All Yellowstone NP entrances closed due to severe flooding, rockslides

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — All entrances to Yellowstone National Park have been closed due to hazardous conditions, according to park officials.

The National Park Service said substantial flooding, rockslides and mudslides have been reported across the park following “unprecedented amounts of rainfall and flooding.”

WATCH: Aerial video shows paved road in @YellowstoneNPS eroded and washed out due to high water levels in nearby river.

🎥: YNP

More on the flooding here: https://t.co/n00dtiiY7T pic.twitter.com/oNMNK68qRV

— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) June 13, 2022

“Effective immediately, no inbound visitor traffic will be allowed into the park until conditions stabilize and the park can assess damage to roads and bridges and other facilities. This includes visitors with lodging and camping reservations,” officials said.

Preliminary assessments show multiple road sections throughout the park have been either washed out or covered in mud or rocks, and multiple bridges may be affected. Park rangers also said the power is out in several parts of the park.

Roads could remain closed for an extended period, and the NPS said those planning on visiting Yellowstone in the upcoming weeks should pay close attention to the status of road conditions.

This is a bridge on the Yellowstone River north of the park, between Emigrant and Gardiner. https://t.co/MNLMk9oGZQ

— Cindy St. Clair (@CindyStClair08) June 13, 2022

“With additional rainfall forecasted, the park does not want large numbers of day-use visitors stranded in the park,” rangers said. “Rainfall is expected to continue for the next several days. Flood levels measured on the Yellowstone River are beyond record levels.”

Just after 2:15 p.m. Monday, park officials provided an update saying there will be no inbound visitor traffic at any of the entrances on Tuesday, June 14, and Wednesday, June 15, “at a minimum.”

6/13/22 at 2:15 p.m. UPDATE: Effective immediately, there will be no inbound visitor traffic at any of the five entrances into Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday, June 14, and Wednesday, June 15, at a minimum. Learn more: https://t.co/mymnqGMNN9 https://t.co/Kz2sEbOS7a

— Yellowstone National Park (@YellowstoneNPS) June 13, 2022

A short time earlier, a statement from superintendent Cam Sholly was released on the park’s Facebook page:

Due to record flooding events in the park and more precipitation in the forecast, we have made the decision to close Yellowstone to all inbound visitation. Our first priority has been to evacuate the northern section of the park where we have multiple road and bridge failures, mudslides and other issues. The community of Gardiner is currently isolated, and we are working with the county and State of Montana to provide necessary support to residents, who are currently without water and power in some areas. Due to predictions of higher flood levels in areas of the park’s southern loop, in addition to concerns with water and wastewater systems, we will begin to move visitors in the southern loop out of the park later today in coordination with our in-park business partners. We will not know timing of the park’s reopening until flood waters subside and we’re able to assess the damage throughout the park. It is likely that the northern loop will be closed for a substantial amount of time. I appreciate the efforts of the Yellowstone team and partners to safely evacuate areas of the park and of our gateway community partners who are helping us through this major event. We appreciate the support offered by the Department of Interior, National Park Service and the Montana and Wyoming governors.