Improving road conditions in the Sylvan Pass and the decreased chance of snow slides are causing Yellowstone National Park officials to open the East Entrance for travel 24 hours a day.

Bad conditions with heavy snowpack forced the closure of the entrance May 11 and May 18, and limited travel over the road between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. from May 18 through June 5.

Next up: the opening of the Dunraven Pass, allowing travel between Tower Fall and Canyon Village. This road is expected to open to travel for the summer early this week. Also on the agenda: the opening of the Beartooth Highway between West Summit and the Montana-Wyoming State Line. Weather conditions permitting,
this should allow the entire length of road between Red Lodge and Cooke City to open to travelers by next weekend.

You can see a full list of 2011 opening and closing dates here.

RELATED STORIES: Yellowstone Mammoth-Tower Road Reopened; Road Closures Still Impacting Yellowstone Visitors; Yellowstone's Mammoth-Tower Road to Remain Closed Indefinitely; Planning Your Memorial Day Weekend Yellowstone Visit; Opening of Beartooth Highway Delayed; Cooke City/Chief Joseph Highway Link Now Open; Sylvan Pass Closed Indefinitely; Snow Causes Other Damage in Yellowstone; Snow Still Factor in Slow Yellowstone Spring, as South Entrance Opens Tomorrow

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