Two Hikers Injured in Bear Attack Yellowstone on Mystic Falls Trail
Two hikers were injured in a bear attack Yellowstone on Monday afternoon on the Mystic Falls Trail near Yellowstone National Park. Park officials then shut down the surrounding area, including multiple trails and backcountry campsites, while crews examined the scene.
Mystic Falls Trail
The encounter happened on a heavily traveled route near the Midway Geyser Basin that loops to a 70-foot waterfall. National Park Service emergency crews responded quickly after the attack, and officials described it as a single incident involving one or more bears.
Authorities have not identified the species involved. They also have not released the hikers’ conditions or said whether the two were traveling together.
Yellowstone Bear Attack
The incident is the first bear attack resulting in injuries in Yellowstone in 2026. The last similar injury case inside the park came in September 2025, when a hiker was hurt on a trail northeast of Yellowstone Lake. The last fatal attack inside Yellowstone National Park happened in 2015.
Bear attacks are rare in a park that draws more than 4 million visitors each year, but Yellowstone contains both grizzly bears and black bears. Park officials tell visitors to stay at least 100 yards away from bears, carry bear spray, make noise, and hike in groups.
For visitors planning to use the area, the immediate change is the closure of several trails and campsites around Mystic Falls. The practical next step is to avoid the shutdown zone and follow park guidance until officials finish the investigation.
