Latest / This Week in Yellowstone National Park / This Week in Yellowstone: April 30th to May 6th, 2026

Transcript

This Week in Yellowstone: April 30th to May 6th, 2026 · This Week in Yellowstone National Park

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From Yellowstone National Park where Hayden Valley,
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Fishing Bridge, and the East entrance are opening,
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this is that Scott guy you know and love with
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a brand new episode of This Week in Yellowstone.
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What's up everybody? This week in Yellowstone
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National Park from April 30th to May 6th. It's
0:27
already May. I'm going to be telling you about
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another road opening in the park, sharing about
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the Bermuda Triangle, and also letting you know
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why many think May is the best month to visit
0:37
the park. I'll also give you the complete weather
0:40
forecast, a cool trail to hike, the snowpack
0:43
update, the wildlife report, and everything else
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you need to have an incredible time this week
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in Yellowstone. Quick standard disclaimer here.
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I may miss a few details here and there I try
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and do this the best I can but obviously I'm
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human and I make mistakes So if there's anything
1:01
you catch that's an error reach out to me happy
1:03
to correct things I also want you to know that
1:06
I mentioned park locations very casually So if
1:08
you're unfamiliar with a place that I'm talking
1:11
about a quick search can help Please know that
1:14
this report only covers the drivable areas of
1:17
the park and also that this podcast is the passion
1:20
project of mine. I'm not paid. I'm not sponsored.
1:23
I do it because I want you to love the park.
1:26
If you enjoy this podcast, I'd love a review
1:29
or a quick email. If you want to support my work
1:31
more, you can check out my hiking and wildlife
1:33
watching guidebooks, or you can join me for a
1:36
guided hiking tour in Yellowstone's backcountry.
1:39
For more information on all of that, visit outdoor
1:41
-society .com or contact me directly. My phone
1:45
number, 406 589 1873 send me texts probably not
1:51
gonna answer in chat But will respond to texts
1:53
when I get them this week's Yellowstone news
1:57
So the biggest news this week is that the east
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entrance to Canyon so east entrance to fishing
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bridge through Hayden and up to Canyon is gonna
2:05
open up I'm gonna talk about that more in a little
2:08
bit. There's also a cool news story about how
2:12
much water is actually expelled from Old Faithful
2:16
every time it erupts. I'm going to provide that
2:18
link in the show notes, because this is probably
2:21
going to be already a little bit longer of an
2:23
episode. And so if you want to check that out,
2:26
go ahead and do so. It'll also be in the text
2:29
version of this podcast that's available on my
2:32
website. So go ahead and check that out. We're
2:36
going to jump straight to the experience of the
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week, which like I said is driving Canyon to
2:40
the east entrance or vice versa. So on May 1st,
2:43
a quieter but incredibly rewarding stretch of
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Yellowstone National Park opens back up for the
2:48
season. This is the road between Canyon Village
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and the east entrance and it gives you a little
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bit of everything Yellowstone does well. There's
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wildlife opportunities, thermal features, big
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lake views, there's a beach, there's cool sweeping
3:01
views up from viewpoints. there's cascades it's
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really a little of everything absolutely love
3:07
it and i'm excited for this section to open up
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so the park service is announcing that the road
3:14
is going to open up on may 1st weather permitting
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now if you remember last time roads were going
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to open up the weather didn't quite work out
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and it delayed it from an 8 a .m opening till
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a noon opening the weather looks better this
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week so i would assume that this is going to
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open on time So one thing that a lot of people
3:31
are super excited about is the opening of Hayden
3:34
Valley. Now Hayden is one of the park's most
3:37
famous wildlife areas, but I want you to know
3:39
that early May is gonna feel a little slow at
3:42
first. There's animals there, but they're not
3:45
that easy to spot and it's not as active as it
3:47
is in the middle of the summer. Wildlife activity
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will increase through the spring as animals emerge
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from winter patterns and the remaining snow kind
3:55
of melts There should be maybe some newborn calves
3:58
out there. Maybe some bears maybe some wolves
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But generally I would expect Hayden to be pretty
4:04
slow right now I could be very wrong, but historically
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Hayden starts out very slow later in the year
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I'm going to talk about like Hayden versus Lamar
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and which one I feel is better and which one
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has what So stay tuned for that later in the
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year, probably in June. So after driving through
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Hayden and stopping and scanning and looking
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for wildlife, I highly recommend immediately
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going to Mud Volcano. It's one of my favorite
4:30
little places. I have good bear luck there, and
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every year there's something interesting that
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happens. Mud Volcano is also where one of the
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more... Interesting bison versus human experiences
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happened again gonna talk about that next week
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So stay tuned for that, but mud volcano is one
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of my favorite thermal areas They all are my
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favorite so it's easy to say that but there's
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bubbling mud pots. There's Strong sulfur smells.
