What not to do in Yellowstone National Park?

Protect yourself and the sights you plan to enjoy by following a few simple rules:
  • Never approach wildlife. The animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. ...
  • Stay on boardwalks and trails in thermal areas. ...
  • Never feed wildlife. ...
  • Never park in the road or block traffic.




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Hot springs have injured or killed more people in Yellowstone than any other natural feature. Keep your children close and don't let them run. Animals that become dependent on human food may become aggressive toward people and have to be killed. Keep all food, garbage, or other smelly items packed away when not in use.

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Yellowstone's greatest geological threat isn't a supervolcano. It's a magnitude-7 earthquake. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. – While concerns about a potential eruption of the supervolcano beneath this iconic park may garner the most alarming headlines, a more likely hazard in the coming decades is a large earthquake.

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If you do any hiking or camping in Yellowstone, you SHOULD bring bear spray. Generally, you don't need bear spray when visiting the popular and crowded geyser areas and villages, such as Old Faithful and Canyon Village.

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It's one of the best places in the world to observe wild bears. Inhabited by both black bears and grizzly bears, Yellowstone is a bear-watcher's paradise. For many people, seeing bears is one of the main reasons they come to Yellowstone. It's possible to see ten or fifteen bears in one day in this vast preserve.

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Approximately 150–200 with home ranges wholly or partially in the park. As of 2021, 1,063 estimated in greater Yellowstone.

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The adage that there is safety in numbers rings especially true in Yellowstone National Park. Solo hikers are at a higher risk of dangerous animal encounters. Anyone exploring the region's backcountry should do so with at least one other person, though groups of three or more are best.

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If you plan to do any water activities while at your stay water shoes are a must. Activities could include swimming in the Boiling River in Yellowstone, rafting in Glacier, or kayaking on the many lakes in the area. Make sure your water shoes are secure and won't fall off (flip-flops are not recommended).

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As in other parks, some Yellowstone visitors die just about any year from drowning, falling off cliffs, and crashing vehicles.

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Drownings have resulted in five known deaths in the park. Looking at all national parks, the survey indicated that falls were by far the most common way to die, accounting for a total of 245 deaths.

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Hot springs have injured or killed more people in Yellowstone than encounters with wildlife. Boardwalks and trails are there to protect visitors, and off-boardwalk hiking is very dangerous - scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs.

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Elk. Elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) are the most abundant large mammal found in Yellowstone; paleontological evidence confirms their continuous presence for at least 1,000 years. Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, when market hunting of all large grazing animals was rampant.

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Inside Yellowstone, you can choose to stay in modern or historic hotels and cabins inside the park like the Old Faithful Inn, the world's largest log structure. Here's how to choose the best one for you.

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Can I Camp Anywhere in Yellowstone? Camping or overnight vehicle parking in pullouts, picnic areas, picnic grounds or any place other than a designated campground are not permitted and there are no overflow camping facilities. However, camping is often available in neighboring communities and forests outside the park.

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Is it safe to drive in Yellowstone at night? Yes, but take caution. Wildlife is active at night and it can be difficult to see animals on the road until it's too late.

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