Update: Yellowstone continues area closures near Old Faithful following May 4 bear incident

News Release Date:
May 7, 2026

Contact: Yellowstone Public Affairs

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - Temporary trail, backcountry campsite, and fishing closures remain in effect northwest of the Old Faithful area following a bear incident earlier this week.

Emergency responders, including law enforcement, EMS personnel and interagency partners, responded to the scene and provided aid before transporting two male hikers, ages 15 and 28, from the area by helicopter.

Based on evidence collected so far, park staff believe a female grizzly bear with two or three cubs-of-the-year (cubs in their first year of life) were involved in the encounter. This incident remains under investigation, and there are no further details to share at this time.

Geyser basin boardwalk areas remain open. There are no known visitors within the closed backcountry areas.

Visitors are required to follow all posted closures. Entering closed areas can put both visitors and responders at risk.

Date of release: May 5, 2026

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - On the afternoon of May 4, two hikers sustained injuries by one or more bears on the Mystic Falls Trail near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park.

National Park Service emergency services personnel responded to the incident, and it remains under investigation. No further information is available at this time.

This is the first incident of a bear injuring a person in Yellowstone in 2026. The last time a visitor was injured by a bear in the park was in September 2025. The last human fatality caused by a bear occurred in 2015 in the Lake Village area of the park.

Temporary closures pending completion of investigation

Visit Backcountry Conditions for status and conditions of park trails and backcountry campsites. Hikers and anglers should be aware of temporary closures.

Areas that are closed ( see map )

• Area west of Grand Loop Road from north end of Fountain Flat Drive to Black Sand Basin.
• Trails:
  • Fairy Falls Trail north of the Grand Prismatic Overlook
  • Sentinel Meadows Trail
  • Imperial Meadows Trail
  • Fairy Creek Trail
  • Summit Lake Trail
• Backcountry campsites OG1, OD1, OD2, OD3, OD4, OD5
• Fishing along the Firehole River and associated tributaries within the closure area

Areas that are open

• Midway Geyser Basin
• Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail from Fairy Falls Trailhead to the Grand Prismatic Overlook (trail is CLOSED beyond the overlook)
• Black Sand Basin
• Portions of the Firehole River outside of the closure is open to fishing

Stay safe in bear country

• Stay 100 yards away from bears at all times
• Carry bear spray and know how to use it
• Be alert. See the bear before you surprise it. Watch for fresh tracks, scat, and feeding sites (signs of digging, rolled rocks, torn up logs, ripped open ant hills)
• Make noise
• Hike in groups of three or more people
• Don't hike at dawn, dusk, or at night, when grizzlies are most active
• Don't run from a bear