Hot and dry weather make this the worst time of year for wildfires in the Western United States, and Yellowstone National Park is in danger of going up in flames each summer. The risk of massive wildfires increases each year due to the ongoing climate crisis. For this reason, there are many Yellowstone National Park fire restrictions in place to help keep wildlife and tourists safe from wildfires. The rules change throughout the year depending on the weather, but this post will cover the regulations in place when the fire danger level is “very high,” as it is most summers.
Backcountry
Be sure to check out the backcountry if you’re up for a real adventure, but be mindful that the untamed backcountry can be more prone to wildfires. Currently, all charcoal and wood fire campfires are prohibited in the backcountry, even in established fire rings. Smoking is also banned throughout the backcountry and on all trails, except in designated areas. Smokers may light up next to the designated fire rings in campsites or within a three-foot diameter area barren of all flammable materials. You don’t have to live without heat in the dark, though. Portable gas stoves and lanterns are currently allowed. However, the area must be barren or cleared of overhead and surrounding materials. Be sure to double-check your surroundings before starting your stove or lantern.
Frontcountry and developed areas
The first restrictions are a bit more lax in developed areas. However, they’re still in place and must be followed. Campfires are only allowed in established campgrounds and day-use picnic areas. If you start a fire, it must be extinguished and cold to the touch before you leave the site. Smoking is only permitted in an enclosed vehicle, a single-family dwelling or a day-use picnic area.
Why must you follow these rules?
Some tourists have the faulty thinking that their small fire can’t possibly do any harm, so they think Yellowstone National Park fire restrictions don’t apply to them. That’s far from the case. These are the reasons you need to follow all posted rules:
Stay safe: A single spark from a campfire or cigarette is enough to start a wildfire in an instant. Not only does that jeopardize your safety, but it puts all of the other Yellowstone tourists in danger.
Protect the park: A wildfire will completely destroy all of the plants and animals in its path. What’s worse is that it can take decades for the park to return to the state it was in before the fire. Do your part to protect Yellowstone by following all of the fire regulations.
Avoid fines: As you can imagine, the authorities take these fire regulations very seriously. Starting fires in unauthorized zones can lead to thousands of dollars in fines and even jail time.
Book a tour with us
There’s still plenty of time to see Yellowstone this summer, but don’t do it alone—book a tour with Yellowstone Tour Guides. Contact us today to book a trip or to learn some more about the current Yellowstone National Park fire restrictions..
In May, a Yellowstone tourist attempted to get an up-close cellphone picture of a mother grizzly bear and her three cubs. Not only is that dangerous, but it’s also in violation of one of the Yellowstone National Park laws. The tourist is now facing federal charges for attempting to approach and take photos within 100 feet of wildlife. The Illinois woman is also faced with one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife. U.S. Park Police were able to find the woman because another tourist witnessed and recorded the event. In the video recording, the defendant appears to get within 15 feet of the bear before backing off when the grizzly briefly charged at her. The woman will go in front of a magistrate judge on August 26 to answer to her charges. If she is convicted, she could be sentenced to a year in prison and be ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
Other laws you need to follow
Other laws you need to follow Taking photos of grizzly bears isn’t the only rule in Yellowstone. Here are a few of the Yellowstone National Park laws that keep you, other visitors and wildlife safe:
Animals: Whether it’s an 800-pound bear or a two-pound rabbit, park rangers do their best to protect all of the animals in Yellowstone. After all, the park is designed in part to be a sanctuary for them. But don’t worry, you won’t need to study all of the laws before your trip. Policies are posted throughout the park in an intent to ensure everyone is well aware of the laws.
Fires: Hot and dry conditions make summer the worst season for wildfires in Yellowstone. While we can’t do anything to prevent wildfires started by lightning strikes, tourists can do their part by adhering to posted fire laws. Additionally, you should never start a fire or smoke outside of a designated area.
