“Please stay on the boardwalk at Old Faithful! Do not walk up to geysers! Good job on the filming! we can hear everything even though it’s windy!”
If you break the rules about walking off the designated path at any of the multitude of the geothermal features at Yellowstone, the consequences can range from severe injury, fines, internet shaming or in this case a good old fashion scolding by one the park rangers. This is what happens when adults act like children:
Yellowstone Thermal Areas Rules:
Boardwalks and trails protect you and delicate thermal formations. Water in hot springs can cause severe or fatal burns, and scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs.
- Always walk on boardwalks and designated trails. Keep children close and do not let them run on boardwalks.
- Do not touch thermal features or runoff.
- Swimming or soaking in hot springs is prohibited. More than 20 people have died from burns suffered after they entered or fell into Yellowstone’s hot springs.
- Pets are prohibited in thermal areas.
- Do not throw objects into hot springs or other hydrothermal features.
- Toxic gases may accumulate to dangerous levels in some hydrothermal areas. If you begin to feel sick while exploring one of our geyser basins, leave the area immediately.
