YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (AP) -- Yellowstone National Park is opening to snowmobiles and snowcoaches for the first time this winter.

Park officials plan to begin letting in snowmobiles on Saturday.

Snowmobiles and snowcoaches will be allowed on all interior park roads with a couple of exceptions. The road from Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris Junction will be restricted to rubber-tracked, guided snowcoaches only until snow conditions improve.

The East Entrance road over Sylvan Pass remains closed due to avalanche danger.

Parts of Yellowstone have received more than 12 inches of heavy, wet snow over the past couple of days. Park officials say winter visitors should be prepared and alert for rapidly changing weather conditions.