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There's dragons mouth. There's all sorts of things
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that are really cool to see It's not gonna be
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as colorful as the other basins, but it's very
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raw and very alive, and it's a short little jaunt.
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Further down as you get towards Fishing Bridge,
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Lee Hardy Rapids is one of those quick stops
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that is easy to skip. Most people do. But it's
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right... along the Yellowstone River, and it
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goes through a narrow section here. And in the
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spring runoff, it's loud, it's fast, and there's
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a lot of cool aquatic life and birds. Sometimes
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there's bears there and they have to close it,
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but I highly, highly, highly recommend going
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for the harlequin ducks and other waterfowl that
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use this open water. It's a cool little viewpoint,
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it's not that long, and it's worth the stop.
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Then as you get toward Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone
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Lake, things start to open up again. This area
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is a bit of a transition zone, both in scenery
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and wildlife. Spring is a good time to keep your
5:56
eyes open for bears here, especially on the stretch
5:59
between Fishing Bridge and Sylvan Pass. That's
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gonna be where you're gonna see some grizzly
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bears, some black bears, and some of the more
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famous grizzlies are out there, so I know I will
6:10
be heading there, and a lot of people I know
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will be heading there as soon as it opens, and
6:16
specifically for grizzly bears. But before you
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head out towards Sylvan Pass and toward the east
6:22
entrance I do want to recommend that you hang
6:25
out near the Lake Lodge and see if there's anybody
6:27
parked on the side of the road They're gonna
6:29
be parked on the side of the road because this
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can be a good spot to see great gray owls These
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birds prefer forest edges and meadows and spring
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is a good time to look for them, especially early
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or late in the day It's one of those sightings
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that are very rare for me. So anytime I get to
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see a great gray owl it is Phenomenal it makes
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my day. It makes my week. It is awesome All right.
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Once you're done looking there, then you can
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start heading out and go to Sylvan Pass and the
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east entrance Now if you're in this area and
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you're looking to stretch your legs the storm
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point trail is a great option It's a short hike
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that I'm going to talk about later in the hiking
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section Nearby Mary Bay is like a quiet lakeside
7:10
stop. Like that's the beach I was saying where
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you can take in the scale of the lake which Yellowstone
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National Park identifies as the largest high
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elevation lake in North America, so there's a
7:20
fun little fact for you. One of the best views
7:23
of this entire drive that I think you would enjoy
7:27
is from the Lake Butte overlook. From up there,
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you get a sweeping look at Yellowstone Lake and
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the surrounding mountains, including the Tetons
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in the distance on a clear day. It's a stop that
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a lot of people just zoom by, but it's short.
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It's easy to get to, and it really puts the size
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of the landscape into perspective. Just expect
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some wind and some ravens there. As you continue
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east from here, the climb towards Sylvan Pass
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brings another shift. At over 8 ,500 feet, this
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is one of the higher road sections in the park,
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and in early May it can still feel like winter,
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even in a winter that we didn't quite have a
8:02
real winter. There may be some snow banks there,
8:04
and conditions can and will change quickly. This
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is also a good place to watch for bighorn sheep
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along the rocky slopes. I tend to see them more
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down by the east entrance itself, especially
8:15
this time of the year, but with the lack of snow,
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there's, you know, a good chance you're gonna
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see them up higher. Finally, as you approach
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the east entrance, the geology starts to change.
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Volcanic features that define much of Yellowstone
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begin to give way to the rugged terrain of the
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mountains that are out there. This area is made
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up of older volcanic rocks that have been heavily
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eroded over time, creating a different look and
8:38
feel compared to the geyser basins and plateaus
8:40
deeper in the park. As you head out of the park
8:43
from the east entrance, which again recommend
8:45
doing maybe like 10 -15 miles just to do, you're
8:49
gonna get into some red rock, the river there
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is really cool, there's gonna be wildlife, it's
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just a nice shift of pace before you turn around
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and drive back. And that's kind of what makes
8:59
this so special. because going from the east
9:04
entrance to Canyon or Canyon to the east entrance
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is another slice of Yellowstone opening up and
9:10
you get to enjoy it. Yellowstone is coming back
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to life in real time. Wildlife is slowly becoming
9:16
more active, the landscape is shifting, and every
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few miles you drive feels a little different
9:20
than the last. It's quieter than most routes
9:23
this time of the year, very unpredictable as
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to what you're gonna see. And it's often overlooked,
9:29
which is exactly why it's worth your time. The
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reason why it's overlooked is unless you're coming
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from Cody, driving out there can take a long
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time. However, highly recommend going. That's
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why it's my experience of the week is because
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I will be doing this. I love it. I do it early
9:45
every year and I always see some really cool
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things. So if you're in the park this week, check
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it out. My tip of the week is may the best month
9:55
to visit the park. If you're trying to pick the
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perfect time to visit Yellowstone National Park,
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that's really just a matter of preference. There
10:02
is no perfect time. The perfect time is when
10:04
you're there because you're in the park. But
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May makes a strong case to be that perfect time.
