Yellowstone National Park Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone keeps three small clinics open in season, run by doctors and nurse practitioners. They can stitch, splint, and treat altitude sickness. But anything needing surgery, intensive care, or a CT scan means a 50- to 90-minute ride to a real hospital. The closest trauma centers are Billings Clinic, 130 miles from the north gate, and Eastern Idaho Regional, 105 miles west.
Mammoth Hot Springs Clinic stays open all year, though hours shrink off-season, call (307) 344-7965. Old Faithful and Lake clinics run only from late May to mid-September. If you're on the east side after hours, West Park Hospital in Cody at (307) 527-7501 is the nearest 24-hour ER. Billings Clinic is the Level II trauma center for the north half of the park.
No drugstores exist inside the park. Full-service pharmacies sit in West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Cody. Bring enough prescription pills for your whole stay plus a small kit: blister pads, ibuprofen, antihistamines, anti-diarrhea tabs, SPF 50 sunscreen, and electrolyte packets for the altitude.
U.S. visitors are covered by domestic health insurance. Travel insurance is still smart. Foreign travelers need a policy that includes medical evacuation, an airlift out of the backcountry can run $30,000, $50,000.
- ✓ Tell your doctor about any heart or lung trouble before you come. At 7,000 feet the air carries 25% less oxygen, and some trails climb above 10,000.
- ✓ Keep a written list of every medicine, dose, and allergy. Clinic staff will ask for it if you need help.
- ✓ If you'll be near the thermal areas, toss a small burn kit in your pack, minor scalds from steam or splashes are the most common thermal injury.
- ✓ Headache, tiredness, or queasiness from the altitude usually fade in a day or two. Drink at least three liters of water daily, go easy on alcohol the first night, and head downhill if symptoms get worse.
- ✓ Overseas visitors: make sure your policy covers helicopter evacuation, not just ground ambulance.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Yellowstone is home to grizzly bears, black bears, bison, wolves, moose, and elk, all wild animals capable of causing serious injury. Bison are responsible for more visitor injuries than any other animal in the park. They can sprint at 35 mph and will charge without warning if approached. Grizzly bear encounters, while less frequent, carry life-threatening potential.
Yellowstone's hydrothermal features, including the Grand Prismatic Spring, Norris Geyser Basin, and thousands of unnamed hot springs, contain water and steam at or near boiling point. The ground surrounding these features can be a thin crust over scalding water, and collapses have caused fatalities. This is statistically the most dangerous non-wildlife hazard in the park.
Yellowstone's trails range from flat boardwalks to steep, rocky backcountry routes above treeline. Wet boardwalks near thermal features, ice on high trails in shoulder seasons, and loose talus on mountain routes contribute to a consistent number of fall injuries each season.
Summer afternoon temperatures can exceed 80°F (27°C) at lower elevations. But temperatures can drop 30, 40 degrees within hours as afternoon thunderstorms roll in. Overnight temperatures near freezing occur even in July and August at higher elevations. Hypothermia is a risk for unprepared hikers caught in storms.
Yellowstone's scenic roads are frequently congested during peak season (June, August), and wildlife jams, where dozens of vehicles stop suddenly for animal sightings, create rear-end collision risk. Roads at higher elevations can ice overnight even in early summer.
Yellowstone's base elevation of roughly 7,500 feet is sufficient to cause acute mountain sickness in visitors arriving from sea level, those who exert themselves immediately upon arrival. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness. Serious forms (high-altitude pulmonary or cerebral edema) are uncommon at Yellowstone's elevation but are possible in those with underlying cardiovascular conditions.
Violent crime within Yellowstone is exceptionally rare. Opportunistic theft from unattended vehicles in trailhead parking lots does occur, though at low frequency relative to visitation. Food and coolers left in vehicles also attract bears and are illegal in designated areas.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Unofficial travel websites list Yellowstone lodges, campgrounds, and tours at inflated prices or charge non-refundable 'service fees' on top of actual rates. Some sites mimic the official NPS or Xanterra (the park's primary concessioner) websites closely enough to confuse visitors.
In gateway towns (West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cody), some operators advertise 'exclusive access' or 'insider tours' to locations that are freely accessible to all park visitors. Pricing is often many times the value provided.
Extremely rare but occasionally reported: individuals posing as park rangers or NPS volunteers solicit donations or fees for services that are free (trail information, backcountry permit assistance, shuttle services).
There is no fuel sold inside Yellowstone National Park. Gateway towns, West Yellowstone and Gardiner, charge a significant premium for fuel due to their remote locations, and some stations post misleading signage about being 'last fuel before the park' when lower-priced options exist nearby.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Download the NPS Yellowstone app (free) for offline maps, trail conditions, current road closures, and thermal feature status, cell service inside the park is unreliable.
- • Reserve accommodations and campsites 6, 12 months in advance for summer visits; Yellowstone lodges and Recreation.gov campsites sell out extremely quickly for peak season (July, August).
- • Purchase your America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) if visiting multiple national parks. It covers entrance fees at all NPS sites for one year.
- • Inform someone outside the park of your complete itinerary, trailheads you plan to visit, expected return times, and vehicle description, before any backcountry travel.
- • Review the current Yellowstone weather forecast (weather.gov/byz for Billings, MT) and be prepared for a 40°F temperature swing within a single day at any time of year.
- • The 45 mph speed limit on park roads exists to protect wildlife and other drivers, obey it, in Hayden and Lamar Valleys where animals frequently cross the road.
- • Pull completely into designated pullouts to observe wildlife. Stopping in the travel lane creates dangerous pile-ups behind you and is illegal in the park.
