Back in June, it was reported that historic flooding had caused devastation to the infrastructure in Yellowstone National Park. Later that month, the park announced a new visitor access plan, with the south loop reopening on June 22. Now, Yellowstone has reopened a park entrance in one of the most heavily damaged areas of the park from the flooding.

Yellowstone: Northeast Entrance Road reopens

Back in June this year, Yellowstone National Park experienced record-breaking flooding that swelled the rivers to “unprecedented” levels, according to the National Weather Service. Visitors and residents alike were stranded by the storm, with buildings damaged and roads washed out.

This cut off access to some areas of the park, which mostly lies in Wyoming, but also includes parts of Idaho and Montana. Work has been ongoing since that time to repair the infrastructure in the park. There is still some work to do, but there is also some good news.

On Saturday, Yellowstone National Park started allowing regular visitor traffic along the Northeast Entrance Road for the first time since the gate was closed following the devastating flooding. Park Superintendent Cam Sholly said in a statement:

We are very pleased to be restoring public access to the northeast corridor just four months after the June flood event.

I commend the collective efforts of the National Park Service, the Federal Highway Administration and Oftedal Construction, Inc. to complete this monumental task in such a short amount of time.

Park reopens 99 percent of the roads

Now that the Northeast Entrance Road has been reopened, park officials have said this has effectively reopened 99 percent of the roads. The next step is for road crews to pave and install guardrails on the four-mile Old Gardener Road. It is expected that the work will be complete, with the road reopening by no later than November 1.

Yellowstone: The World’s First National Park

According to the National Parks Service, it was on March 1, 1872, that Yellowstone became the first national park for everyone to enjoy its unique hydrothermal and geologic features.

Since that time, Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres have offered visitors unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem. Moreover, they can also explore the geothermal areas of the park that offer half of the world’s active geysers. They can also view geologic wonders such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

Visitors to Yellowstone can view wildlife but should ensure they keep themselves and the wildlife they encounter, safe. Among its many wonders, the park is the habitat of the bears and again visitors are urged to keep themselves safe. In order to have Yellowstone and all other parks at your fingertips, download the official NPS App to be able to explore Yellowstone like never before.

Visitors can choose from one of the park’s campgrounds but bear in mind, it is best to reserve your space in advance. Alternatively, stay at one of the cozy lodges in the park for true comfort. Visit the park’s official website for more information.