10:10
It's not perfect in that traditional sense, but
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nothing in Yellowstone ever is. But that's exactly
10:16
why it stands out. This is the month where wildlife
10:19
is active, landscapes are changing by the day,
10:22
and the crowds haven't fully arrived yet. you
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just have to be willing to accept a few trade
10:27
-offs. The biggest reason to visit May is the
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wildlife. Spring is the most active time of the
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year for animals. Bears are emerging from their
10:36
dens, bison calves, often called red dogs, are
10:39
being born, and elk, pronghorn, and wolves are
10:42
easier to spot in the open valleys because the
10:45
vegetation is still pretty low and they're just
10:48
easier to see and they're more active because
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it's still pretty cold outside. Once summer hits,
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Grasses are a little higher, temperatures are
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a little warmer, things aren't as active. So
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right now is a really good time. The timing that
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wildlife uses in May is one reason why I love
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it. Animals are moving more, they're feeding
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more, they're spending time in open terrain,
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which increases your chance of seeing something
11:13
without having to go that far. It's one of the
11:15
few times of the year when you can head out early
11:18
or late and realistically expect multiple wildlife
11:21
encounters in a single outing. That alone makes
11:24
May stand out compared to other months. May is
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when I see so many bears. So, so, so many bears.
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I'm going to talk about this all month, but this
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is the time where I see lots of bears. There's
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newborn bison being born. They're jumping around.
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The wolves are a little active because they are
11:42
denning right now. And so one of the wolves is
11:44
super pregnant, right? And so all the other wolves
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are bringing food back to the den. And if you
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know where that den is, which I'll talk about
11:50
in the wildlife report, You can go and set up
11:53
a spotting scope miles away and just watch that
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activity throughout the day. Temperature is also
11:58
colder, like I said, so that way everything is
12:01
a little more active. Then there's the crowds,
12:06
or more accurately, the lack of them. May sits
12:09
right before the surge of summer visitation.
12:13
I would say that the first two weeks, two and
12:15
a half weeks of May, are right before that surge
12:17
starts. The majority of Yellowstone's visitors
12:21
arrive between late May and the end of September,
12:25
which means May is noticeably quieter, that early
12:28
part of May. Parking is easier, traffic is lighter,
12:32
and you're far less likely to feel rushed at
12:33
major stops. You can actually take your time,
12:36
whether that means watching a herd of bison or
12:38
wolves for longer than planned, or lingering
12:41
at a geyser basin without feeling like you need
12:43
to move along. You will still encounter crowds
12:47
here and there. Popular places are going to be
12:49
popular. Bear jams are going to become bear jams,
12:52
right? There's going to be people at the activity,
12:55
but it's not going to be as crowded as it will
12:58
be in the summer. Another reason I love May is
13:01
that the landscape itself is part of that draw
13:04
and part of like this energy that is emerging.
13:07
May is this transition month in every sense.
13:10
Snow is still cleaning to higher elevations while
13:12
the valleys are turning green. Rivers and waterfalls
13:15
start to swell with snowmelt, and it makes them
13:18
more powerful and dramatic and much louder. There's
13:21
cooler air that makes the geothermal features
13:23
feel more vivid, with steam hanging low across
13:25
basins and drifting through the trees. It's also
13:29
just downright gorgeous, and it's quiet, and
13:32
there's birds calling, and it's just this energy
13:35
that's always shifting and always changing, and
13:38
it's just... impossible to explain. I know I'm
13:42
trying here and you can hear me kind of just
13:44
stammering because I love May. It is a great
13:48
time in the park and I think you'll like it.
13:51
That said, May comes with some very real downsides
13:55
and it's better to know them ahead of time. The
13:58
biggest one is access and amenities. Yellowstone
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doesn't fully open all at once as you know. Roads
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open in phases throughout April and May and full
14:07
access to the park doesn't happen until later
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in the month, and that is even depending on the
14:12
weather. Even when roads are open, services can
14:16
lag behind. Lodges, restaurants, visitor centers,
14:19
and even bathrooms can be limited or just beginning
14:22
to open for the season, which can catch people
14:24
off guard if they're expecting a full summer
14:26
experience. This is also something for those
14:30
towns outside of the park. Gardner, West Yellowstone,
14:35
Cody, Cook City, Silvergate, all of those areas
14:38
are going to have fewer amenities earlier in
14:41
the month than they will later in the month.
