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As summer travel accelerates with the Memorial Day weekend, visitors to Wyoming’s national parks should expect delays, detours and at least one active wildlife closure. Work on major road and trail projects in Grand Teton, together with a recent grizzly-related closure near Old Faithful in Yellowstone, will alter access at some of the region’s busiest sites.
Millions pass through the two parks during peak season: roughly 60% of annual visits occur from June through August. Yellowstone recorded about 4.76 million recreation visits in 2025, while Grand Teton saw about 3.8 million — figures that underline why even short delays can ripple across the summer schedule for drivers and day hikers.
What’s under construction in Grand Teton
Park managers say several multi-year infrastructure projects are underway as part of preparations for the park’s 2029 centennial. The work is intended to improve safety and long-term access, but visitors should plan for congestion and temporary trail closures.
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- Moose-Wilson Road rehabilitation, phase two: road realignment and improvements will produce intermittent delays up to 45 minutes in the Moose corridor from June 20 through Sept. 7.
- Death Canyon Road and trailhead: closed via Moose-Wilson Road through mid-November, with reopening now expected to be delayed into 2027.
- Roundabout construction near Moose Entrance: work on Teton Park Road will slow vehicle traffic; the multi-use pathway remains open and biking north from Moose is a recommended alternative for reaching Jenny Lake and nearby trailheads.
- Taggart Lake Trail rehabilitation: the trail’s northern section will be closed through Nov. 15 for regrading and accessibility upgrades; the primary trailhead and parking remain available, and lakes can be reached by marked detours.
- Mormon Row upgrades: continued work to expand pedestrian and bicycle access in the historic area.
- North Park Road repairs: between Leeks Marina and Lizard Creek Campground, expect one-lane alternating traffic during the day and potential nighttime delays up to an hour (9 p.m.–6 a.m.).
To reduce travel frustration, park staff advise checking current conditions before arrival, buying park passes online when possible, building extra travel time into itineraries and considering less-crowded areas such as the Colter Bay zone.
Yellowstone: a wildlife closure and bridge repairs
Yellowstone is not staging widespread construction this season, but a serious bear encounter in early May prompted a temporary closure that affects a popular geyser basin and nearby trails.
Park officials closed a section northwest of Old Faithful after a female grizzly with cubs attacked two hikers on the Mystic Falls Trail. The closure covers Biscuit Basin, the Mystic Falls and Fairy Creek trails, the Summit Lake Trail and the Fern Cascade Loop, and it includes several campgrounds and fishing access points. Visitors should obey posted signs and check park updates for changes as the investigation continues.
Biscuit Basin is also notable because a hydrothermal explosion in 2024 destroyed part of a boardwalk there; no visitors were hurt in that earlier incident, but the area has been the focus of safety work and monitoring.
Separately, crews are working on structural repairs to the Gardner River High Bridge southeast of Mammoth Hot Springs. Expect one-lane traffic and delays of up to 15 minutes through the summer, plus five planned overnight closures between late May and July 1 — the park will announce those nights in advance.
Longer-term changes on the horizon
Yellowstone’s North Entrance Road — badly damaged by the historic 2022 floods — remains a planning priority. The National Park Service issued an environmental assessment in January exploring options for permanent reroutes. Public comment closed in February and the agency says a final decision is expected this summer; any chosen alternative would reshape travel patterns for visitors coming from the north.
Practical takeaways: respect temporary closures, allow for longer travel times, and remember that many projects are designed to protect both visitors and fragile park resources. Staying informed before you go will make your trip safer and less stressful.
