Yellowstone National Park planning to reopen next week. Here’s what you need to know

Yellowstone National Park will be reopening its gates as soon as Monday, park officials said.

The National Park Service said in a news release Wednesday that starting May 18, the park will begin a “three-phased plan” to allow tourists to visit the public lands.

“Yellowstone has outlined a three-phased plan that initially opens the South and East entrances of Wyoming and limits visitor travel to the lower loop of the park,” the park said in the news release. “The lower loop allows visitors to access Lake, Canyon, Norris, Old Faithful, West Thumb, and Grant Village.”

The park has been closed since March 24 as the coronavirus pandemic lingered, according to McClatchy News. At the time, county officials in Wyoming and Montana called on the park to close because of the strain tourists coming to the area could have on local health care systems, McClatchy News reported.

Now, park officials say they are ready to reopen on a limited basis, following guidance from health officials, according to the news release.

The only way to enter the park will be through the South and East entrances in Wyoming, which lifted its out-of-state travel restrictions, according to the news release. Montana and Idaho, where other park gates are located, still have travel restrictions in place, causing a delay for the three remaining entrances to open.

“This measured approach will help protect employees, visitors, and neighboring communities. It will also give us useful experience as we look ahead to opening other areas of the park, provide a boost to Wyoming’s tourism industry, and help get America’s economy up and going again,” Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said in the news release.

On Monday, those gates, the “lower loop of Grand Loop Road” and restrooms, gas stations, trails and boardwalks will all open under “Phase 1” of the park’s plan, according to the news release.

Campgrounds, backcountry permits, visitor cabins, stores, expanded tours, boating, fishing and visitor centers will still be closed, the park said. Hotels, dining, commercial tour buses and ranger programs will also remain closed.

Tourists will be required to practice social distancing, and wearing a face mask is recommended, the park said.

“I’m asking the public to partner with us to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” park Superintendent Cam Sholly said in the news release. “Visitors can protect their family and friends by skipping areas that are too crowded and always maintaining social distance from other people, including rangers. The National Park Service can’t do this alone and will continue to work with all stakeholders to best protect the public and our employees.”