Two injured in Yellowstone Bear encounter near Mystic Falls Trail
Danielle Mullenix
YELLOWSTONE, Montana (KIFI) — Two hikers were injured Monday afternoon, May 4, following an encounter with one or more bears near the Mystic Falls Trail. The incident marks the first incident of a bear injuring a person within the park for the 2026 season.
National Park Service emergency personnel responded immediately to the scene. While the victims’ current conditions and the details of the incident have not been released, the NPS has launched a full investigation.
In the interest of public safety and to allow investigators to work undisturbed, the NPS has implemented a temporary closure of the following areas west of Grand Loop Road from the north end of Fountain Flat Drive to Black Sand Basin:
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
Recreation:
Fishing along the Firehole River and associated tributaries within the closure area
While Yellowstone is bear country, the park stresses that bear injuries in the park are rare. The last time a visitor was injured by a bear in the park was in September 2025, and the park has not seen a bear-related fatality since 2015.
The NPS has provided the following guidelines for park visitors to stay safe in bear country:
Stay 100 yards away from bears at all times
Carry bear spray and know how to use it
Be alert. See the bear before you surprise it. Watch for fresh tracks, scat, and feeding sites (signs of digging, rolled rocks, torn up logs, ripped open ant hills)
Make noise
Hike in groups of three or more people
Don’t hike at dawn, dusk, or at night, when grizzlies are most active
Don’t run from a bear