Editor's Note: This has been updated with additional details about the bear attack.
Two male hikers, ages 15 and 28, were injured in a bear attack on May 4 in Yellowstone National Park while hiking the Mystic Falls Trail near Old Faithful. Park staff believe a female grizzly bear with two or three cubs in their first year of life were involved in the encounter.
Emergency responders, including law enforcement, EMS personnel and interagency partners, responded to the scene and provided aid before the two hikers were flown out by helicopter.
Park staff notes that this is the first incident where a bear has injured a person in Yellowstone in 2026. The last time a visitor was injured by a bear in the park was in September 2025 when a 29-year-old man was injured while hiking on the Turbid Lake Trail. Despite using bear spray, he received significant but non-life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm when the bear attacked him.
The last human fatality caused by a bear occurred in 2015 in the Lake Village area of the park.
Temporary trail, backcountry campsite, and fishing closures remain in effect northwest of the Old Faithful area following the incident.
- Closed 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
Park visitors are encouraged to stay at least 300 feet away from bears, carry bear spray, and hike in groups of three or more. If a bear is spotted or begins to approach, it can help to make noise, though you should never run from a bear, as it can encourage them to give chase.
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