Yellowstone News and Information

  Visiting Yellowstone This Winter? Here's What to Expect

  Deadline nears for feds to decide on endangered species status for grizzly bears

  Ancient poop provides clues to Yellowstone’s past

  News Release Yellowstone National Park's winter season begins Dec. 15, 2024 Top things for visitors to know about a winter visit NPS / Diane Renkin News Release Date:  December 10, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park’s winter season begins Sunday, Dec. 15. Annually from mid-December until mid-March, visitors can travel most of the park’s roads from the West, South, East and North entrances by approved  commercially guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches  and via the  non-commercially guided snowmobile access program . Currently, the accumulation of snowfall on roads varies across the park. This means that visitors will be able to travel in the park, however, the type of transportation used on park roads by commercially guided snowmobile or snowcoach tour companies will depend on road conditions. Throughout the winter season, park staff will work closely with all operators and provide updates as c...

 Lost cat goes on epic solo adventure traveling 900 miles from Yellowstone National Park to his home in California

  Dad Says He Has to Wait Until Spring to Resume Search for Missing Son: 'Yellowstone Is Unforgiving in the Winter'

News Release Yellowstone visitation statistics for October 2024 Inspiration Point at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone NPS / Ashton Hooker News Release Date:  November 14, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park hosted 346,025 recreation visits in October 2024. This is a 16% increase from October 2023 (299,127 recreational visits). This October’s visitation showed a 9% increase from October 2021 (316,662 recreation visits). So far in 2024, the park has hosted 4,692,810 recreation visits, up 6% from 2023 (4,446,509 recreation visits), and down 2% from 2021 (4,789,349 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through October):    2024 – 4,692,810 2023 – 4,446,509 2022 – 3,241,761  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21 due to the  historic flood  event. Three entrances opened on June 22.)   2021 – 4,789,349 2020 – 3,753,...

  Black bear density in Yellowstone’s Northern Range is highest in Northern Rockies

  Colorado Springs man banned from Yellowstone National Park

News Release Public input sought on proposal to improve Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance Road Project to enhance road’s resilience to natural disasters Northeast Entrance Road bridge with spalling concrete NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: October 29, 2024 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, seeks public comment on a proposal to significantly improve 27 miles of the Northeast Entrance Road between Tower Junction and Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance. The road, damaged during the 2022 flood , is open to visitor vehicle traffic year-round and provides winter access to the communities of Cooke City/Silver Gate in Montana and to Lamar Valley, a main attraction in the park for world class wildlife viewing opportunities. The project aims to improve visitor safety, use and experience, while enhancing the road’s resilience to future floods and other na...

  News Release Grizzly Bear 399 Fatally Struck by Vehicle in Snake River Canyon News Release Date:  October 23, 2024 JACKSON —  On the evening of Tuesday, October 22, 2024, grizzly bear 399 was fatally struck by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, WY. The bear's identity was confirmed through ear tags and a microchip.  Grizzly bear 399 had a yearling cub with her, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest the yearling was also involved in the incident, but the US Fish and Wildlife Service is monitoring the area.  Unfortunately, vehicle collisions with wildlife, including grizzly bears, are not uncommon across their range. The Service is working with state and local agencies to gather more information.  “People from around the world have followed grizzly bear 399 for several decades. At 28 years old, she was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecos...

  News Release Last day for visitors to enjoy most of Yellowstone National Park will be Oct. 31 Most entrances and roads will be closed Nov. 1 A coyote sits in the middle of the park road NPS / Jacob W. Frank MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – The last day for visitors to drive most of Yellowstone National Park’s roads will be Thursday, Oct. 31. The West, South and East entrances and nearly all roads will be closed to regular vehicle traffic Nov. 1. The park annually closes roads at this time of year to prepare them for the  winter season  and  snowmobile and snowcoach  travel, which will begin Dec. 15. Weather permitting, the road from Tower Fall to Canyon Village (Dunraven Pass) will remain open through Oct. 31. The only roads  open  year-round are between the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana (via Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley). Visitors planning to drive in the park duri...

News Release Yellowstone visitation statistics for September 2024 People at Norris Geyser Museum NPS / Jacob W. Frank MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park hosted 852,435 recreation visits in September 2024. This is a 2% increase from September 2023 (838,458 recreational visits). This September’s visitation showed an 3% decrease from September 2021 (882,078 recreation visits).   So far in 2024, the park has hosted 4,349,689 recreation visits, up 5% from 2023 (4,147,382 recreation visits), and down 3% from 2021 (4,472,687 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through September):    2024 – 4,349,689 2023 – 4,147,382 2022 – 3,005,194  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21 due to the  historic flood event . Three entrances opened on June 22.) 2021 – 4,472,687 2020 – 3,393,642  (The park was closed March 24 through May 17 due to COVID. Two entrances opened on May 18 and the r...

