Editing Yellowstone National Park (section)

== Recreation ==
{{Main|Trails of Yellowstone National Park|Angling in Yellowstone National Park}}
[[File:Union Pacific Yellowstone National Park Brochure (1921).JPG|thumb|upright|[[Union Pacific Railroad]] brochure promoting travel to the park (1921)]]
Yellowstone ranks among the most popular national parks in the United States. Since the mid-1960s, at least 2 million tourists have visited the park almost every year.<ref name="Visitation">{{cite web |title=Historical Annual Visitation Statistics |website=Yellowstone National Park |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/parkmgmt/historicstats.htm |date=August 10, 2006 |access-date=December 13, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014222808/http://www.nps.gov/yell/parkmgmt/historicstats.htm <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=October 14, 2006 }}</ref> Average annual visitation increased to 3.5&nbsp;million during the ten years from 2007 to 2016, with a record of 4,257,177 recreational visitors in 2016.<ref name="visits">{{NPS visitation |access-date=March 11, 2019 }}</ref> This number was surpassed in 2023 with 4.5 million people visiting the park.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2024 |title=Top 10 most visited national parks |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/article/most-visited-parks-photos |access-date=March 27, 2024 |website=Travel |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327132117/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/article/most-visited-parks-photos |url-status=live }}</ref> July is the busiest month for Yellowstone National Park.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/08/04/yellowstone.visitor.record/index.html |title=Cool Yellowstone becoming hotter vacation spot |publisher=CNN Travel |date=August 4, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806184720/http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/08/04/yellowstone.visitor.record/index.html |archive-date=August 6, 2010 }}</ref> At peak summer levels, 3,700 employees work for Yellowstone National Park concessionaires. Concessionaires manage nine hotels and lodges, with a total of 2,238 hotel rooms and cabins available. They also oversee gas stations, stores, and most of the campgrounds. Another 800 employees work either permanently or seasonally for the National Park Service.<ref name="facts"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dolan |first=Jack |date=2025-01-30 |title=As Trump cuts federal jobs, even national parks are on the chopping block |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-30/national-parks-on-chopping-block-as-trump-cuts-federal-jobs |access-date=2025-02-01 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Tourists Viewing Old Faithful Eruption in 2019.jpg|thumb|Tourists watch [[Old Faithful]] erupt, 2019]]
Park service roads lead to major features; however, road reconstruction has produced temporary road closures. Yellowstone is in the midst of a long-term road reconstruction effort, which is hampered by a short repair season. In the winter, all roads aside from the one which enters from [[Gardiner, Montana]], and extends to [[Cooke City, Montana]], are closed to wheeled vehicles.<ref name="roads">{{cite web |title=Road Construction Delays and Closures |publisher=National Park Service |date=April 9, 2007 |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm |access-date=April 23, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109002403/http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm |archive-date=November 9, 2013 }}</ref> Park roads are closed to wheeled vehicles from early November to mid-April, but some park roads remain closed until mid-May.<ref name="hours">{{cite web |title=Operating Hours & Seasons |publisher=National Park Service |date=April 22, 2007 |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm |access-date=March 21, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915230115/http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm |archive-date=September 15, 2013 }}</ref> The park has {{convert|310|mi|km}} of paved roads which can be accessed from five different entrances.<ref name="facts"/> There is no public transportation available inside the park, but several tour companies can be contacted for guided (including [[Self-guided tour|self-guided]]) motorized transport. In the winter, concessionaires operate guided [[snowmobile]] and [[snow coach]] tours, though their numbers and access are based on quotas established by the National Park Service.<ref name="winter">{{cite web |title=Winter Services in Yellowstone |publisher=National Park Service |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/winterser.htm |access-date=March 21, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109002404/http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/winterser.htm |archive-date=November 9, 2013 }}</ref> Facilities in the Old Faithful, Canyon and Mammoth Hot Springs areas of the park are very busy during the summer months. Traffic jams created by road construction or by people observing wildlife can result in long delays.

Yellowstone National Park provide a range of recreational opportunities, but they also come with inherent risks. From 2007 to 2023, a total of 74 deaths were recorded within the park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deaths in Yellowstone National Park [2024] |url=https://www.becklawyers.com/deaths-in-yellowstone-national-park/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Beck, Amsden & Stalpes |language=en-US}}</ref>  Driving is the leading cause of fatalities, accounting for over 45%, often occurring on roads and highways that traverse Yellowstone's challenging terrain. Water-related activities, including fishing, swimming, and boating on [[Yellowstone Lake]] and the park’s rivers and streams, contribute to 16% of fatalities. Hiking, climbing, and walking make up 38%, with incidents frequently occurring on the [[trails of Yellowstone National Park]] or near [[Geothermal areas of Yellowstone|Yellowstone's geothermal areas]], where conditions can be hazardous.