14:43
So plan ahead, be prepared, and you'll be fine.
14:46
One thing that you also need to know about visiting
14:49
in May is that trail conditions, if you're a
14:51
hiker, are another factor why a lot of people
14:53
don't like May. Snowmelt turns many lower elevation
14:57
trails into mud, and the higher elevation hikes
15:00
still will have snow or ice on them. Boardwalks
15:03
in the thermal areas can be icy in the morning
15:06
and some trails may be closed for resource protection
15:09
or seasonal conditions or there's bears and wildlife
15:12
there. If hiking is your main goal, May can and
15:16
will be inconsistent depending on where you go
15:19
and what type of trails you're looking for. This
15:22
is where off the top of the show I gave you my
15:25
phone number. I'm doing it again. If you need
15:28
a trail, I will try to sell you a book because
15:31
I wrote a guidebook to the region and since I
15:33
don't get paid for this podcast, buying a book
15:35
helps me out. But if you need a hike and you're
15:37
visiting and you need to know it's perfect, reach
15:40
out to me 406 -589 -1873. Happy to recommend
15:45
a trail. I will recommend my book as well, but
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I have to, right? It's a business. Okay. Finally,
15:53
know that weather is inconsistent. This April,
15:56
we have had multiple days of snow. It snowed
15:59
more in April than it did in January and February
16:02
combined. Actually, I will say December, January,
16:05
and February combined. We have more snow in Livingston,
16:08
where I live, than those three months combined
16:11
in April. May could be the exact same. It has
16:15
snowed in May. It's been 80 in May. It's rained
16:17
heavy. We've had flooding. You never know what
16:20
to expect with May. Always be prepared for anything.
16:25
Know that you may have a warm, sunny afternoon
16:28
followed by a snowstorm overnight. You may have
16:30
thunderstorms throughout the day, and then it
16:32
will clear up at night and you might see the
16:34
northern lights. You have no idea what to expect,
16:36
so pack and plan for everything. So with all
16:41
of this, is May the best month to visit Yellowstone?
16:44
Depends on what you're looking for, but if wildlife,
16:47
extra space at all, the cool places you can visit,
16:51
and a more dynamic, energetic version of the
16:54
park are high on your list, it's hard to beat.
16:57
You're likely to see more animals right now,
16:59
deal with fewer crowds, and experience Yellowstone
17:01
in a way that feels a little more raw and a lot
17:04
less polished than peak summer. It's not the
17:07
easiest time to visit, and it's not the most
17:10
predictable. But for a lot of people, that's
17:13
exactly what makes it the best. My random Yellowstone
17:17
fact of the week. the Bermuda Triangle. Like
17:21
most places that are seasonally awesome in the
17:23
park, you're not going to find this on any official
17:26
map. If you ask people about the Bermuda Triangle,
17:30
some will know what you're talking about, others
17:31
will think that you're just asking about the
17:33
Bermuda Triangle and wondering, you know... if
17:37
you're worried about your compass not working
17:38
or looking for lost ships. But the Bermuda Triangle
17:42
is uniquely Yellowstone and a really cool place.
17:45
It loosely covers the area between Lamar Valley,
17:48
Tower Junction, and the slopes around Spetsman
17:50
Ridge. If you're visiting in early to late May,
17:54
this is one of the best places in the park to
17:56
spend time looking for bears. The reason has
17:59
a lot to do with what bears are eating this time
18:01
of year. By May, most grizzly bears have emerged
18:04
from their den. Adult males typically come out
18:06
first, followed by females, and then females
18:09
with cubs. After months without food, they need
18:12
to rebuild energy, but early spring in Yellowstone
18:14
isn't exactly overflowing with options. Instead
18:17
of big dramatic feeding events, much of what
18:20
bears are doing is slower and more methodical.
18:23
They're grazing. A huge part of a bear spring
18:26
diet is actually plant -based, and as the snow
18:29
melts, the first green shoots begin to appear,
18:32
like grasses, sedges, and forbs, bears spend
18:35
long stretches of time with their heads down,
18:38
slowly moving across hillsides and valleys, just
18:41
feeding on this early vegetation. You'll see
18:44
them digging with their long claws, and those
18:47
claws really can rip open whatever they want
18:50
to. Usually it's logs in the ground, and those
18:53
long claws are in search of roots like biscuit
18:57
root and yampa, which are rich in nutrients and
18:59
become available as the soil thaws. Now you will
19:02
see bears on carcasses. this is something that
19:05
happens bears will be that especially the grizzly
19:08
boars are going to be going after the newborn
19:11
bison they're going to be going to where the
19:14
wolves have killed something and trying to take
19:16
over that carcass bears are going to be also
19:19
on carcasses but don't expect them to be eating
19:22
just meat they eat a lot of vegetation and this
19:26
area that I'm talking about the Bermuda Triangle
19:28
is super productive The northern range tends
19:32
to green up earlier than the higher elevations,
19:34
creating a patchwork of feeding areas that draws
19:37
bears out into the open. The mix of rolling hills,
19:40
exposed slopes, and wide valleys make it easier
19:42
to both find food and see bears while they're
19:45
doing it. Unlike summer when vegetation grows
19:47
tall and dense, May keeps things relatively open,
19:50
which is why sightings can feel more frequent.
