Yellowstone News and Information

  News Release Tourism to Yellowstone National Park contributes $828 million to local economy Report shows visitor spending supports 8,560 jobs in nearby communities Taking photos at the North Entrance NPS / Neal Herbert News Release Date:  August 28, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – A new National Park Service report shows that 4.5 million visitors to Yellowstone National Park in 2023 spent $623 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 8,560 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $828 million. “I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” said  National Park Service Director Chuck Sams . “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.”   The National Park Service report,  2023 National...

Digging into the history of hydrothermal explosions at Yellowstone’s Biscuit Basin In July 2024, a hydrothermal explosion at Black Diamond Pool sent muddy water and rocks hundreds of feet into the air. It’s far from the first time a feature in Biscuit Basin has experienced an explosive event. Yellowstone  Caldera  Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Tara Cross, Yellowstone Geology volunteer, and Mara H. Reed, PhD candidate at the University of California, Berkeley. Scientists are hard at work investigating the  hydrothermal explosion  on  July 23, 2024, at Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin . An important part of understanding the recent activity involves investigating past similar events. And there have been several at Biscuit Basin. Sources/Usage: Public Domain.  View Media Details Aerial view of Black Opal Pool, Black Diamond Pool, and part of Wall...

  Yellowstone National Park plan sets the stage for bison expansion in Montana

  News Release Update: Partial fishing closures on rivers and streams lifted in Yellowstone National Park Full closures remain in effect on geothermally influenced streams Map of Yellowstone rivers indicating fishing closures. NPS News Release Date:  August 14, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 Update: Partial fishing closures on rivers and streams lifted in Yellowstone National Park Full closures remain in effect on geothermally influenced streams Date of release: August 14, 2024 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - Effective immediately, the partial fishing closures on select rivers and streams in Yellowstone National Park have been lifted and are now open. The full closures on rivers and streams that are strongly influenced by geothermal features will remain in effect at this time. Which rivers and streams have reopened to fishing during normal hours, sunrise to sunset? Lamar River downstream of Cache Creek to its confluence with the Yellowstone River Soda Butte Cre...

Geyser Hill in Yellowstone National Park

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone visitation statistics for July 2024 Tribal games junior ranger program: Artists Joseph and Rachel Pichardo demonstrate pebble in hand NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  August 7, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY –  Yellowstone National Park hosted 992,352 recreation visits in July 2024, up 2% from July 2023 (969,692 recreation visits). This July’s visitation showed an 8% decrease from July 2021 (1,080,767 recreation visits). So far in 2024, the park has hosted 2,626,091 recreation visits, up 7% from 2023 (2,462,535 recreation visits), and down 2% from 2021 (2,668,765 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through July): 2024 – 2,626,091 2023 – 2,462,535 2022 – 1,855,396  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21 due to the  historic flood  event. Three entrances opened on June 22.) 2021 – 2,668,765 2020 ...

  NEWS RELEASE National Park Service announces decision on future management of bison at Yellowstone National Park Bison grazing in Round Prairie near Pebble Creek Campground NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  July 24, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY –  Today, July 24, the National Park Service (NPS) announced a decision about the  future management of bison  at Yellowstone National Park. The  Record of Decision , a culmination of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and National Environmental Policy Act process that began in 2022, will allow the NPS to manage bison based on new scientific information and circumstances that have changed since the previous EIS, completed in 2000. The NPS is implementing this decision because of new scientific information about bison and brucellosis transmission and changed circumstances that include fewer cattle near the park, brucellosis regulations, and Tribal hunting. ...

  NEWS RELEASE VERY HIGH fire danger in Yellowstone National Park beginning July 25, 2024 Fire restrictions in effect Saturday, July 27 Fire danger in Yellowstone National Park is VERY HIGH. NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  July 25, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now  VERY HIGH , and Stage 1 fire restrictions will go into effect Saturday, July 27. Wildfire activity is increasing in Yellowstone as crews have responded to and controlled four lightning-caused fires in the last week. Fire restrictions include: Backcountry and trails Prohibited:  Charcoal and all campfires in the backcountry, including those in established fire rings. Permitted:   Smoking only in areas adjacent to the provided fire ring in designated campsites or within a 3-foot-diameter area barren of all flammable material . Smokers should ensure that all cigarette butts are extinguished properly. Permitted:  Porta...