Yellowstone News and Information

Beyond the Bathroom: Top Visitor Questions in Thermal Areas By  Yellowstone Volcano Observatory   May 25, 2026 With the arrival of Memorial Day and the unofficial start of the summer travel season, we take a look at the most common questions that visitors to Yellowstone’s thermal basins ask the park’s interpretive rangers. Yellowstone  Caldera  Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, and Mindy Dottellis, interpretive ranger with Yellowstone National Park in 2025. When in a place as otherworldly as Yellowstone, it’s only natural to find yourself brimming with questions at each turn of the trail.  What is this scat I’m seeing?  How does a geyser erupt, anyway?  What makes Yellowstone so special? Where’s the bathroom? Fear not, for...

  Top 10 things to know about visiting Yellowstone National Park during the 2026 summer season Norris Geyser Basin Trail: views of Sunday Geyser from the boardwalks NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  May 14, 2026 Contact:   Public Affairs Office MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – This summer, visitors to Yellowstone National Park are being urged to plan ahead – both to stay safe and to help protect one of America’s most iconic wild landscapes. Across 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone offers unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal wonders that include half the world’s active geysers, and view geologic landmarks like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. By following these top 10 things to know before you go, you can make the most of your visit while helping ensure that Yellowstone remains healthy, wild, and awe-inspiring for generations to come. Reservations are not required to enter Yellowstone Reservations are not required...

New details after 2 hikers injured by grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park

  Hikers injured by bear in Yellowstone National Park Map of temporary closure NPS News Release Date:  May 5, 2026 Contact:   Yellowstone Public Affairs , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – On the afternoon of May 4, two hikers sustained injuries by one or more bears on the  Mystic Falls Trail  near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. National Park Service emergency services personnel responded to the incident, and it remains under investigation. No further information is available at this time. This is the first incident of a bear injuring a person in Yellowstone in 2026. The last time a visitor was injured by a bear in the park was in  September 2025 . The last human fatality caused by a bear occurred in 2015 in the Lake Village area of the park. Temporary closures pending completion of investigation Visit  Backcountry Conditions  for status and conditions of park trails and backcountry campsites. Hikers and anglers should be aware ...

  Yellowstone National Park Opens North And West Entrances For Early Season Visitors

  UPDATE: Yellowstone National Park entrances and roads scheduled for opening April 17 delayed due to winter storm Grand Loop Road headed northbound from Madison Junction NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  April 16, 2026 Contact:   Yellowstone Public Affairs , (307) 344-2015 Yellowstone entrances and roads scheduled to open at 8 a.m. Friday, April 17 will instead open at noon due to a significant winter storm with heavy snow, low temperatures and strong winds.  The park received up to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow in certain areas, and more snow is forecast tonight with temperatures dropping to 10 F, creating hazardous driving conditions to include deep, wet snow, ice and poor visibility. Additionally, NorthWestern Energy crews are currently working to restore full power to Canyon Village and Old Faithful due to weather-related outages. Park cr...

Select Yellowstone National Park entrances and roads open to public April 17 Grand Loop Road headed northbound from Madison Junction NPS / Jacob W. Frank Contact:   Yellowstone Public Affairs , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 17, 2026, select entrances and roads in Yellowstone National Park will open for the summer season, weather permitting, as part of the annual spring opening.   Entrances Open on April 17   North Entrance (Gardiner, Montana) West Entrance (West Yellowstone, Montana) From either entrance, visitors may access the following destinations:   Mammoth Hot Springs Lamar Valley Norris Geyser Basin Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Old Faithful Northeast Entrance (Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana) Additional roads within the park will open throughout May, weather permitting. Specific routes and directions can be found at  Park Roads . Plan Ahead Check the park’s  Current Conditions  before arrival. ...

  News Release Yellowstone National Park to extend fishing season on three rivers 2026 Yellowstone Fishing Season Map: Madison, Gibbon, and Firehole Rivers NPS News Release Date:  January 27, 2026 Contact:   Yellowstone Public Affairs , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Starting this year, Yellowstone National Park will extend the  fishing season  on three rivers in the park. The following waterways, located in the west side of the park, will open May 1 for fishing access, weeks in advance of the standard fishing season: Firehole River  ( see map ): The Firehole River and all associated tributaries downstream to the confluence with the Gibbon River at Madison Junction. Gibbon River  ( see map ): The Gibbon River and all associated tributaries from the bridge on the Grand Loop Road at the Norris Campground entrance downstream to the confluence with the Firehole River at Madison Junction. Madison River  ( see map ): The Madison River and all ...

America the Beautiful Pass: Cost, Coverage and How to Buy the National Parks Annual Pass

  International visitors to Yellowstone and Glacier will face a $100 surcharge in 2026

  International visitors to Yellowstone, Grand Teton will face a $100 surcharge in 2026