Some Yellowstone roads to reopen for season Friday

A free bison roams around the outside of a pen enclosing bison in Gardiner, Mont., in Yellowstone National Park. (AP)

Roads into the north and west sides of Yellowstone National Park are scheduled to reopen for the season this Friday.

The roads will be open from the park's North Entrance at Gardiner, Mont., and the West Entrance at West Yellowstone, Mont., to Norris, Madison, Canyon and Old Faithful.

Park officials say visitors still have a good chance of encountering cold weather and snow this time of year in Yellowstone. Also, many park services and amenities remain closed.

People visiting Yellowstone will be rewarded with free admission next week, which is National Park Week. Entrance fees will be waived April 21-29 to encourage people to visit America's 397 national parks.