Park on Patrol

A wide variety of vehicles have enabled staff to protect Yellowstone and its visitors since it became a park. Between 1886 and 1918, the U.S. Cavalry patrolled the backcountry on cross-country skis to prevent winter poaching and assist visitors in need of rescue. In the 20^th century, park rangers patrolled using vehicles ranging from motorcycles to motorboats to snowplanes, and today helicopters are used in search and rescue missions. Technological developments and evolving management strategies have expanded the park’s ability to study and access Yellowstone’s ecosystem and respond to natural disasters.

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  National Park Service Vehicles

  Park rangers use a variety of vehicles to patrol the park by land and water.

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  Winter Operations

  Specialized snow transportation has been used to traverse and patrol Yellowstone National Park since its establishment.

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  Facilities, Operations, and Recovery

  From controlling wildfires, to repairing roads, to conducting Search and Rescue operations, park vehicles get the job done.