BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park officials say park rangers will close an area of the Boundary Creek drainage in the southwest corner of the park to remove an illegal trail.

    Chief Ranger Tim Reid tells the Bozeman Daily Chronicle the area will close Wednesday and remain closed for at least a year.

    Reid says the 5-mile illegal trail comes into the Bechler area from the western park boundary and goes to some thermal features along Boundary Creek.

    He says it developed over a few seasons and has mostly been used by livestock users.

    He says the area can be reached by a legal trail, though it’s longer.

    Reid says the park has so many visitors that it’s important to concentrate them on approved trails to preserve the park’s landscape.