Yellowstone News and Information

  News Release Tourism to Yellowstone creates $560 million in economic benefits Report shows visitor spending supports 6,110 jobs in local economy Yellowstone National Park sign at sunset at the North Entrance NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: June 15, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 3.8 million people to Yellowstone National Park in 2020 spent over $444 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 6,110 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $560 million. The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists with the NPS and the U.S. Geological Survey. The report shows $14.5 billion of direct spending by more than 237 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 234,000 jobs nationally; 194,400 of those jobs are found in these

  News Release MODERATE fire danger in Yellowstone National Park Fire danger sign at moderate NPS / Jacob W. Frank Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: June 14, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now moderate. 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 be 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.

  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

News Release Rangers request assistance in locating missing man 27-year-old male believed to have been hiking has not returned News Release Date: June 13, 2021 Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 Grand Teton National Park requests the public’s assistance in locating Cian McLaughlin, a 27-year-old male. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center was notified of a missing person report for McLaughlin on Sunday, June 13, at approximately 7 a.m. by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office. It was believed that McLaughlin intended to go hiking earlier in the week and failed to show up at his place of employment on Thursday, June 10 and was reported missing late Saturday night, June 12.   Park staff surveyed trailhead locations within the park early Sunday morning, June 13, and located McLaughlin’s vehicle at the Lupine Meadows Trailhead. A ground and aerial search was immediately initiated in probable locations that he may have

  News Release Grand Teton has record visitation in May Visitors are highly encouraged to plan ahead and follow Top 10 Tips NPS/J. Bonney News Release Date: June 11, 2021 Contact: Denise Germann, 307-739-3393 Contact: CJ Adams, 307-739-3431 MOOSE, WY—Grand Teton National Park hosted an estimated 363,712 recreation visits in May 2021, a 30% increase compared to May 2019. The park was closed May 1- 17 in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Park statistics show that May 2021 had the highest number of recreation visits on record for the month of May. The list below shows the highest number of recreation visits on record for the month of May.  May 2021        363,712 May 2018        296,885 May 2016         292,318 May 2019        278,529 May 2017        255,583 Camping in the park increased 93% in May 2021 compared to May 2019, while backcountry camping increased 117%. Trail use in the park increased 70% in May, compared to May 2019, on tr

Henry Wood Elliott and the first map of Yellowstone Lake Release Date: June 7, 2021 Henry Wood Elliott was a dedicated conservationist and explorer who, in 1871, helped create the first bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake. Unlike many of his contemporaries, however, he declined to leave his name on any feature in Yellowstone. Geologists now honor Elliott’s legacy by referring to a very large explosion crater beneath Yellowstone Lake as Elliott’s Crater. Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Lisa Morgan, emeritus research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Henry Wood Elliott during a geological expedition in 1870.  Photo by William Henry Jackson. In 1999-2002, the U.S. Geological Survey, with support from Yellowstone National Park and Eastern Oceanics, produced the first high-resolution b

  News Release Yellowstone visitation statistics for May 2021 Crowding on the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk near Grand Prismatic Spring NPS / Jacob W. Frank Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: June 11, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - The park hosted 483,159 recreation visits in May 2021. This is an 11% increase from May 2019 (434,385 recreation visits) and the park’s most visited May on record. May 2020 should not be used as a good year-to-year comparison due to the park being closed until May 18. Only two of the park's five entrances were open for the rest of the month. So far in 2021, the park has hosted 658,513 recreation visits, up 14% from 2019. The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through May): 2021 –  658,513 2020 –  145,849 *The park was closed May 1 through May 18. Two entrances were open May 18 through May 31. 2019 –  576,776

  National Park Nature Walks, Episode 6: Yellowstone Bison and Marsh Birds

  News Release Tourism to Grand Teton creates $754 million in economic benefits Visitor spending supports about 8,200 jobs in local economy News Release Date: June 10, 2021 Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY— A new National Park Service report shows that almost 3.3 million visitors to Grand Teton National Park in 2020 spent over $598 million in communities near the park. That spending supported almost 8,200 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $754 million.  “Grand Teton National Park safely provided a respite for many visitors in light of the pandemic in 2020,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. He said, “The iconic landscape, wildlife and historic structures supported the physical and mental wellness of our community and visitors, as well as continued to be an economic driver for the state and region.”    The peer-reviewed visitor s

  Yellowstone unveils electric, automated shuttles for summer testing

 Yellowstone gets ready to start driverless shuttle service

  Yellowstone National Park to begin grizzly captures again

  Massachusetts Comedian Facing Possible Charges After Hitting Golf Ball In Yellowstone National Park

