YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — It was a balmy 28 degrees outside the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park when it opened for the 2025 summer season Friday morning.
By 7 a.m., eight vehicles were lined up in front of the locked barrier anticipating that it would soon swing open, allowing them to climb Sylvan Pass and follow the northern shore of Yellowstone Lake to the Fishing Bridge Junction and the park beyond.
“They’re not going to open early,” said Powell photographer Greg Wise as he spoke with the line of people parked outside the entrance. “It’s all about the anticipation.”
One Of The Family
The first car in line was the same that’s been there first for the last several years.
Cody resident Stacy Boisseau’s red Jeep Compass was parked a few feet from the barrier, ready to be the first vehicle through the East Entrance for the seventh consecutive year.
“I didn't think I would come by myself,” she told Cowboy State Daily. “But the more I talked to my girls about not going, the more they talked about me going.”
Boisseau started their “first through the East Entrance” tradition with her three daughters Kiya, Hailey and Grace. And they’ve been at the head of the line every year.
This time, however, was a little different. It was the first year all three of Boisseau’s girls couldn’t make the trip.
“Hailey’s in college, Kiya’s working and Grace has a track meet this weekend, so she couldn’t miss school today,” she said. “Last year was supposed to be the last year for the girls, but they’ve been trying to convince me to test my solo wings so it won't be so hard on me in a couple of years when the last one leaves my nest.”
Boisseau’s decision to continue the family tradition alone was spontaneous. She hopped in her Jeep at midnight to see if anyone else had claimed their spot at the front of the line.
“I knew I’d be bummed if I didn’t try,” she said. "When I got here, I was still the first, so I stayed the night."
There are perks to spending the night solo. Boisseau missed her daughters tremendously, but going alone left her with a lot less to keep track of.
“The night was completely different with only one person to worry about,” she said. “I didn’t have to worry about my girls being eaten by bears as I trucked them to the bathroom in the dark.”
Boisseau wasn’t completely alone while waiting for the East Entrance to open. She spent time with Tonya Mathews, a Yellowstone ranger and Cody native stationed at the East Entrance who even brought some treats for her dog.
“With all the uncertainty, I ‘m glad to see she's still here,” Boisseau said. “I hope she gets to retire at this gate.”
For the seventh straight year, Stacy Boisseau of Cody was the first in line for Friday’s opening of the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. This was her first time solo with her three girls now older and doing their own things. (Andrew Rossi, Cowboy State Daily) 
Park rangers talk with visitors Friday morning before the clock hit 8 a.m. and the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park opened for the season. (Andrew Rossi, Cowboy State Daily) 
A park ranger mans the barrier Friday morning before the clock hit 8 a.m. and the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park opened for the season. (Andrew Rossi, Cowboy State Daily) 
For the seventh straight year, Stacy Boisseau of Cody was the first in line for Friday’s opening of the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. This was her first time solo with her three girls now older and doing their own things. (Andrew Rossi, Cowboy State Daily)
Dad ‘Made Us’ Come
By 7:45 a.m., the line of vehicles in front of the East Entrance had grown from eight to several dozen. People were milling around the open road and talking with other visitors with license plates from Montana, Florida, Texas, Louisiana and North Carolina.
Mark Johnson had driven his family from Salt Lake City to be among the first through the East Entrance this year.
“We left Salt Lake City yesterday and left our hotel in Cody at 6 a.m. so we’d be somewhat close to the entrance,” Mark said. “We’ve always wanted to see Yellowstone on Day One, and this is our first time through the East Entrance.”
Johnson said he forces his family to come with him and they all — Dylan Johnson, Bri Fradella and Reece Fradella — didn’t deny it.
“He says he forces us to come, but we love it too,” Bri said. “We just can’t tell him that, because he’ll make us come more than we should.”
The family was eager to get on their way once the East Entrance opened. They had a long day of backtracking ahead of them.
“We’re going all the way up to Cooke City, turning around, and driving back to Salt Lake,” Johnson said. “It’s a quick trip.”
Good Will And Goodies
Cody resident and Yellowstone lifer Janet Jones didn’t have the time to venture into Yellowstone on opening day.
“I normally would go into the park and check out the thermal features, because that's my thing,” she said. “But I've got an appointment that I've got to get back to in Cody.”
That didn’t stop her and Lindsay Shaw from bringing a “Happy Opening Day” gift to the rangers at the East Entrance. The package contained a selection of breakfast items from Steph’s Kitchen and Cody Coffee Roaster.
Jones stayed long enough to watch the raising of the American Flag at 7:20 a.m. She travels to Yellowstone several times a week to document the park’s thermal features. She takes pride in strengthening the connection between Cody and the park through her online magazine and community calendar, The Cody Journal.
“We appreciate the people at the East Entrance,” Jones said. “It’s our way of letting them know that Cody cares.”
Onward And Upward
When Mathews and the other East Entrance rangers started milling around the barriers, Boisseau turned on her Jeep. The vehicles lined up behind hers did the same, and everyone rushed to their vehicles in anticipation.
At precisely 8 a.m., the barriers swung open and vehicles started streaming into Yellowstone.
Boisseau was lonely but excited, unsure of the journey she’d be taking that day.
“I’m going to head through, drive the roads I can, and turn around when I reach the end,” she said. “My girls decided I needed to figure out who I was by myself in Yellowstone, and they pushed me to head up here. So, I’m going to take my time on my schedule.”
Johnson and his family hoped to see a lot of wildlife, and opening day had already delivered. There were large herds of mule deer and elk, and several bison were visible along the route between Cody and the East Entrance.
“This trip is going to exceed our expectations,” Johnson said. “Anytime we come to Yellowstone, it exceeds expectations.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
