YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Two hikers were injured in a bear attack Sunday afternoon on the Mystic Falls Trail near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, the first bear-related injuries in the park this year.
National Park Service emergency personnel responded to the May 4 incident, which remains under investigation. Officials have not released details on the severity of the injuries or the number of bears involved.
The most recent prior incident occurred in September 2025, while the last fatal bear attack in the park took place in 2015 near the Lake Village area.
Closures in Effect
In response to the attack, park officials have issued temporary trail and area closures west of Grand Loop Road, stretching from the north end of Fountain Flat Drive to Black Sand Basin. Affected trails include the Fairy Falls Trail north of the Grand Prismatic Overlook, the Sentinel Meadows, Imperial Meadows, Fairy Creek and Summit Lake trails. Several backcountry campsites and fishing along the Firehole River and its tributaries within the closure zone are also off-limits.
Some areas remain open, including Midway Geyser Basin, Black Sand Basin and the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail from the Fairy Falls Trailhead up to — but not beyond — the overlook. Portions of the Firehole River outside the closure remain open to fishing.
Visitors can check current trail and backcountry conditions on the park's website.
Bear Safety Reminders
Park officials are urging visitors to take precautions in bear country. Hikers should carry bear spray and know how to use it, make noise on the trail, stay alert for signs of bear activity such as tracks or disturbed vegetation, and hike in groups of three or more. Experts advise avoiding trails at dawn, dusk or nighttime when grizzlies are most active, maintaining a distance of at least 100 yards from any bear and never running from one.