  News Release Dust abatement activities on Moose-Wilson Road June 15-17 Temporary Closure with no through traffic NPS/J. Bonney News Release Date: June 7, 2021 Contact: Denise German, 307.739.3393 Contact: CJ Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY—The unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road in Grand Teton National Park will be temporarily closed for seasonal dust abatement beginning 4 a.m. Tuesday, June 15 and will reopen by 8 a.m. Thursday, June 17. This routine dust abatement application happens several times during the summer on the approximately one-mile of unpaved section of the seven-mile road. During the dust abatement application June 15-17, motorists and bicyclists should plan to use an alternate route as this temporary closure will prevent making a ‘through trip’ on the Moose-Wilson Road between the Granite Canyon Entrance Station and the Teton Park Road at Moose, Wyoming. For those wishing to reach the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve par

  Yellowstone National Park visitation statistics on Memorial Day weekend 2021 Crowds gather for an Old Faithful Eruption NPS / David Kreuger News Release Date: June 7, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , 307-344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Park-wide vehicle entries through the Memorial Day weekend showed a 50% increase over the same weekend in 2019. This year is compared to 2019 because in 2020, during the same time frame, only the Wyoming park entrances were open due to COVID-19.   Visitation statistics (*vehicle entries) per day for May 28-31, 2021, compared to May 24-27, 2019, are listed below.   Park entrance  Vehicle entries  Vehicle entries  Percent increase 2021 over 2019    Friday, May 28, 2021 Friday, May 24, 2019   East  902  368  145%  North  1,796  983  83%  Northeast  475  350  36%  South  1,731  920  88%  West  4,565  2,652  72%  Total 

  COVID-19 tests rely on bacteria discovered in a natural pool in the 1960s     Image: Brock, Thomas. Public domain  

  Yellowstone To Be Overhauled With “Outdoors Act” Changes

  When the bison come back, will the ecosystem follow?

  Yellowstone Could Have Record Year Despite Loss of 1 Million International Tourists

  Yellowstone’s gravest threat to visitors (it’s not what you might think) Release Date: May 31, 2021 Yellowstone National Park is truly a wonder of nature, globally appreciated for its untamed beauty. Visited by millions each year, tourists travel from all over the world to witness its unique environment. However, while enjoying Wonderland, visitors should also keep safety in mind. Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Erin Krieger, student in Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming, and Mairin Sims, Laramie High School student. With the arrival of the Memorial Day weekend, summer is upon us!  And for many, that means holiday time.  What better place to take a holiday than Yellowstone?  But while enjoying the spectacle of America’s first National Park, please keep safety in min

  Yellowstone National Park Working To Remove Unsightly Cell Towers

Pausing to Say Hello—And Goodbye: How many of us really see a wild place for what it is

Yellowstone's biggest geyser goes off in a big way

Yellowstone park ranger fends off charging grizzly bear

  2021 Summer Field Seminars: A variety of June seminars coming up

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

  News Release Top 10 Tips for Visiting Grand Teton National Park Plan like a park ranger Ranger provides information to park visitors to plan their adventure NPS Image/J. Tobiason News Release Date: May 27, 2021 Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 MOOSE, WY— Grand Teton looks forward to welcoming visitors this summer. Learn how to Plan Like A Park Ranger by following our list of the top 10 things you should know before visiting the park. The 2021 season is expected to be BUSY, so make sure to plan ahead, recreate responsibly, and help ensure this iconic landscape may be enjoyed by future generations. 1. Plan ahead, plan ahead, and did we mention…PLAN AHEAD! Know you will have a place to stay overnight. Reservations are required for lodging and all campgrounds in Grand Teton and are mostly booked for the peak season. Reserve your night under the stars and visit the park Camping page . Camping is not allowed al

  News Release Biologists set to begin 2021 grizzly bear captures for research purposes in Yellowstone National Park; Public reminded to heed warning signs Grizzly bear near Frying Pan Spring NPS/Jim Peaco News Release Date: May 27, 2021 BOZEMAN - As part of ongoing efforts required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with the National Park Service, is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within Yellowstone National Park. Biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will begin field captures on June 1 and continue through October 16. Capture operations can include a variety of activities, but all areas where work is being conducted will have primary access points marked with warning signs. It is critical that all members of the public heed th

 Craighead papers available to public

News Release Weather-permitting, Beartooth Highway to open Friday, May 28, 2021 Plowing Beartooth Highway NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: May 26, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 Weather-permitting, the Beartooth Highway (US-212) between Red Lodge, Montana, and Cooke City, Montana, will open May 28, 2021, at 8 a.m. Conditions can change quickly, especially during spring and fall, and roads can temporarily close due to poor driving conditions. Plan to have alternate routes for travel should the highway close. Check the Montana and Wyoming departments of transportation websites for road updates and status throughout the summer. Photos from May 19  .

  Yellowstone seeing progress on lake trout suppression

  University of Idaho grad student studies tree rings at Yellowstone to learn about wildfires

  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