I’ve been threatening to walk the old Yellowstone north entrance road to see the damage since I got here. I am just now doing it! This road was washed out last year in the flooding. This is the first of three sections, including a bridge, washed away. I’m told the others are much worse!
I didn’t hike farther as it was pouring rain by the time I got this far.
The current “temporary” entrance road (I suspect it is temporary in the geologic sense of the word) is actually the old stage coach road. It used to take visitors from the end of the train line—to the Mammoth Hotel.
Beginning in 1883 in Cinnabar (which no longer exists) then in 1903 from Gardiner. The train station and tracks are gone, but the railroad ended in what is now Arch Park, near the school in Gardiner. The horse drawn coaches loaded guests and luggage, drove through the Roosevelt Arch (cornerstone laid by Teddy!) and wound up the hill.
This road is quite winding and climbs about 1,000 ft, with little to no shoulder. Because It had a base, it was the easiest road to upgrade after the flood last summer, but still took a month to construct. I drive it daily, so it’s no big deal now, but it a surprise for most visitors. I don’t recommend taking a trailer or long RV.
I’ve been threatening to walk the old Yellowstone north entrance road to see the damage since I got here. I am just now doing it! This road was washed out last year in the flooding. This is the first of three sections, including a bridge, washed away. I’m told the others are much worse!
The current “temporary” entrance road (I suspect it is temporary in the geologic sense of the word) is actually the old stage coach road. It used to take visitors from the end of the train line—to the Mammoth Hotel.