Bear Attack Injures Two Hikers on Yellowstone Trail Near Old Faithful

Two hikers were injured in a bear attack Monday on a popular trail just miles from Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful geyser. Officials closed a large area of the park as investigators try to determine what happened.

The attack took place Monday afternoon on the Mystic Falls Trail, a busy route near the Midway Geyser Basin with a loop to a 70-foot waterfall, park officials said.

National Park Service emergency crews responded quickly to the encounter, which officials called a single incident involving one or more bears. Authorities have not identified the bear species.

Park officials shut down the surrounding area, including multiple trails and backcountry campsites, while the investigation continues.

Officials have not released details on the hikers’ conditions or whether they were hiking together.

The incident is the first bear attack causing injuries in Yellowstone in 2026. The previous one happened in September 2025, when a hiker was hurt on a trail northeast of Yellowstone Lake.

Bear attacks remain rare in Yellowstone despite more than 4 million visitors each year. The last fatal attack in the park was in 2015.

Yellowstone has both grizzly and black bears, with grizzlies typically larger and more aggressive. Officials said identifying the bear type is part of the probe.

The fate of the bear or bears will depend on the attack’s circumstances, such as whether it was defensive or something else.

Park officials urged visitors in bear country to stay at least 100 yards from bears, carry bear spray, make noise and hike in groups.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.