Trails: We know it’s tempting to do a little off-road driving or biking to get a better look at the beautiful surroundings, but don’t do it—leaving the trails can result in some hefty fines. We promise you can get a great view of everything from the safety of the road.
Hot springs: The thermal hot springs are a major attraction in Yellowstone, but there are rules in place to protect the springs and visitors. Swimming is prohibited in the springs, as is walking off designated trails to get a better look at the hydrothermal areas.
Camping: Sleeping under the stars in Yellowstone is an experience you’ll never forget, but you can’t just set up your tent anywhere you please. In addition to obtaining the right permits, all campers must stay within designated camp sites during their stay.
See Yellowstone with our team
Book a trip with Yellowstone Tour Guides instead of attempting to experience the park on your own. From day hikes to multi-day vacation packages, we offer a package for everyone. When you book with us, you can rest easy you’ll stay in good standing with all of the Yellowstone National Park laws and have a great time during your visit!
One of the most common questions we receive about our Yellowstone guided tours is whether people are allowed to bring their pets with them into the park.
While it technically is possible to bring your dog with you to Yellowstone, it’s important to note that in most areas of most national parks, these pets are not allowed. And in the areas where they are allowed, there are some significant restrictions.
This is why we recommend leaving your dog behind if at all possible. But if for whatever reason that’s not possible, here’s an overview of what you need to know about bringing your dog into the park with you.
Restrictions
As previously mentioned, in areas where dogs are allowed, there are some stringent restrictions pet owners must follow, or else risk fines or other punishment:
Location: Pets are allowed in Yellowstone National Park if they stay in a car, at a front country campground or within 100 feet of parking lots or roads. Pets are not allowed in any of the hotels in the park. However, some cabins may allow pets, with an extra cleaning fee.
Leashes: Dogs must be kept on leashes of six feet or less.
Waste: Owners are required to clean up and properly dispose of all pet waste.
Supervision: Pets cannot be left outside unattended. While you can leave them in vehicles, this is not recommended unless they have sufficient temperature control and ventilation. Pets are also allowed to stay in tents overnight (assuming the location of the tent meets the above requirements), so long as their food and water dishes are not left out.
Trails: Pets are not allowed under any circumstances on boardwalks, in the backcountry or on trails. This is one of the primary reasons why it’s recommended you leave them behind.
Boarding
If you are unable to leave your pet at home for any reason, there are some boarding options at or around the park that might make a convenient option for you. There are pet boarding locations near the various entrance points that provide safe, fun environments for your dog to stay behind while you are able to explore the park uninhibited by their presence.
We recommend researching these boarding facilities in advance of your trip, because while you may be able to bring your dog into the park with you, you simply will not have the same quality of experience if you’re tied down by your dog the entire time you’re in the park. Your dog will be well cared for at any of these boarding facilities, and will almost certainly have far more fun there than if they were to come into the park with you.
Interested in learning more about some of your options for dealing with your pets during your trip to Yellowstone? We’re always happy to answer any questions you have about our Yellowstone guided tours and about what you should do with your pets when you arrive. We look forward to speaking with you soon!
Your trip to Yellowstone is one you’ll probably remember fondly for the rest of your life. Of course, that depends on you being safe and smart on your trip. There are some actions tourists take that could put their lives in danger, and threaten wildlife as well.
To ensure your trip goes smoothly and in fact ends up as one you can look back on with joy, there are certain things you should not do when you’re in the park. Here are a few examples.
Don’t get close to the wildlife
This is perhaps the most important reminder Yellowstone Tour Guides has to give out over and over again all year long. The wildlife is just that—wild. If you get too close, you risk being attacked.
Visitors should remain at least 25 yards away from bison and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves. Ideally you will keep even more distance.
