Riding here
Yellowstone's great cycling secret is the spring window, usually from early April, when some plowed roads are open to bikes but not to public cars, including the 49 miles from the West Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs. Fall brings a similar window in early November. In summer, bikes share narrow, shoulderless roads with RVs, so stick to designated bike routes around Old Faithful and short early-morning road rides.
Where you can ride
Bikes and e-bikes may use public roads, parking areas and designated routes when roads are open to cars. In spring and fall, bikes may use roads closed to public motor vehicles, weather permitting.
Where you can't
No riding on backcountry trails, boardwalks or oversnow routes.
Rides
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Spring car-free: West Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs
- Road
- 49 mi one way
- Paved
- Hard
Past the Madison and Gibbon rivers and Norris to Mammoth, with no public cars. Services are 20 to 30 miles apart and you'll still meet plows and staff vehicles.
Start: West Yellowstone
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Spring car-free: East Entrance to Sylvan Pass
- Road
- 6 mi one way
- Paved
- Hard
A short, steep climb toward Sylvan Pass from the Cody side.
Start: East Entrance
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Fall car-free: Madison Junction to Old Faithful
- Road
- 16 mi one way
- Paved
- Moderate
Part of the fall window: along the Firehole River past geyser basins.
Start: Madison Junction
Car-free riding
Spring: Mammoth to West Entrance (49 mi) and East Entrance to the east side of Sylvan Pass (6 mi). Fall adds Madison Junction to Old Faithful (16 mi), Tower-Roosevelt to Chittenden Road (6 mi) and South Entrance to West Thumb (22 mi). Dates depend on weather and plowing.
When to go
Spring cycling usually starts by early April (no set date; roads may not be plowed on weekends). Fall cycling typically starts in early November and ends when plowing stops in mid-November. Summer works for early-morning rides and designated paths.
Safety
Ride single file on the right, in daylight only. Stay 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other wildlife. Secure food: ravens have learned to unzip bike bags. Elevations run 5,300 to 8,860 feet. Snowbanks narrow shoulders in spring, and drivers may not see you at hill crests and blind curves.
E-bikes
Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes follow the same rules as regular bikes.
Fees
Arriving by bike, you pay the park's individual (per-person) entrance fee, normally valid for 7 days, or ride in on an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Amounts change, so check the park's Fees & Passes page. From 2026, non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 per person at this park unless covered by a pass (the non-resident America the Beautiful pass is $250).
Rentals, tours and shuttles
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Your bike shop hereSample listing
This spot is for one rental shop, guide service or shuttle near Yellowstone: your name, what you offer, and a link straight to your booking page, at the top of this section.
Feature your shop on this page, free until spring 2027
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Old Faithful Bike Rentals (Yellowstone National Park Lodges)
Rental, Old Faithful, WY. Website
Shops listed without a badge are businesses we found near the park; we don't take payment for those. Run a shop near Yellowstone? Add it here.
Sources
Checked November 2026 against these sources. Rules, closures and fees change; confirm with the park before you ride.
Edited by David Bussell. Spot something out of date? Tell us.