19:53
As the month goes on, things build. Early May
19:56
will still feel a little quiet. Right now, you'll
19:59
hear in the wildlife report, bear sightings are
20:02
up in Lamar Valley, but they're largely far away.
20:05
By mid to late May, bears are more active across
20:08
the landscape and females with cubs become more
20:10
visible as they move farther from their den sites,
20:13
which are more remote. So at the same time, food
20:16
options continue to expand with more plant growth
20:19
and other seasonal opportunities emerging. So
20:21
bear sightings continually pick up. Not every
20:24
bear you see in the bear -mute triangle is going
20:26
to be a grizzly. Chances are you may see more
20:29
black bears, especially when the road from Tower
20:32
Junction to Tower Falls opens up. I have seen
20:36
seven black bears in that two and a half mile
20:39
stretch. I've also seen at one time five grizzly
20:41
bears in that area. You never know. Now, I will
20:45
talk about how to tell the difference between
20:46
grizzly bears and black bears briefly. Happy
20:50
to tell you more. There's a lot of good resources
20:52
online as well. So grizzly bears are generally
20:54
larger, with a distinct shoulder hump. They have
20:57
a slightly concave face and long claws built
21:00
for digging. Their color ranges from blonde to
21:03
dark brown. Black bears, despite their name,
21:06
can also be brown. They can look just like grizzlies,
21:08
but they lack the shoulder hump, have a straighter
21:11
facial profile, and shorter claws that are better
21:14
suited for climbing trees. Even in a place nicknamed
21:18
Bermuda Triangle, though, nothing is guaranteed.
21:21
Bears cover a lot of ground and their movements
21:23
change daily depending on food, weather, and
21:25
human activity. You might scan for an hour and
21:28
see nothing, or you might just be driving and
21:30
you might see just bears walking across the road
21:32
throughout the day. This happens all the time.
21:36
That unpredictability is part of the experience
21:38
of Yellowstone, so if you're visiting in May,
21:41
your best chances are to drive this road if you
21:44
want to see bears. I will say that early morning
21:46
and late evening when bears are most active is
21:48
the best time, but again this time of the year,
21:51
depending on the temperature, they're out all
21:53
the time. If you can't get up in the morning
21:56
or you only have a little bit of time in the
21:57
day, I have seen bears every hour of the day
22:00
that I'm in the park. So go to the Bermuda Triangle
22:04
again. It is basically from around the Tower
22:07
Roosevelt area. Just know that. I will continue
22:11
to talk about this region. Every single week,
22:14
especially through May and early June as this
22:17
will be a good place to start seeing bears I
22:19
do want to say if bears are near the road Do
22:23
not stop in the road unless the bear is directly
22:26
in front of your car Do not get out of your car
22:28
to take pictures if the bear is right next to
22:30
the road. You must maintain 100 yards from bears
22:34
at all times If there is a ranger there and allows
22:39
you to pull off at an approved pullout and you
22:41
can get out of your car, they will let you. You
22:43
will see them there. They'll be wearing vests.
22:46
They are impossible to miss. Listen to them.
22:49
A lot of them are just volunteers. So when you
22:54
are at a bear event, Listen to the people in
22:57
charge stay far away. Don't stop your car in
23:00
the road and whatever you do Don't get out of
23:02
your car and run toward bears. I know it sounds
23:04
simple and I know some of you're like I would
23:07
never do that. I have had friends and family
23:11
who are Who have told me I would never do that
23:16
and then there's a bear and they immediately
23:17
get out of the car and walk Toward it because
23:19
there's other people there This is something
23:21
that happens in Yellowstone. We're going to talk
23:23
about it more in the future episodes. But right
23:25
now, if you want to see bears, go to the Bear
23:27
Muted Triangle and follow all park rules and
23:30
regulations. The weather for the coming week.
23:33
As always, this is the best forecast for the
23:35
week at the time of the recording. And it's going
23:38
to be better through the weekend. And then after
23:41
this weekend, I can't really guarantee it. It's
23:43
just a good model to kind of say, OK, this is
23:46
what I should expect. So we're going to start
23:48
with Lamar Valley. Thursday in Lamar Valley,
23:51
high of 48, low of 23, shouldn't be much rain
23:55
if any at all and should be a little cloudy.
