Adolescent hiker experiences severeburns during exploration of Yellowstone's thermal region
In a recent incident, a 17-year-old hiker sustained significant burns to his foot and ankle while hiking near Lone Star Geyser in Yellowstone National Park on July 28, 2025. The hiker was treated by emergency medical staff and transported to a hospital for further treatment.
This incident marks the first known thermal injury in Yellowstone National Park for the year 2025. The hiker's identity remains unidentified.
Yellowstone officials are emphasizing the importance of safety guidelines for hiking near hot springs and other thermal areas to prevent such incidents. These guidelines include:
- Staying on designated boardwalks and trails, as the ground crust is fragile and thin over boiling water.
- Keeping children close and preventing running on boardwalks to avoid accidents.
- Not touching thermal features or their runoff to avoid burns or exposure to toxic substances.
- Swimming or soaking in hot springs is prohibited, as more than 20 people have died from burns in such incidents in the park’s history.
- Pets are not allowed in thermal areas, on boardwalks, or trails.
- Do not throw objects into hot springs or hydrothermal features, which can disrupt natural processes or cause danger.
- Be alert for toxic gas accumulation; if you feel sick in geyser basins, leave the area immediately.
These guidelines reflect the park’s ongoing effort to protect visitors, as thermal areas pose severe burn hazards due to boiling water just beneath fragile crusts. Visitors must exercise extreme caution and avoid wandering off marked pathways.
Park officials are currently investigating whether the 17-year-old hiker was hiking off the boardwalks at the time of the incident. In the past, many tourists have sustained severe burns by getting too close to thermal features at the park.
Yellowstone National Park, located in Wyoming, is home to numerous geysers, hot springs, and other thermal features. The Lone Star Geyser, where the incident occurred, erupts up to 45 feet (13.7 m) from a 12-foot (3.6 m) cone approximately every three hours.
Park officials urge all visitors to adhere to these safety guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit to Yellowstone National Park. For more information on hot spring safety at Yellowstone, refer to our article on the subject.
- In addition to hiking safety, it's crucial to consider health-and-wellness when planning outdoor activities, such as spending time in fitness-and-exercise when visiting Yellowstone National Park.
- General-news reports often detail accidents related to car-accidents, but it's essential to remember that mental-health also plays a significant role in overall safety, especially when traversing potentially dangerous terrain like thermal areas.
- The incident involving a hiker illustrates proper science and scientific research, as understanding the properties of thermal areas can help us develop better safety guidelines for hot springs, ensuring a safer experience for future visitors.
