Yellowstone News and Information

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 – 1,674,699  (The park was closed

  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. The NPS was also under court overs

  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:  Portable gas stoves and lanterns in are

  After grapefruit-sized rocks destroyed a boardwork in eruption, small explosions at Biscuit Basin possible

NEWS RELEASE Update on the July 23 Biscuit Basin hydrothermal explosion Biscuit Basin hydrothermal explosion: Boardwalk condition post-explosion. NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  July 24, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin (Yellowstone National Park) , 307-344-2015 Contact:   Mike Poland (USGS) Update on the July 23 Biscuit Basin hydrothermal explosion Date of release: July 24, 2024 USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-YVO-2024-07-24T21:27:48+00:00 YELLOWSTONE  (VNUM #325010) 44°25'48" N 110°40'12" W, Summit Elevation 9203 ft (2805 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN This is an update on the hydrothermal explosion that occurred just before 10 AM on Tuesday, July 23, in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park. National Park Service (NPS) field crews have completed a preliminary assessment of the conditions following the hydrothermal explosion at Black Diamond Pool. For a map showing the locations of the features in that area, see  h

Troop 202 travels to Yellowstone National Park 

  Billings businesses team up to recover vehicle in Yellowstone National Park thermal feature

  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 Fully submerged vehicle removed from thermal feature in Yellowstone National Park Vehicle occupants are safe with non-life-threatening injuries Crews work to lift car out of the Semi-Centennial Geyser NPS News Release Date:  July 12, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 On Thursday, July 11 at about 10:40 a.m. a car with five occupants inadvertently drove off the roadway and into the Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal feature near Roaring Mountain between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction in Yellowstone National Park.   All five occupants exited the vehicle on their own, and each individual was transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.   Today, July 12, law enforcement rangers temporarily closed both lanes of the roadway near the accident in order to safely lift the car out of the thermal feature (see photo).   The vehicle was fully submerged in about nine feet of water.  The Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal feature has a

NEWS RELEASE Warm water temperatures and low river flows prompt fishing closures in Yellowstone Additional closures possible in coming days Firehole River NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  July 12, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - Effective Monday, July 15, 2024, select Yellowstone National Park rivers will close to  fishing  due to warm water temperatures and low river flows. This closure will protect the park’s native and wild trout fisheries and remain in effect until conditions improve.  What will be closed?  The Madison River and all associated tributaries.   The Firehole River and all associated tributaries.  The Gibbon River and all associated tributaries downstream of Norris Campground.   The closure will be reassessed when water temperatures cool and flows return to more typical summer conditions.  Staff will continue to monitor park rivers and streams for warm temperatures and low flows, and watch  weather forecasts . The extend

  NEWS RELEASE Update on July 4 law enforcement involved shooting in Yellowstone National Park News Release Date:  July 9, 2024 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , 307-344-2015   Update on July 4 law enforcement involved shooting in Yellowstone National Park Date of release: July 9, 2024 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – On the morning of July 4, Yellowstone National Park  law enforcement rangers  confronted an individual shooting a semi-automatic rifle toward a dining facility at Canyon Village located in the central part of the park. The shooter has been identified by the Park County, Wyoming coroner as Samson Lucas Bariah Fussner, 28, of Milton, Florida. Fussner died after an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement. The investigation into this incident, including the actions of the National Park Service (NPS) law enforcement rangers, is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and will be reviewed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming. Just after midnight

  Yellowstone Shooter Took Woman Hostage, Held Her At Gunpoint: Scanner Recording