- • There is no fuel sold inside the park. Fill your tank before entering and carry an emergency gas can if driving a large RV or towing a trailer.
- • Construction seasons (May, October) cause frequent single-lane delays on the Grand Loop Road. Add 30, 60 minutes to driving time estimates during peak season.
- • RV drivers should note that vehicles over 21 feet are restricted from several roads, including the one-way road to the Fountain Paint Pot area and the road to Norris Geyser Basin from Canyon.
- • The 'ten essentials' are non-negotiable for any hike longer than two miles: navigation (map + compass or GPS), sun protection, insulation (extra layers), illumination, first-aid supplies, fire starting kit, repair tools and knife, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter.
- • Bear spray must be worn accessibly on a hip holster, buried in a pack is useless in the two to three seconds you have to deploy it during a charge.
- • Obtain a free backcountry use permit from any visitor center before any overnight trail trip. Rangers use permit data to find you if you don't return on schedule.
- • Do not drink untreated backcountry water. Even clear mountain streams in Yellowstone can carry Giardia and other pathogens, carry a filter, purification tablets, or a UV treatment device.
- • Sign all trailhead registers. They allow rangers to estimate who may be on a trail during an emergency and are your second line of safety documentation after informing someone of your plans.
- • Storing food improperly is illegal in the park and can result in a fine. Use bear-proof food storage boxes at all campgrounds (provided) and hang food on backcountry poles at designated sites.
- • Never leave food, beverages (including sealed drinks), lip balm, sunscreen, or scented items in an unattended vehicle or tent, bears associate these smells with food and will break into vehicles.
- • Cook and eat at least 200 feet from your sleeping area in the backcountry.
- • In-park dining options are primarily at lodges (Old Faithful Inn, Lake Hotel, Canyon Lodge, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel) and general stores. Bring snacks for long driving days as services are spread across a large area.
- • Water from park taps is treated and safe to drink. Carry a reusable water bottle and refill at visitor centers to stay hydrated at altitude.
- • The 25-yard minimum for most wildlife and 100-yard minimum for bears and wolves are legal requirements, not suggestions, rangers issue citations and the fines are substantial.
- • A 400, 600mm telephoto lens is the responsible way to photograph Yellowstone's wildlife up close. Approaching closer for better phone photos has resulted in fatal bison goring incidents.
- • Never use drones in Yellowstone National Park. They are prohibited under NPS regulations and can cause dangerous wildlife stampedes.
- • Do not throw coins, trash, or any object into thermal features, it damages the geothermal system and is a federal violation. The historic Morning Glory Pool changed color permanently because of objects thrown into it by visitors.
- • Photograph the Milky Way over Yellowstone's dark skies at pull-outs and developed overlooks, not by driving off-road or trespassing into closed thermal areas after dark.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Yellowstone is an excellent destination for solo women travelers. Crime against visitors is rare, park rangers provide a visible and responsive security presence, and the broader community of hikers and campers in national parks tends to be respectful and safety-conscious. The primary safety considerations for women are identical to those for all visitors, wildlife awareness, thermal feature caution, weather preparedness, with the addition of standard solo traveler precautions for backcountry hiking.
- → For solo backcountry hiking, register your itinerary with a park ranger at a visitor center, file a trip plan with a trusted contact outside the park, and carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite communicator (Garmin inReach or SPOT), these devices allow two-way messaging and SOS alerts with no cell service required.
- → Join hiking groups through platforms like AllTrails, Meetup, or the Yellowstone Association (yellowstone.org) if you prefer company on longer backcountry routes, hiking in groups of three or more is also the recommended bear-safety practice.
- → Gateway towns (West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Jackson Hole) have reputable outfitters who lead guided day hikes and multi-day trips with experienced naturalist guides, a strong option for solo travelers wanting backcountry access with knowledgeable company.
- → Developed campgrounds (Madison, Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge RV) are well-lit, staffed by rangers, and located near visitor facilities, they are safer overnight options than remote backcountry camps for first-time solo visitors.
- → Trust your instincts at trailheads and parking areas as you would anywhere. If something feels wrong, return to your vehicle or the nearest ranger station.
Yellowstone National Park is federal land administered by the NPS, which is bound by federal non-discrimination protections. Same-sex marriage has been federally recognized in the US since the Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell ruling. Federal civil rights law (Bostock v. Clayton County, 2020) prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and public accommodations. LGBTQ+ travelers have full legal equality within the park.
- → Within the park, lodges, visitor centers, campgrounds, on trails, LGBTQ+ travelers should expect to be treated with the same professionalism and hospitality as all other visitors.
- → Jackson, Wyoming, accessible via the south entrance of Grand Teton National Park (a natural extension of a Yellowstone itinerary), has a welcoming LGBTQ+ scene with Pride events, affirming hotels, and inclusive dining.
- → The national park setting is equalizing, the shared experience of wilderness, wildlife, and natural wonder tends to build a sense of community among visitors regardless of background.
- → If you experience discrimination from a park concessioner or contractor, report it to the NPS superintendent's office, federal equal-access law applies to all park operations.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Travel insurance is not legally required but is strongly advisable for all Yellowstone visitors, and functionally essential for international travelers. The combination of remote wilderness location, limited in-park medical facilities, and the genuine possibility of a serious injury (bear attack, thermal burn, backcountry fall, cardiac event at altitude) means that medical evacuation costs without insurance can reach $30,000, $100,000 USD. US domestic travelers should also verify that their health insurance covers out-of-network care, as most in-park and gateway hospital services will be out-of-network for non-regional plans.
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