Two hikers were injured by one or more bears on the afternoon of May 4th on the Mystic Falls Trail near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, according to the National Park Service.
Emergency services personnel responded to the incident, which remains under investigation. The NPS has not released additional details about the nature or severity of the injuries or the number of bears involved.
The attack marks the first bear-inflicted injury on a visitor in Yellowstone in 2026. The most recent prior incident occurred in September 2025, while the last known fatality from a bear attack in the park dates to 2015 in the Lake Village area.
In response to the incident, the NPS has implemented a series of temporary closures in the area west of Grand Loop Road, spanning from the north end of Fountain Flat Drive to Black Sand Basin. Hikers and anglers should check the park’s Backcountry Conditions page for the latest trail and campsite status before heading out.
The following trails are currently closed: Fairy Falls Trail north of the Grand Prismatic Overlook, Sentinel Meadows Trail, Imperial Meadows Trail, Fairy Creek Trail, and Summit Lake Trail. Backcountry campsites OG1, OD1, OD2, OD3, OD4, and OD5 are also closed, as is fishing along the Firehole River and its tributaries within the closure zone.
Several areas remain open, including Midway Geyser Basin, Black Sand Basin, and the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail from the Fairy Falls Trailhead up to the overlook itself. The trail beyond the overlook is closed. Portions of the Firehole River outside the closure boundary remain open to fishing.
With bear activity active in the park, the NPS is reminding visitors to take the following precautions. Maintain a minimum distance of 100 yards from bears at all times. Carry bear spray and know how to deploy it before you need it.
Stay alert on the trail. Look for fresh tracks, scat, dug-up soil, rolled rocks, torn logs, and ripped-open ant hills, all of which signal recent bear activity in the area. Make noise while hiking and travel in groups of three or more whenever possible. Avoid hiking at dawn, dusk, or after dark, when grizzly bears are most active. More information on bear and wildlife safety in Yellowstone is available here.
