Spring Biking in Yellowstone: The Best Way to Avoid Crowds

Spring is a fantastic season to visit Yellowstone National Park. You might come across bear cubs or baby bison, called "red dogs" for their reddish coats, along with explosions of tiny wildflowers. It’s also a great time to avoid the crowds.

For a few weeks every spring — typically starting in early April — most of the roads in Yellowstone are open to bikes, but closed to cars. This gives visitors a rare opportunity to explore the park in a unique way. And whether you're taking a day trip from Bozeman or staying elsewhere near Yellowstone, it's easy to get there!

Note that the route between the North and Northeast Entrances (through Mammoth to Cooke City) remains open year-round to both cyclists and vehicles. You might also encounter park employee vehicles and snow plows on the roads that are otherwise closed to general traffic.

Road opening and closing dates vary every year, but you can check Yellowstone's National Park's website for the latest information and a map of available road biking routes.

All photos by Gayatri Sabne of Sabne Photography.

When to Go Road Biking in Yellowstone

While dates vary each year, the roads in Yellowstone typically close to cars in early April and open back up in late April. Planning your visit for mid-April will probably be your best bet!

Tips for Spring Biking in Yellowstone

• Ride with bear spray (and know how to use it). Federal regulations require you to stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from bison and other wild animals. There's no shortage wildlife in Yellowstone, especially in the spring, thanks to bears coming out of hibernation and the influx of baby animals.
  
  
• Don’t forget your sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat — the spring sun can be intense!
  
  
• Bring layers and a rain jacket. Yellowstone's weather is unpredictable, and you may experience all four seasons in one day. We recommend wearing or packing sweat-wicking base layers, a puffy mid-layer, a rain jacket, water-resistant or waterproof pants (zip-off pants are especially great), a warm hat, and gloves.
  
  
• Pack water, food, and emergency bike maintenance gear. Services are limited this time of year, so it's best to be as prepared as possible!
  
  
• Cell service is limited, if you get any at all. Know your route and have a plan before entering the park.
  
  
• Cyclists must ride in a single-file line on the right side of the road and use bike lights when riding in the dark. Use a white light on the front of your bike, and a red light on the back.
  

Spring Biking in Yellowstone: Routes We Love

Yellowstone's West Entrance to Madison Junction

Biking distance: 28 miles total out-and-back

Driving distance from Bozeman: 90 miles, about 2 hours one way

The route from West Entrance to Madison Junction is a favorite for good reason: it's relatively flat with stunning scenery. The road meanders alongside the Madison River, famous among fly fishers for its wild trout, and through the Madison Valley, where thermal features create otherworldly steam clouds that drift across the landscape. Keep your camera handy — you might need to pause for a family of trumpeter swans or wait out a bison traffic jam (a true Yellowstone experience!).

As you head toward Madison Junction, you'll pedal through nature's comeback story, where young lodgepole pines are reclaiming their territory after the famous 1988 fires. You'll complete your ride at the historic spot where the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers merge to create the Madison — a place so special that even the earliest park explorers couldn't resist setting up camp here.

Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris Junction

Biking distance: 42 miles total out-and-back

Driving distance from Bozeman: 83 miles, about 1.5 hours one way

Your adventure kicks off just 15 minutes past Yellowstone's North Entrance at the iconic Mammoth Hot Springs. Plan to take a moment to soak in the view (though not literally — these otherworldly terraces are scorching hot!). These steaming, step-like formations look like something from another planet, created by mineral-rich thermal waters bubbling up from below.

The route then winds through the scenic Golden Gate Canyon, named for its golden-hued rock walls, before entering Swan Lake Flat. Here, you might spot elk grazing in the meadows with Bunsen Peak rising dramatically in the background.

Continuing south, you'll encounter Roaring Mountain, an active thermal area that really lives up to its name: Steam vents (called fumaroles) create an eerie hissing sound. The final stretch takes you through the lodgepole pine forests to Norris Geyser Basin, home to the world's tallest active geyser, Steamboat Geyser, and some of the park's most impressive thermal features. Think nature's hot tubs turned up to the maximum heat setting!

Yellowstone's East Entrance to Sylvan Pass

Biking distance: 12 miles total out-and-back

Driving distance from Bozeman: 160 miles, about 3.5 hours one way 

Don't let the modest distance fool you — with a steady climb that gains over 1,000 feet in elevation, it's certainly not an easy ride. However, we think it's worth it: the route takes you through a scenic canyon alongside Middle Creek, with gorgeous views of nearby mountains.

As you pedal west through the Absaroka Range, you'll be surrounded by Douglas fir and spruce forests. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep navigating the craggy slopes and ospreys hunting above the rushing creek waters. Though the full pass remains inaccessible, the turnaround point offers impressive views of the surrounding mountains.

Bonus Route: Yellowstone's West Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs

Biking distance: 98 miles total out-and-back

Driving distance from Bozeman: 83 miles, or about 1.5 hours to Mammoth, then 171 miles, or about 3.5 hours to West Yellowstone

Instead of turning around at Madison Junction, you can ride the whole way through to Mammoth Hot Springs. However, because it's an out-and-back route, you'll need to ride the full 98 miles in one day — not for the faint of heart!

Alternatively, you can also leave a car at Mammoth in the morning before driving to West Yellowstone to start your ride — meaning you'll only need to pedal 49 miles one way. However, this entails more coordination, and you can expect about 10 total hours of driving if you're coming from Bozeman. You'll either want a really early start, or plan to spend the night in Gardiner (the town just outside of Yellowstone's North Entrance) before picking up the other car in West Yellowstone the next day.

This route follows the Madison River to Madison Junction, then continues north through Gibbon Canyon and past Gibbon Falls, a dramatic 84-foot waterfall. As you approach Norris Geyser Basin, you'll be treated to views of the park's most active and hottest thermal area. The final stretch to Mammoth takes you past Roaring Mountain's hissing fumaroles and through the peaceful Swan Lake Flat, before descending through the golden-hued cliffs of Golden Gate Canyon.

Where to Rent Bikes to Bike in Yellowstone

You can find bike rentals in Bozeman at Bangtail Bikes or Roundhouse Ski and Sports. In Gardiner (by the North Entrance), head to Big Sky Bike Tours, and in West Yellowstone, check out Freeheel and Wheel. Plan to reserve your bike(s) in advance, as biking in Yellowstone is a popular activity.

For more trip planning ideas, visit:

• The Best Bozeman Bike Shops
• Top 10 Mountain Biking Trails in Bozeman
• The 7 Best Mountain Bike Trails in Bozeman
• Things to Know When Visiting Bozeman in the Spring