Hikers injured by bear in Yellowstone National Park

Mystic Falls is a popular day hike in Yellowstone. Starting from the Biscuit Basin area, not far from Old Faithful, the trail forks and leads either to Mystic Falls or to Fairy Falls. On Monday, May 4, 2026, two hikers sustained injuries by one or more bears on the Mystic Falls Trail.

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

This incident has caused temporary closures that visitors should be aware of. Visit Backcountry Conditions for status and conditions of park trails and backcountry campsites. Hikers and anglers should be aware of temporary closures.

The area between Biscuit Basin and Midway Geyser Basin is an area that sees grizzly bears frequenting the area throughout the year. The current closure extends west of Grand Loop Road from north end of Fountain Flat Drive to Black Sand Basin.

Closed Areas

• 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

Open Areas

Popular areas that are heavily traveled by visitors remain open including:

• Midway Geyser Basin (you can still stop to visit Grand Prismatic Spring and Excelsior Geyser)
• 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

Yellowstone is wild and beautiful, but there are many ways to die or be injured. In Yellowstone, you are responsible for your own safety.

• 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

[Written with Press Release. Header image of Mystic Falls: NPS / Jacob W. Frank]
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