If you visit the park, you will undoubtedly see people getting out of their cars and trying to get close to wildlife to get good pictures. This is horrendously misguided, and could jeopardize your life if you attempt to do so. These animals are fast, and will lash out if they feel threatened. If you see an animal changing its behavior in response to your presence, you are too close to them, no matter how much distance you believe you’re giving them.
It’s especially important to avoid getting close to animals if there are babies or youths around—mothers will be very protective of their young and will be more likely to jump straight to aggression.
Don’t wander off the boardwalks
There are boardwalks throughout Yellowstone that take visitors around hot springs and geyser basins. These boardwalks are there for a reason—it’s not safe for you to wander off of them. In certain areas, you might accidentally wander in to a geyser basin or into a hot spring.
Water in the springs can reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which can very quickly cause severe burns or death. Even if it doesn’t look like there’s standing water, the ground may be thin enough surrounding these springs that you could plunge through into hot water.
In addition, the hot springs might look attractive as a sort of natural hot tub. But these are not hot springs for soaking or swimming—you can be severely burned by these springs. There are other springs around the country and the world that are great for soaking, but not those in Yellowstone.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew
There are plenty of opportunities to get into the backcountry and hike some fantastic trails. However, you should be careful not to attempt more than what you can handle. Stay on the trails rather than wandering off into the wilderness. Don’t try to take on extensive trails that will be too long for your fitness level or comfort. Avoid going to high elevations or on particularly strenuous trails if you are inexperienced.
For more tips about what to do (and NOT to do) during your visit to the national park, contact Yellowstone Tour Guides today.
More folks are visiting Yellowstone National Park this summer than any other year we’ve seen. While we think it’s wonderful that families are experiencing one of America’s greatest treasures, all of the tourists are making lodging hard to come by. In fact, we’ve heard that some of the most popular lodging towns like West Yellowstone, Gardiner and Cooke City are completely booked some nights!
Instead of struggling to find a hotel room or Airbnb (plus paying exorbitant nightly rates), consider Yellowstone backpacking tours this summer. Continue reading to learn a little bit more about booking your backpacking adventure this summer.
Why go backpacking?
Visitors who haven’t backpacked or camped much might feel like backpacking through Yellowstone would be a bit daunting. These are a few reasons to step out of your comfort zone and go for it:
Avoid the crowds: Yellowstone had 3.81 million visitors in 2020, and that number is expected to be much higher this year. Additionally, 97 percent of those travelers never make it more than half a mile from the road! Instead of dealing with those throngs of people, hit the road and go backpacking.
See the true Yellowstone: With over 2 million acres of terrain, Yellowstone is larger than Rhode Island and Connecticut combined. While that fact is difficult to fathom on its own, it’s harder to picture that only 3 percent of the park is fully developed. The only way to see the other 97 percent of the park—which features more geyser basins, waterfalls and other natural treasures—is to go backpacking.
Truly unplug from everything: Getting away from it all can be difficult, even if you’re spending the day in Yellowstone. The only way to fully escape from everyday stresses and today’s technology is to backpack through the park and sleep under the stars each evening.
Why book through Yellowstone Tour Guides?
Here are a few of the top reasons so many travelers love booking their Yellowstone vacations with us:
Our guides are trained: Some of the guides you’ll find at other tour companies are only outdoors lovers and not specifically trained in guiding tours. That’s not the case with us! All of our team members have undergone rigorous training to ensure they’re capable of leading groups.
We provide everything you need: Many of our guests don’t have their own camping gear—and that’s no problem! We rent out every piece of camping gear you’ll need for your journey. We even provide permits and can set up campsites to make your visit to the park even easier.
We have several options available: Regardless of how long you want to explore the park or where you want to go, we have a backpacking tour for you! We also have day backpacking tours for those who aren’t interested in camping overnight.
Talk to us today!
Now is one of the best times to backpack through Yellowstone—don’t miss your opportunity to experience it this summer! Please email [email protected] to reserve your Yellowstone backpacking tours or to learn more about visiting our beautiful part of the country.