23:58
On Friday, high of 57, low of 28, almost all
24:02
sun. Saturday, 59 and 30, almost all sun. Sunday,
24:08
59 and 30, 18 % chance of rain. Monday, 60 and
24:12
32, 14 % chance of rain. Tuesday, 54 and 28,
24:17
14 % chance of rain. And Wednesday, 54 and 31,
24:21
with a 9 % chance of rain. And that brings us
24:24
to Gardner, Montana. In Gardner on Thursday,
24:28
high of 51, low of 26, 4 % chance of precipitation.
24:32
Friday 61 and 33 percent chance Saturday 62 and
24:36
34 1 percent chance Sunday 62 and 34 17 percent
24:41
chance Monday 64 and 35 with a 19 percent chance
24:45
of rain looks like the afternoon evening Tuesday
24:48
56 and 30 Wednesday 57 and 33 out in West Yellowstone
24:55
On Thursday, high of 49, low of 22, 6 % chance
24:59
of rain. Friday, 57 and 27, 5 % chance. Saturday,
25:04
59 and 32, 2 % chance. Sunday, 60 and 31, 8 %
25:09
chance. Monday, 61 and 31, with a 23 % chance.
25:14
Again, afternoon, evening. Tuesday, 54 and 28,
25:18
with a 13 % chance. And Wednesday, 54 and 30,
25:22
with a 7 % chance. Cody Wyoming welcome to the
25:26
weather forecast Cody in Cody on Thursday 56
25:29
and 33 on Friday 66 and 39 on Saturday 71 and
25:36
42 on Sunday 67 and 42 chance of some rain in
25:41
the afternoon evening 22 % chance on Monday 68
25:45
and 44 at Tuesday 57 and 36 with a 12 % chance
25:50
of rain overnight and Wednesday 60 and 38 Then
25:54
finally Cook City, Montana on Thursday high of
25:58
43 low of 20 4 % chance of precipitation Friday
26:02
52 and 29 4 % chance Saturday, 54 and 30, 5 %
26:07
chance. Sunday, 54 and 30, 23 % chance, mostly
26:12
during the daytime hours. Monday, 55 and 32,
26:15
16 % chance. Tuesday, 48 and 26, with a 36 %
26:20
chance of some snow. And then Wednesday, high
26:23
of 50, low of 30, 11 % chance of precipitation.
26:27
And that brings us to the snowpack update. So
26:30
the snowpack right now, still really good on
26:32
the eastern side of the park. It's 91 % of normal.
26:36
On the western side of the park, it's about 70
26:38
to 71 % of normal. So, not terrible, but... not
26:43
great at least the that eastern side is doing
26:45
pretty well last year at this time the entire
26:49
park was about 96 percent of normal if you want
26:51
to put that in perspective so we're obviously
26:53
much lower this year but the entire west is much
26:56
lower road conditions so i forgot in the news
27:00
section to announce something i meant to so at
27:02
least it's road related so it fits here um the
27:05
plug is open from Cook City to Cody through the
27:10
Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. Beartooth Highway
27:14
not open but you can now drive from Cody to Cook
27:18
City and that is really cool because if you are
27:21
in the park and you're looking for a long day
27:23
highly recommend driving through Lamar Valley
27:26
to Cook City out through Chief Joseph down to
27:31
Cody and then back in through that east entrance.
27:33
It's a solid and scenic drive and it's absolutely
27:36
great. The plug is open and it should remain
27:40
open as long as the weather is good. Park roads
27:43
I've said what's open you can drive from West
27:46
Yellowstone down to Old Faithful and Starting
27:48
on the first you can drive all the way out to
27:50
Cody through the east entrance You cannot drive
27:53
from Old Faithful along the lake through West
27:55
Thumb You have to go up from Old Faithful to
27:58
Canyon down through Hayden and then out the east
28:01
entrance Lamar Valley to Cook City open year
28:04
-round There will be some construction here and
28:06
there. Expect some delays on the Gardiner River
28:09
Bridge outside of Mammoth, and then there's just
28:12
other little projects going on, but nothing should
28:14
be that big of a delay. If you want up -to -date
28:17
road information, you can call 307 -344 -2117
28:22
for recorded information, or you can do what
28:24
we all do, is sign up to receive Yellowstone
28:26
Road Alerts on your mobile phone by texting 82190
28:30
to the number 888 -777. Right now there is only
28:35
one campground open in the park and that's mammoth
28:37
campground, which is open year -round. That's
28:39
the camping information We will be announcing
28:42
new campgrounds opening soon, but not yet The
28:46
wildlife watching update. So right now if you
28:49
want to see bears the best place to see them
28:52
Northern Range head to Lamar Valley from Lamar
28:56
basically then back to Roosevelt Junction I know
29:01
there have been Lots of bears sighted. There's
29:04
also been some bears out by blacktail ponds There's
29:07
been wolves out by blacktail ponds and the best
29:10
wolf sightings right now are happening in Slough
29:12
Creek as of the time of recording The best wolf
29:16
watching is by Slough Creek Now I hesitate to
29:20
say this but because my listenership is not giant
29:23
and because this is pretty well -known I'm gonna
29:26
tell you something. There's a wolf den out of
29:28
Slough Creek that is being used People will be
29:31
out there. They'll be set up. They will be watching
29:34
wolves off in the distance. It's a great experience.
