Yellowstone News and Information

  An outlier of Yellowstone's thermal areas: the travertine of Mammoth Hot Springs Release Date: July 12, 2021 Early explorers during the separate Washburn, Hayden, and Hague expeditions of the 1870s were astonished by the massive terraces and pools of hot-spring limestone, better known as travertine, at Mammoth Hot Springs—a chemical oddity that is quite different from other Yellowstone thermal areas. Yellowstone  Caldera  Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Pat Shanks, research geologist emeritus with the U.S. Geological Survey. Map of Yellowstone National Park showing locations of thermal basins that host hot springs, geysers, and mudpots.  Dark green areas host alkaline-chloride fluids.  Yellowstone Caldera margin shown as bold dashed line. (Public domain.) Three main varieties of hot spring fluids are r

  A week-long vacation at Yellowstone

Update on 2021 Yellowstone Accommodations: Summer 2021 Operations Remain Limited                                                                   Photo: Yellowstone Notebook

  15 National Park Campsites to Add to Your Bucket List

Where to eat and drink in and around Yellowstone National Park

  Yellowstone To Be Overhauled With “Outdoors Act” Changes

Yellowstone National Park Lodges: Summer 2021 phase 1 updates

  News Release Solo hiker injured by bear on Beaver Ponds Trail A grizzly bear walks above the Gardner River near the Boiling River parking area NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: May 28, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 On the morning of Friday, May 28, 2021, a male, age 39, sustained injuries from a bear while hiking on the Beaver Ponds Trail at Mammoth Hot Springs. The incident occurred approximately 1.5 miles from the trailhead that originates from the Old Gardiner Road. The male was hiking alone when he encountered what he believed to be two grizzly bears. One bear made contact with the hiker and he sustained significant injuries to his lower extremities but was able to hike out on his own.   He was transported to Livingston Hospital by park ambulance. The Beaver Ponds Trail is closed until further notice. Bear management staff are sweeping the trail to ensure no other hikers are on the trail. There are no further details to shar

  Travertine: Yellowstone’s Hydrothermal Timekeeper Release Date: May 24, 2021 Standing on the boardwalk next to any of Yellowstone’s hot, steamy, vigorously bubbling hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, or geysers, you may be struck by the sheer amount of energy that powers this system, night and day. But how long have these features been active?  To address this question, geologists can turn to the “clock” that is frozen within hydrothermal travertine deposits. Yellowstone  Caldera  Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Lauren Harrison, a postdoctoral researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey. Travertine is a form of limestone composed of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are both made of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ). In contrast to limestones that are formed in the ocean from the shells of tiny plankton and other ma

  Yellowstone superintendent talks housing, other park goals

  News Release Caution: Elk calving season begins soon. Be aware of your surroundings! An elk calf nurses between cars in the Mammoth administration parking lot NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: May 7, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , 307-344-2015 Elk calving season will begin soon in Yellowstone National Park.   Cow elk are much more aggressive towards people during the calving season and may charge or kick.  Stay alert. Look around corners before exiting buildings or walking around blind spots: cow elk may bed their calves near buildings and cars.  Keep at least 25 yards from elk at all times.   If an elk charges you, find shelter in your vehicle or behind a tall, sturdy barrier as quickly as possible.   You are responsible for your own safety.   Visit  Elk  for more information.

  Wheeling It: Accessibility Guide to Yellowstone National Park           Wheelchair-accessible walkways lead from parking areas to Old Faithful Geyser, and from the visitor center to other hydrothermal features.              NPS/Neal Herbert        Also see Accessibility on the Yellowstone National Park Website.

Improving Yellowstone’s quality of living

  Still recalling the big wind at Yellowstone National Park

  Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) The spectacular columns of Sheepeater Cliffs Release Date: April 26, 2021 A small side road on the highway between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction leads to Sheepeater Cliffs, a spectacular example of columnar jointing in a lava flow. 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. Slow cooling of a basaltic lava flow that was erupted about 500,000 years ago resulted in the formation of hexagonal columns at Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park. (Credit: Michael Poland, U.S. Geological Survey. Public domain.) Visitors to Yellowstone might have noticed a small sign between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction that points dow