West Yellowstone will open today to snowmobiles

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. – The park’s popular west entrance is opening to snowmobiles and snowcoaches for the first time this winter, although some routes remain closed because of a lack of snow, park officials said Friday.

The West Yellowstone, Mont., entrance is scheduled to open today, park spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews said.

Snowmobiles and snowcoaches will be allowed on roads between the west entrance and Old Faithful, Madison to Norris and Norris to Canyon.

The road from Mammoth to Norris continues to have bare spots and will remain closed to snowmobiles, although snowcoaches are allowed, Matthews said.

The road from Canyon to Lake is still closed because of unsafe conditions.

The park’s winter season officially began Dec. 15, but as of Thursday snowmobiles and snowcoaches were being allowed only through the south and east entrances.