Yellowstone National Park officials have shuttered several hiking trails and backcountry campsites after two hikers were injured in a bear attack on Monday afternoon, marking the first such incident in the park this year.
The attack occurred on the Mystic Falls Trail near Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, close to the iconic Old Faithful geyser. The National Park Service (NPS) reported that the pair sustained injuries from one or more bears. Emergency responders airlifted both victims out of the area.
Craig Lerman, a hiker who encountered one of the victims, told ABC News that he saw claw marks, a bloodied hat, and a watch near the waterfall. “I’ve never seen anything like that,” Lerman said. “It’s not something you ever want to walk up to. Obviously, it was bad.” He noted the victim had injuries to his face, back, and legs, and stayed with him until rescue crews arrived.
The NPS has not released additional details about the victims’ conditions or the species of bear involved. The agency stated the incident remains under investigation.
This attack follows a pattern of increasing bear encounters in the region. The last mauling in Yellowstone occurred in September 2025, when a grizzly bear injured a solo hiker in a similar area. The most recent fatal attack was in 2015, when a grizzly killed a 63-year-old solo hiker near Lake Village.
In response to the incident, NPS closed five trails and several backcountry campsites in the park’s southwest region. Officials urged visitors to maintain a 100-yard distance from bears, carry bear spray, and hike in groups.
Yellowstone’s bear management protocols have been a point of focus as tourism numbers rise and human-bear interactions increase. The park is home to both grizzly and black bear populations, with grizzlies listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The closures are expected to remain in effect until further notice, pending the investigation and wildlife monitoring efforts.
