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Bears Injure Two Hikers, Yellowstone Closes Five Trails

5/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Two hikers were injured by bears on the Mystic Falls Trail on Monday and were airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Yellowstone closed over five trails and five campsites west of Grand Loop Road, including Fairy Falls, Sentinel Meadows, Imperial Meadows, Fairy Creek and Summit Lake.
Park officials opened investigation and urged visitors to keep 100 yards from bears, carry spray and hike in groups of three.

History

Historical Context

In 1970 a grizzly bear killed a hiker on Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road, prompting Congress and the National Park Service to start a bear-management program that banned feeding and reduced bear-caused injuries from an average 48 per year (1930-1969) to under two per decade. Those rules still require three-person groups and bear spray.

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Story summary

Two hikers were injured by bears on the Mystic Falls Trail on Monday and were airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Yellowstone closed over five trails and five campsites west of Grand Loop Road, including Fairy Falls, Sentinel Meadows, Imperial Meadows, Fairy Creek and Summit Lake.
Park officials opened investigation and urged visitors to keep 100 yards from bears, carry spray and hike in groups of three.

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