Posted inGrand Teton, Yellowstone

Yellowstone roads, Grand Teton pathways open for start of summer travel season

A newly completed extension of the Grand Teton pathway system opened Wednesday, and Yellowstone roads throughout the park are open — all in time for the traditional Memorial Day weekend start of the 2012 summer travel season.

Construction workers have wrapped up efforts on the 6-mile pathway that parallels Highway 26/89/191 from the Gros Ventre River to Moose Junction in Grand Teton National Park, and the new segment opened Wednesday to bicyclists, joggers and others for the first time.

Meanwhile, scant snow along Yellowstone roads, including high mountain passes like Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone National Park and Beartooth Pass on the Beartooth Highway should make for relatively easy early season travel starting Friday, May 25.