Yellowstone National Park releases new winter use plan

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Winter visitors to Yellowstone National Park may soon get to explore the park on self-guided snowmobile tours, according to the new proposed Winter Use Plan released today.

The plan includes guidelines for how many visitors can enter the park on snowmobiles and snow coaches, and also allows for visitors to tour the park without a professional guide, which is currently required.

However, Park Superintendent Dan Wenk says that participants of non-commercially guided tours will still have to meet minimum standards.

“You and every other driver in that group will have to take a training session, you’ll have to meet with a park ranger, you’ll have to have your vehicles inspected to show you have the right safety gear etc., and then you’ll be allowed in the park,” says Wenk.

The proposed plan hopes to limit the environmental impact of winter visitors, while encouraging a variety of different park experiences. The plan will be open for public comment for 60-days before being presented to the National Park Service. Details on the plan can be found on the park’s website: http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/winteruse.htm