29:37
If you've never seen wolves go to and fro, it's
29:40
great. This area will be very popular until the
29:44
wolves leave after they've been born and go outside
29:47
and play and all of these other things. Slough
29:49
Creek from now for a long time, well into late
29:53
June, gonna be extremely, extremely busy and
29:57
very popular with wildlife watchers. Baby bison
30:01
are popping off more and more every day You're
30:04
gonna start seeing them more most of them are
30:06
out that northern range I have been getting reports
30:09
of some down near the geyser basins and with
30:12
Hayden opening up We're gonna see what's down
30:14
there When Hayden opens up as I said earlier,
30:18
but I'm gonna reiterate this You might see some
30:21
really cool things in Hayden or you might see
30:23
nothing There is a very high likelihood that
30:26
you will see Grizzlies in the next week or two
30:29
out that east entrance road this is a very popular
30:32
spot some of the most well -known bears in the
30:35
park are out that area so it's a long drive but
30:38
it's worth it to get out there other than that
30:41
Elk are pretty active. That famous elk, number
30:44
24, he has got a 24 tag in one of his ears. He
30:48
already has. He's growing his rack and it's all
30:51
velvety and awesome right now. He's been hanging
30:53
around mammoth. There's been other elk hanging
30:56
around out there. Pronghorn are on the move.
30:58
Osprey are everywhere. Eagles are everywhere.
31:01
Bluebirds. Sandhill cranes. You're going to have
31:04
a great time wildlife watching this week, especially
31:07
because of how the weather is. It's going to
31:09
be glorious. But since it's going to be warmer,
31:12
I am saying to go earlier or later in the day.
31:16
Midday may not be as active as you would like.
31:19
However, if the only time you can go is midday,
31:21
great, go. You'll still see some awesome stuff.
31:24
Other than that, I am going to be in the park
31:27
multiple times this coming week. and I'll have
31:30
a lot more in next week's Wildlife Report. If
31:33
you do kind of want to know where to see animals
31:35
just generally based on my entire lifetime of
31:38
visiting the park, you can pick up my Wildlife
31:40
Watching Guidebook. It's available in both ebook
31:43
and paperback formats. Go to outdoor -society
31:46
.com or reach out to me 406 -589 -1873 and I'll
31:51
send you a text so you can pick up that book.
31:54
Trail Alerts and Updates There are currently
31:57
no real restrictions on trails. Higher up you
32:00
go there's going to be some snow. If you're doing
32:02
something like Bunsen Peak expect quite a bit
32:04
of snow and not necessarily a fun time unless
32:06
you prepared for it. If you do have creek crossings
32:09
or river crossings it's gonna be bad. Don't do
32:13
it. Stay away from those trails. Otherwise, it's
32:16
it's good hiking You might have spots of mud
32:18
here and there but I think lower elevation trails
32:21
are very good right now I'm looking at the backcountry
32:24
conditions page right now and I'm not seeing
32:26
a lot of alerts. So everything is like snow hazards
32:30
or Forting river hazards, so should be good to
32:34
go that leads me to my trail of the week now
32:37
I'm taking a risk here because I'm recommending
32:39
a trail that I am assuming is going to be opening
32:42
when the road out the east entrance opens it
32:45
may not be because of bear activity but I'm like
32:49
99 % sure it's going to be open so that's why
32:52
I'm recommending it and that trail is the storm
32:55
point trail so if you're heading out on the storm
32:58
point trail in the first week of May it's gonna
33:00
feel a bit like stepping into Yellowstone's Wild
33:03
right as it's waking up. Nothing is fully on
33:06
yet, but everything is starting to move, and
33:08
that includes landscape and the wildlife. The
33:11
hike itself is short and easy. It's about 2 .3
33:14
miles round -trip, starting near Indian Pond
33:16
just east of Fishing Bridge. Right away you're
33:19
walking through an open meadow, and this is where
33:21
things get interesting in May. This stretch of
33:24
grassland and wet ground is prime habitat for
33:26
bison, and it's very common to see them here,
33:29
sometimes right on or near the trail. In fact,
33:32
this area is specifically noted as good habitat
33:35
for bison and other wildlife, moving between
33:37
forests and the lake, and it's also a place where
33:42
every so often someone gets charged by a bison.
