Temporary & Wildlife Closures

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Please check the Superintendents Compendium page for additional restrictions and laws. If you have specific concern or question about a closure please call 307-739-3399.

 

 

Seasonal Closures

• Summits of Mount Hunt, Prospectors Mountain, and Static Peak are closed to all travel from December 1 through April 30.

• Be a steward for bighorn sheep and voluntarily avoid Bighorn Sheep Winter Zones December 1 through April 30. A georeferenced map of the zones is available at tetonsheep.org. Learn more here.

• Areas around the Snake River, Buffalo Fork River, and Kelly Warm Springs are closed to all public entry from December 15 through March 31.

• Grassy Lake Road within the John D. Rockeffler, Jr. Memorial Parkway from Flagg Ranch residential intersection to the west boundary of the parkway. (From the end of the Yellowstone winter use season (generally March 15) through May 31 (or later as posted due to remaining snow conditions).

• Willow Flats is closed to public entry from May 15 through July 15 or when posted.

For details and specifics, please see Superintendents Compendium.

 

 

These areas are temporarily closed for the safety of visitors and wildlife.

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Baxter's Pinnacle Wildlife Closure

The National Park Service has determined that the closure is necessary for the protection of nesting peregrine falcons and their young. The peregrine falcon is a state Species of Greatest Conservation Need and is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The following are is closed: The Baxter's Pinnacle climbing route, approach trail, and surrounding cliffs. This closes the Baxter's Pinnacle climbing route to human traffice as well as the social trail that branches from the horse trail and serves as the approach route to the climb.

 

Colter Bay Dump Road Closure

The closure is necessary for the protection of grizzly bears, providing unimpeded access to natural foods abundant in the area during the late spring and early summer. In recent years, numerous grizzly bears, including adult females with cubs, have been routinely observed foraging in the area. This has resulted in the area becoming well-known for bear viewing, which attracts large crowds of wildlife watchers hoping to observe specific, individual grizzly bears. This has resulted in significant visitor pressure on the Colter Bay Dump Road, a narrow gravel road with insufficient parking and turnaround capacity that was never designed for such high traffic volumes. These changing visitor use patterns have led to the disturbance of grizzly bears in the Colter Bay Dump Road area by disrupting natural movements, and the large crowds often become unmanageable on such a narrow roadway. In addition, parked vehicles and large crowds of people on the Colter Bay Dump Road create a safety hazard for facility management personnel who require frequent access to the maintenance yard while operating large trucks and other equipment. The National Park Service has established this closure as necessary to minimize disturbance of grizzly bears accessing seasonally important food resources while ensuring visitor safety. This closure will remain in place until rescinded.

The following area is closed: The Colter Bay Dump Road area between the park’s boundary with the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Highway 89. The Colter Bay Dump Road is included within the closure and is closed to all public entry. Highway 89 and the associated roadway shoulder are exempt from the closure.

 

Emma Matilda Wildlife Closure

The National Park Service has determined that the closure is necessary for the protection of nesting loons and their young. The common loon is a state Species of Greatest Conservation Need and is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The following area is closed: The boundary of the closure runs due south across Emma Matilda Lake to its southeast corner, running west along the north side of the trail to its southwest corner. The west boundary runs alon the east side of the trail to the northwest extent. The north boundary of the closure runs east along the south side of the trail. No trails will be closed due to the closure

 

Pilgrim Creek Alluvial Fan Closure

The Pilgrim Creek alluvial fan provides abundant natural foods for grizzly bears during the late spring and early summer. In recent years, numerous grizzly bears, including adult females with cubs, have been routinely observed foraging in the area. This has resulted in the area becoming well-known for bear viewing, which attracts large crowds of wildlife watchers hoping to observe specific, individual grizzly bears. This has resulted in significant visitor pressure on Pilgrim Creek Road, a narrow gravel road with insufficient parking and turnaround capacity that was never designed for such high traffic volumes. These changing visitor use patterns have led to the disturbance of grizzly bears in the Pilgrim Creek area by disrupting natural movements, and the large crowds often become unmanageable on such a narrow roadway. The National Park Service has established this closure as necessary to protect and minimize disturbance of grizzly bears accessing seasonally important food resources and to ensure visitor safety. This closure will remain in place until rescinded.

The following area is closed: The Pilgrim Creek alluvial fan between the park’s boundary with the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Wagon Road. Pilgrim Creek Road is included within the closure and is closed to all public entry. The Bug Canyon Trail and Wagon Road* remain open. Highway 89 and the associated roadway shoulder are exempt from the closure. *The southern extent of the Wagon Road is closed seasonally from May 15 to July 15 as part of the Willow Flats wildlife closure; see the superintendent’s compendium for more information.Pilgrim Creek Alluvial Fan Closure.

 

Bighorn Sheep Winter Zones Keep the Wild in Wildlife