Yellowstone closes southern road to bicyclists during spring

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - Bicyclists will no longer be allowed to ride into Yellowstone National Park through the south gate before the road opens for motorized vehicles each spring.

After spring plowing, Yellowstone keeps some of its interior roads closed to motorized vehicles for several weeks while opening them to human-powered recreation.

The park recently announced a permanent ban on bikes between the South Entrance and Grant Village during the spring shoulder season, the Jackson Hole News & Guide reported.

"Usually there are high snowbanks, no place to get out of the road and no restrooms in that section," Yellowstone spokeswoman Linda Veress said. "It wasn't the safest place to ride a bike."

Fewer bicyclists ride in southern Yellowstone in spring compared to the more accessible main road through nearby Grand Teton National Park.

Snow and ice prevented Yellowstone's South Entrance from opening to bicyclists in 2018 and 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic closed the road through much of the spring of 2020.

Yellowstone officials plan to open the south gate to all traffic May 14.