Yellowstone News and Information

  NEWS RELEASE Biologists to begin 2024 grizzly and black bear captures for research purposes in Yellowstone National Park Public reminded to heed warning signs Grizzly bear near Roaring Mountain NPS / A. Falgoust News Release Date:  April 24, 2024 BOZEMAN, MT - As part of ongoing grizzly bear and black bear research and management efforts and as required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with the National Park Service, is working to inform the public that scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within Yellowstone National Park. Biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) and Yellowstone National Park will begin field captures on May 1 and continue through Oct. 31. None of the trap sites in the park will be located near established hiking trails or backcountry campsites, and all trap sites will have posted warnings for the closure perimeter.

Yellowstone's backcountry cabins, a link to park's history, still providing shelter in a storm

  NEWS RELEASE Grand Teton National Park announces change to backcountry camping permits NPS Photo/ D. Lehle News Release Date:  November 28, 2023 Contact:  Valerie Gohlke, 307-739-3393 Contact:  C.J. Adams, 307-739-3431 MOOSE, Wyo.  – Effective January 10, 2024, Grand Teton National Park will change the backcountry camping permit fee to $20, plus a $7 per person, per night fee to camp overnight in the backcountry. Grand Teton began charging for backcountry permits in 2014 and last modified the fees in 2018.  Approximately 30% of backcountry camping permits will be available on  Recreation.gov  for advanced reservations beginning January 10, 2024, at 8 a.m. MST for the 2024 camping season which runs May 1 through October 31. Starting May 1, 2024, the remaining 70% of backcountry camping permits will be available one day before the start of the trip as “walk-up” permits and must be obtained in-person at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, Colter Bay Visitor Center or Jenny La

  NEWS RELEASE New remote 5-acre wildfire in northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park                            The Big Horn Fire, a remote wildfire located in steep, rocky terrain in the                           northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park                           NPS/Jess Page On the afternoon of Sept. 27, individuals in Tom Miner Basin, Montana (an area located just north of Yellowstone National Park’s northwest boundary), reported seeing smoke in Yellowstone. The park’s helicopter crew flew the area that evening and spotted a new fire, likely ignited by lightning several days prior. Estimated at 5 acres, the Big Horn Fire is in very steep, rugged and rocky terrain in the remote northwest corner of the park. See  photos . Fire crews will monitor the wildfire from Tom Miner Basin and the air since the potential for it to leave the park is very low. Forecasted snow and rain will likely significantly slow its growth over the next 10 days. A weather pattern suc

Into the zone of death: 4 days spent deep in Idaho’s remote Yellowstone backcountry

NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone backcountry permits available online in 2022        Hanging food on a food pole at campsite        NPS/Neal Herbert News Release Date:  January 26, 2022 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - Beginning spring 2022, visitors will be able to make advance online reservations for backcountry permits at  Recreation.gov . The new system is a direct response to public requests for an online backcountry permit reservation system and prompted a collaborative effort between the National Park Service (NPS) and  Recreation.gov . Moving to an online system allows backcountry users to check availability in real time and receive instant confirmation when reserving a trip. The ability to make advance reservations will enable visitors to plan their trips ahead of time and provide assurance they will have a permit for their chosen itinerary upon arrival. It will enrich the visitor experience by eliminating uncertainty and frustration and improve saf

  ‘Llama therapy’ in the wilds of Yellowstone National Park

  Video: Breathtaking reason for a hiking adventure in Yellowstone

Canoeing Yellowstone National Park's backcountry

  PHOTOS: Team rescue dog, ranger hit, injured by falling tree in Wyoming wilderness

38 days missing: Limited search continues for missing Irish man in Wyoming

  VERY HIGH fire danger in Yellowstone National Park Fire restrictions effective immediately Fire Danger sign at Very High NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: July 1, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now VERY HIGH and Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect. Fire restrictions include: Backcountry and trails   Prohibited: Charcoal or wood fire campfires in the backcountry, including those in established fire rings. Prohibited: Smoking in the backcountry and on all trails, except immediately adjacent to the provided fire ring in designated campsites or within a 3-foot-diameter area barren of all flammable material (e.g. standing in water, on a boat). Permitted: Portable gas stoves and lanterns in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet. Frontcountry and developed areas   Permitted: Smoking only in: an enclosed vehicle a si

