be temporarily closed in spring due to bear activity, and it’s always worth checking conditions before heading out. If it’s open, though, it’s one of the best short hikes in the park for seeing how much life is packed into a relatively small area.
In early May, Storm Point feels like Yellowstone in transition. The ground is waking up, the lake still holds onto winter, and wildlife is starting to move in meaningful ways. It’s not a flashy hike, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s quiet, a little unpredictable, and very much alive, which is exactly what makes it worth doing.
NEXT WEEK
In the next episode, I’ll return with all of the information you need to have a good week in the park, including wildlife, weather, and trail updates. Until then, book a tour with me, pick up a guidebook of mine, and happy trails!
