Two hikers were injured Monday afternoon in a bear attack on the Mystic Falls Trail near Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful geyser. Park officials stated on Tuesday that the incident was a single event involving one or more bears, though the species was not specified. The park is home to both black bears and grizzlies, with the latter being larger and potentially more aggressive.
In response to the attack, officials have temporarily closed a large area of the park near the Midway Geyser Basin. This closure includes several backcountry campsites and at least five trails while an investigation is conducted. Information regarding whether the victims were hiking together or if they were hospitalized has not yet been released.
While Yellowstone sees over 4 million annual visitors, bear attacks are rare. This incident marks the first time in 2026 that a bear has injured people in the park. Previous encounters include a hiker injured on the Turbid Lake Trail in September and a 2015 fatal attack in the Lake Village area.
The fate of bears involved in such attacks typically depends on the circumstances. For instance, a grizzly was killed after the 2015 attack for abnormal behavior, whereas a bear involved in a surprise encounter last year was not relocated. The Mystic Falls Trail, where the current attack occurred, is located about two miles northwest of Old Faithful and features a loop leading to a 70-foot waterfall.