Yellowstone News and Information

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 Pool, all in Biscuit Bas

  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 – 1,674,699  (The park was closed

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone visitation statistics for June 2024 Holiday crowds at Old Faithful eruption NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  July 16, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – The park hosted 914,612 recreation visits in June 2024, up 8% from June 2023 (847,864 recreation visits). This June’s visitation showed a 3% decrease from June 2021 (938,845 recreation visits). So far in 2024, the park has hosted 1,633,739 recreation visits, up 9% from 2023 (1,492,843 recreation visits), and up 3% from 2021 (1,587,998 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through June): 2024 – 1,633,739 2023 – 1,492,843 2022 – 1,258,834  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21 due to the  historic flood event . Three entrances opened on June 22.) 2021 – 1,587,998 2020 –  719,054  (The park was closed March 24 through May 17 due to COVID. Two entrances opened on May 18 and the remain

  NEWS RELEASE Top 10 tips for visiting Yellowstone National Park this Fourth of July, 2024 A crowd watching a Grand Geyser eruption. NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  June 27, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – If you will visit Yellowstone National Park this Fourth of July, plan ahead to protect yourself and this wild and awe-inspiring place. Follow the  top things to know  to enjoy your visit and protect the park for generations to come: Leave Fireworks at Home Fireworks are not allowed in Yellowstone because a spark can ignite a wildfire. The current fire danger level is now MODERATE. Campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. They must always be attended and cold to the touch before abandoning.  Soak, stir, feel, repeat . Currently, there are no active fires in the park. Stay up to date on the  current fire situation   and browse a  summary of past fires  in the park. Give

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone National Park statement about white bison calf White bison calf in Lamar Valley on June 4, 2024 Courtesy / Jordan Creech News Release Date:  June 28, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , 307-344-2015 Confirmation   At this time, Yellowstone National Park can confirm, based on multiple creditable sightings, that a white bison calf was born in Lamar Valley on June 4, 2024.   Yellowstone’s Center for Resources Bison Management Team received numerous reports and photos of the calf taken on June 4 from park visitors, professional wildlife watchers, commercial guides and researchers.  To date, park staff have been unable to locate the calf.  To our knowledge, there have been no confirmed sightings by park visitors since June 4.  Photos provided to park biologists indicate the calf is leucistic (black eyes and hooves with some pigmentation), rather than an albino animal.  Significance   The birth of a white bison calf was a rare natural phenomenon that once occurred bef

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone visitation statistics for May 2024 People watching a Beehive Geyser eruption. NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  June 25, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – The park hosted 522,450 recreation visits in May 2024, up 15% from May 2023 (454,262 recreation visits). This May’s visitation showed a 10% increase from May 2021 (473,799 recreation visits). So far in 2024, the park hosted 719,127 recreation visits, up 11% from 2023 (644,979), and up 11% from 2021 (649,153 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through May): 2024 – 719,127 2023 – 644,979 2022 – 733,471  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21 due to the  historic flood  event. Three entrances opened on June 22.) 2021 – 649,153 2020 – 145,849 ( The park was closed March 24 through May 17 due to COVID-19. Two entrances opened on May 18 and the remaining three opened on June 1. ) 201

  Buffalo Field Campaign to hold ceremony to honor birth of white buffalo calf

  NEWS RELEASE Top 10 things to know about visiting Yellowstone National Park during the 2024 summer season Plan Like a Park Ranger: Enjoy the Drive NPS / Jacob W. Frank Subscribe    |  What is RSS News Release Date:  May 24, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – If you plan to travel to Yellowstone National Park this summer, plan ahead to protect yourself and this wild and awe-inspiring place. Within the park’s 2.2 million acres, visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain half the world’s active geysers and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Follow the  top 10 things to know  to enjoy your visit and protect the park for generations to come:   1. No Vehicle Reservations Required Vehicle reservations are not required to enter the park – just a park entrance pass. Save time at entrance stations by  purchasing your pass online  before you a

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone National Park’s Dunraven Pass opens ahead of schedule Pass opens TODAY, Thursday, May 16 Winter weather conditions may cause temporary road closures Views along Grand Loop Road from Tower Junction to Canyon Village NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  May 16, 2024 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 The road from Canyon Village to Tower Fall (Dunraven Pass) opens today, May 16, to public motor vehicle traffic. Originally scheduled to open May 24, road crews were able to complete spring plowing operations ahead of schedule due to mild winter conditions. The Chittenden Road to Mount Washburn will remain closed at this time. All park roads are now open for the season. The public are asked to: Watch for quickly changing  weather conditions  and possible temporary closures due to late spring storms. Many areas of the park are still experiencing winter conditions, and snow and ice may cover sections of roads and trails. Stay informed about up-to-date road