  News Release Park responds to new information in search of missing hiker Public assistance requested Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: June 23, 2021 Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY— Grand Teton National Park received additional information about missing 27-year-old hiker Cian McLaughlin. The park continues to request any information the public may have that may aid in locating McLaughlin. A Jackson resident who recently returned from an international trip came forward with new information. The reporting party said they saw McLaughlin on Tuesday, June 8, in the late afternoon/early evening on the trail on the south side of the Bradley/Taggart moraine. The individual reported McLaughlin was headed south towards Taggart Lake and had a conversation with McLaughlin where he described where he worked, that he’s from Ireland, and currently living in Jackson. The reporting party continued hi

  News Release Fire Danger Has Increased to Very High 06.23.2021 News Release Date: June 23, 2021 Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 Western WY– The fire danger rating has been elevated to very high for Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge. Conditions in the Teton Interagency area are drying rapidly, and a fire may start easily, spread quickly and burn intensely. Everyone is asked to practice heightened fire safety at all times. As the Independence Day holiday approaches, visitors and local residents alike are reminded that fireworks are not permitted in Grand Teton National Park, on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, or within the National Elk Refuge. The use of fireworks is illegal in Teton County unless permitted through the special-event process through either the Town of Jackson or Teton County. These fireworks regulations play a critical role in fire pre

News Release HIGH fire danger in Yellowstone National Park Fire danger sign at High NPS / Jacob W. Frank Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: June 21, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now HIGH. Currently, there are no active wildland fires in the park. Currently, there are no fire restrictions in place or planned in the park. Campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. Campfires must always be attended and cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel, repeat. The Greater Yellowstone area is a fire-adapted ecosystem . Fire plays an important role in maintaining the health of this area’s wildlife habitat and vegetation. Stay informed about  current fire activity  in Yellowstone. 

  Search resumed today for 27-year-old man, missing for 10 days National park shifts tactics in search operations Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: June 18, 2021 Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY— Search operations continued today in Grand Teton National Park for 27-year-old Cian McLaughlin, who has been missing for ten days. The last reported sighting of McLaughlin was on Tuesday, June 8. After days of extensive ground and aerial efforts, the search for McLaughlin will shift tactics to a continuous, but limited mode. New clues will be investigated as they come forward. Park staff will continue to patrol the backcountry and search for signs of McLaughlin’s whereabouts. Over the course of the last six days, up to 70 park staff per day have conducted search operations in the Teton backcountry. These operations involved multiple search and rescue dog teams. Some of these efforts included nav

  Grand Teton Rangers Giving “Everything They’ve Got” In Search For Missing Man

  News Release Yellowstone horseback day ride permit program enters fifth year Horseback ride at Roosevelt Lodge NPS / Neal Herbert News Release Date: June 16, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park will continue issuing free day permits to individuals who ride or lead stock such as horses and mules on park trails this summer. Launched in 2017, the free permit system helps park managers understand where, when and how many stock users visit the park. This information is important in protecting park resources and the quality of the visitor experience in the backcountry. Stock users can obtain free permits on the park’s website or by calling the Central Backcountry Office at (307) 344-2160. Rangers may ask to see people’s permits during rides on trails. Yellowstone’s stock packing regulations remain in effect: Overnight stock use is not allowed until July 1. Check the Backcountry Situation

  News Release Search for missing 27-year old man enters third day Rangers request public assistance for any information Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: June 15, 2021 Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY— Search operations continued into the third day for missing 27-year-old man Cian McLaughlin in Grand Teton National Park. McLaughlin was last seen by a friend around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8, approximately a half mile from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, hiking to an unknown destination. Rangers received additional tips today about potential sightings of McLaughlin on the switchbacks below the Garnet Canyon/Surprise Lake junction and in the vicinity of Delta Lake on Tuesday, June 8. As McLaughlin’s plans were unclear, anyone who has been traveling in the Teton backcountry since Tuesday, June 8, may have seen him and are encouraged to contact the National Park Service Investigative Ser

  News Release Updated information on missing man as search continues 27-year-old male believed to have been hiking has not returned Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: June 14, 2021 Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY— Rangers received updated information from the tip line this morning about missing 27-year-old, Cian McLaughlin. McLaughlin was last seen around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8, approximately a half mile from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, hiking to an unknown destination. McLaughlin was last seen wearing a cutoff tank top and shorts (unknown color), a bucket hat, and round sunglasses. He was not wearing a backpack. McLaughlin is described as six feet tall and 180 pounds. He has brown, collar length hair and brown eyes. He is said to be thin and has an Irish accent. Search operations continue in Grand Teton for the second day. Over forty park staff are conducting ground search ef