YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — Park authorities reported Tuesday that two hikers sustained injuries during a bear encounter on Monday afternoon while walking along a well-used trail close to the famous Old Faithful geyser.
Officials characterized the incident as occurring during a single encounter on Monday afternoon as the hikers traveled the Mystic Falls Trail.
Authorities have temporarily shut down a significant portion of the park surrounding the Midway Geyser Basin while they conduct their investigation. The closure encompasses no fewer than five hiking paths and multiple wilderness camping areas.
While park representatives confirmed that at least one bear was responsible for the incident, they have not identified the specific type involved. Yellowstone is home to both grizzly and black bear populations, and distinguishing between the two species can sometimes prove challenging. Grizzly bears tend to display more aggressive behavior and achieve significantly larger sizes — potentially growing to double the weight of black bears. Black bears typically display darker fur coloring.
Officials have not yet disclosed additional details regarding the victims’ ages or current medical status. The Associated Press has attempted to contact park representatives through email and telephone for further information.
Bear encounters involving either grizzly or black bears remain uncommon occurrences despite the millions of annual visitors to Yellowstone. In the previous year, one hiker sustained chest and arm wounds during an encounter on the Turbid Lake Trail located northeast of Yellowstone Lake.
A grizzly bear fatally attacked a woman in an area just outside Yellowstone’s western boundary in 2023. The most recent deadly bear encounter within park boundaries occurred in 2015.
The busy Mystic Falls hiking route features a circular path that takes visitors to view a waterfall measuring 70 feet in height. The starting point for this trail sits approximately two miles northwest of the Old Faithful area.
