From Dan Bailey’s
It’s been over a week since the devastating floods on the Yellowstone River and other waters in our region, and things are slowly returning to normal. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by this event. It is truly sad to see this kind of devastation in our community, but heartwarming to see the response as we begin to rebuild.
Yellowstone River and National Forest
The situation is evolving rapidly, and changes almost every day. Earlier this week we posted an update on our blog, read it here. Keep an eye on our social media for the latest updates as we try to keep abreast of everything and share it there.
The National Forest lands that were closed are back open, and the recreational use closure on the Yellowstone River has been lifted as of yesterday morning. However – keep in mind that most of the Fishing Access sites remain closed! You can find all the closed and affected sites on the Montana FWP website here.
We do urge caution (as always) when out in the mountains or on the river, and we are strongly advising everyone to stay off the Yellowstone until it comes down more. This event changed the river drastically, and there is going to be all kinds of debris in the river. Flows have come down, but there is still a lot of water moving very fast right now.
Yellowstone National Park
The Southern Loop of Yellowstone Park is now back open, with some changes to the entry procedures. They are operating off a system of what number your license plate ends in – get the full details on the YNP website here. The Northern Loop remains closed, but officials are hopeful at least part of it will be opening soon, dates TBD. Be patient, be kind, and enjoy the park.
Yellowstone River Fishery
We have been getting a lot of calls and emails about the conditions of the area and the fishery after this event. This isn’t the first time the Yellowstone River has flooded and it certainly won’t be the last. We are very hopeful the river will have an incredible summer of cold water with fishing to match. Even with the north entrance to Yellowstone Park closed, there are more trails to hike or bike, places to camp, and incredible sights to see than you can explore in a lifetime – all open and ready.
Support Local!
We are proud to be part of such a vibrant and resilient community. Please consider supporting small, local business whenever you can. Many businesses, employers, guides and more have taken a significant economic hit with this event and need all the help they can get. Shop local, stay local, drink and eat local. It matters.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff with any questions, concerns or updates. We hope to see you this summer in Livingston!