  Yellowstone got its first snowfall this week - here’s everything you need to be ready for winter hiking

"I will never forget today" – chilling note found at mountain summit provides clues in case of missing Yellowstone hiker

  Yellowstone boss: Higher fees are on the table to meet staffing, visitation needs

Missing Yellowstone Hiker’s Dad: “Just Keep Praying For Him”

  News Release Update: Artists Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park now open News Release Date:  October 11, 2024 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 Crews finished repairs to the boardwalks ahead of schedule, and Artists Paintpots are now open. News Release (Heads Up) Temporary closure of Artists Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park Visitors on the Artists Paintpots Trail Matt Poyner News Release Date:  October 8, 2024 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 Effective immediately, the parking lot, trail and boardwalks at  Artists Paintpots , located south of Norris Junction in the western part of Yellowstone, is temporarily closed for repairs. There is no access to the hydrothermal features and mudpots during the closure, which will last up to two weeks. Crews will repair the accessible boardwalk ramp, ensuring visitor safety and access from the parking lot to the trail network. Last updated: October 8, 2024

Paradise Valley wildlife overpass project receives grant

Haunted Wyoming: The Headless Bride Of Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn

For Decades, Visitors Could Swim In Old Faithful Waters For 50 Cents       (National Park Service Photo Collection)

  Yellowstone sees rebirth of wolves along ancient Native American trails

  News Release Search on Eagle Peak in Yellowstone National Park moves from rescue to recovery, scales back Air and ground search efforts near Eagle Peak during Sept. 21-30, 2024. NPS Subscribe    |  What is RSS News Release Date:  October 2, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 After 11 days of searching, Yellowstone National Park will scale back efforts to locate Austin King in the vicinity of Eagle Peak and transition from a rescue to recovery today, Oct. 2. To date, more than 100 personnel including two helicopters, search dog teams, ground teams with spotting scopes, trackers, and a drone have searched more than 3,225 miles by air and ground at elevations ranging from 11,350 feet to 8,400 feet. Unfortunately, they have not found any definitive clues as to King’s current whereabouts. View a  map  that shows the extensive air and ground search efforts to date. King, an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a private business author...

  News Release UPDATE: Active search and rescue in remote southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park Public’s assistance requested NPS Subscribe    |  What is RSS News Release Date:  September 24, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 Yellowstone National Park, with assistance from Grand Teton National Park, Park County, Wyoming, and Teton County, Wyoming, continue to look for Austin King by foot and air in the vicinity of  Eagle Peak  in the park’s remote southeast corner. Since Saturday, Sept. 21, 85 personnel, two helicopters, a search dog team, and an  uncrewed aircraft  have focused efforts on the high-elevation, expansive and hazardous area. See  photos .  Searchers report  accumulations of snow and ice  and 6-foot drifts on  Eagle Peak . View a  map  that shows the search efforts to date. Teams will continue to search for the next several days as conditions  continue to improve ...

News Release Yellowstone National Park releases body worn camera footage from July 4, 2024 officer-involved shooting at Canyon Village Date:  September 19, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , 307-344-2015 As part of the National Park Service’s established protocol regarding officer-involved shootings, Yellowstone National Park has released body worn camera footage from a  July 4, 2024,  officer-involved shooting  at Canyon Village. The community briefing video shows the significant sections of the body worn camera footage from some of the involved law enforcement officers. The video is intended to help community members gain a better understanding of what occurred. This incident is still under investigation. The investigation, which includes the actions taken by NPS law enforcement officers, is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. All information in the community briefing video is based on the details currently available. Some images and audio in this ...

  News Release Woman sustains thermal burns in Yellowstone National Park Stay on trails and boardwalks in thermal areas Old Faithful northbound sign NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  September 18, 2024 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 On Monday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2024, a 60-year-old woman visiting Yellowstone National Park from Windsor, New Hampshire, reportedly suffered second and third-degree burns to her lower leg while walking in a thermal area near Mallard Lake Trailhead at Old Faithful. The woman was walking off-trail with her husband and leashed dog in a thermal area when she broke through a thin crust over scalding water and suffered burns to her leg. The husband and dog were not injured. The woman and her husband went to a park medical clinic where they were evaluated. The patient was later transported via helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for further treatment. Visitors are reminded to stay on boardwalks and trails in hydr...