33:44
That means you need to be paying attention. Bison
33:47
may look slow, but they're unpredictable and
33:50
are responsible for more injuries in Yellowstone
33:52
than any other animal. They can run 30 to 35
33:55
miles an hour and supposedly have a 6 foot vertical.
33:59
One quick tip is to look at their tail. If their
34:03
tail is down, they're probably calm. If their
34:06
tail is straight out, they're on edge. If their
34:08
tail is up, it's going to defecate or charge.
34:11
Always watch their tail and always stay at least
34:14
25 yards away and have an exit strategy if there
34:17
is one nearby. I'm going to be talking more about
34:20
bison and bison -human interactions more in next
34:24
week's episode. Also in this first section, know
34:27
that probably will be muddy so your feet are
34:30
going to get probably wet. As you move away from
34:33
here the trail is going to dip into the trees
34:35
and eventually works its way to the shoreline
34:37
of Yellowstone Lake. Early May out here is awesome.
34:41
The lake is still cold and gray and sometimes
34:44
there's ice lingering along the edges and the
34:48
wind can sometimes just come whipping off that
34:50
water very hard. That's where the name Storm
34:52
Point really makes sense. Wildlife is a big part
34:56
of what makes this hike stand out, and it's not
34:58
just the obvious stuff. You're gonna see waterfowl
35:00
and maybe ducks riding the waves or working the
35:02
shoreline, and if you look carefully around the
35:04
rocky point, there's a really good chance of
35:07
spotting yellow -bellied marmots. The mix of
35:10
meadow, forest, and lake creates a surprising
35:13
amount of diversity for such a short walk. Now
35:15
one thing that really defines this trail in the
35:17
spring is bears. The area is well known for grizzly
35:21
activity, especially in late spring and early
35:23
summer, and the trail is sometimes closed because
35:25
of it. Even when the trail is open, even if there's
35:28
no sign saying recent bear activity on the trail,
35:32
expect to see a bear here. You probably won't,
35:34
but they are here. Last year I did this a couple
35:37
of times, and there are fresh bear tracks every
35:39
single time I did it. National Park Service makes
35:42
it very clear that both grizzly and black bears
35:44
use this entire region. It's right next to a
35:47
bear management area, and hikers are advised
35:49
to carry bear spray, make noise, and traveling
35:52
groups when possible. Early May is right in this
35:55
window where bears are out of their dens and
35:57
moving through the lower elevations like this.
35:59
They're often using the same meadows and forest
36:01
edges you're walking through. So just stay safe,
36:04
make noise, look for bear signs, and if you see
36:07
something that makes you feel uncomfortable,
36:09
turn around and go back. What makes Storm Point
36:12
unique is that you're not deep in the backcountry.
36:15
You're also not separated from wildlife. You're
36:17
just right in it. Bison graze in the meadow,
36:20
birds are along the lake, and the very real possibility
36:23
that bears pass through the same trail earlier
36:25
that day is right there. That's why flexibility
36:27
matters. It's not uncommon again for this trail
36:30
to be temporarily closed in the spring due to
36:32
bear activity, and it's always worth checking
36:35
conditions before heading out. If it is open
36:37
though, it's one of the best short hikes in this
36:40
area of the park for seeing how much life is
36:42
packed into a relatively small area. In early
36:45
May, Storm Point feels like Yellowstone in transition.
36:48
The ground is waking up, the lake is still holding
36:51
on to that last gasp of winter, and wildlife
36:54
is starting to move in meaningful ways. It's
36:56
not a flashy hike, but it doesn't need to be.
36:58
It's a quiet little jaunt, it's unpredictable,
37:01
and it's very much alive, and it's exactly what
37:04
makes it worth doing. this week All right next
37:09
week in the next episode I'm gonna return with
37:11
all the information you need to have a good week
37:13
in the park including that wildlife weather and
37:16
trail update until then Book a tour with me pick
37:20
up a guidebook of mine and happy trails Abrupt
37:34
ending This week in Yellowstone is brought to
37:36
you by the Outdoor Society. That's my company.
37:39
It's just me. I do this. It's a labor of love.
37:42
If you like it, tell your friends, rate and review
37:44
it. Shoot me a message. Otherwise, keep listening,
37:47
and I hope to see you in Yellowstone. Copyright
37:50
2026, baby.