The National Park Service maintains nine visitor centers and museums and is responsible for the maintenance of historical structures and many of the other 2,000 buildings. These structures include National Historical Landmarks, such as the [[Old Faithful Inn]] built from 1903 to 1904 and the entire Fort Yellowstone – Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District. A historical and educational tour is available at Fort Yellowstone, which details the history of the National Park Service and the development of the park. Campfire programs, guided walks, and other interpretive presentations normally available at numerous locations in the summer, and on a limited basis during other seasons were suspended in 2021 as a response to COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/ranger-programs.htm |title=Ranger Programs |publisher=nps.gov |date=March 2022 |access-date=March 11, 2022 |archive-date=March 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311124236/https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/ranger-programs.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Camping]] is available at a dozen campgrounds with more than 2,000 campsites.<ref name="facts"/> Camping is also available in surrounding National Forests, as well as in Grand Teton National Park to the south. [[Backcountry]] campsites are accessible only by foot or by [[horseback riding|horseback]] and require a permit. There are {{convert|1100|mi|km}} of hiking trails available.<ref name="hikes">{{cite web |title=Hiking in the Park |publisher=National Park Service |date=August 17, 2006 |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hiking.htm |access-date=March 21, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403103759/http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hiking.htm |archive-date=April 3, 2007 }}</ref> The park is not considered to be a good destination for [[mountaineering]] because of the instability of volcanic rock which predominates. Visitors with pets are required to keep them on a leash at all times and are limited to areas near roadways and in "front country" zones such as drive-in campgrounds.<ref name="pets">{{cite web |title=Regulations Regarding Pets |publisher=National Park Service |date=July 12, 2006 |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/pets.htm |access-date=March 21, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923053115/http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/pets.htm |archive-date=September 23, 2013 }}</ref> Around thermal features, wooden and paved trails have been constructed to ensure visitor safety, and most of these areas are handicapped accessible. The National Park Service maintains a year-round clinic at Mammoth Hot Springs and provides emergency services throughout the year.<ref name="safety">{{cite web |title=Information Every Visitor Needs to Know |publisher=National Park Service |date=March 6, 2007 |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/yoursafety.htm |access-date=March 21, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923051039/http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/yoursafety.htm |archive-date=September 23, 2013 }}</ref>

Hunting is not permitted, though it is allowed in the surrounding national forests during the open season. Fishing is a popular activity, and a Yellowstone Park fishing license is required to fish in park waters.<ref name="fishing">{{cite web |title=Fishing in Yellowstone National Park |publisher=National Park Service |date=April 4, 2007 |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fishing.htm |access-date=March 21, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109002421/http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fishing.htm |archive-date=November 9, 2013 }}</ref> Many park waters are [[fly fishing]] only and all native fish species are [[catch and release]] only.<ref name=YNPFishReg>{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/upload/2021-Fishing-Regulations.pdf |title=2021 Yellowstone National Park Fishing Regulations |publisher=nps.gov |date=February 2021 |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-date=March 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305014011/https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/upload/2021-Fishing-Regulations.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Boating is prohibited on rivers and creeks except for a {{convert|5|mi|km}} stretch of the Lewis River between [[Lewis Lake (Wyoming)|Lewis]] and [[Shoshone Lake|Shoshone]] lakes, and it is open to non-motorized use only. Yellowstone Lake has a marina at Bridge Bay while there is a boat ramp at the Lewis lake campground.<ref name="boating">{{cite web |title=Boating in Yellowstone National Park |publisher=National Park Service |date=September 18, 2006 |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/boating.htm |access-date=March 21, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109002402/http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/boating.htm |archive-date=November 9, 2013 }}</ref>
[[File:HPC-000542 (27512551541).jpg|thumb|1958 photo of human-habituated bears seeking food from visitors]]

In the early history of the park, visitors were allowed and sometimes even encouraged to feed the bears. Visitors welcomed the chance to get their pictures taken with the bears, who had learned to beg for food. This led to numerous injuries to humans each year. In 1970, park officials changed their policy and started a vigorous program to educate the public on the dangers of close contact with bears, and to try to eliminate opportunities for bears to find food in campgrounds and trash collection areas. Although it has become more difficult to observe bears in recent years, the number of human injuries and deaths has taken a significant drop and visitors are in less danger.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/archive/yell/yellowstoneindepth/episode3transcript.htm National Park Service] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205092419/http://www.nps.gov/archive/yell/yellowstoneindepth/episode3transcript.htm |date=February 5, 2011 }}</ref> The eighth recorded bear-related death in the park's history occurred in August 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/injuries.htm |title=Bear Inflicted Human Injuries and Fatalities in Yellowstone |publisher=U.S. National Park Service |date=January 5, 2015 |access-date=December 23, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224154249/http://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/injuries.htm |archive-date=December 24, 2015}}</ref>

Other protected lands in the region include [[Caribou-Targhee National Forest|Caribou-Targhee]], [[Gallatin National Forest|Gallatin]], [[Custer National Forest|Custer]], [[Shoshone National Forest|Shoshone]] and [[Bridger-Teton National Forest]]s. The National Park Service's [[John D. Rockefeller,&nbsp;Jr. Memorial Parkway]] is to the south and leads to Grand Teton National Park. The famed [[Beartooth Highway]] provides access from the northeast and has spectacular high-altitude scenery. Nearby communities include [[West Yellowstone, Montana]]; [[Cody, Wyoming]]; [[Red Lodge, Montana]]; [[Ashton, Idaho]]; and [[Gardiner, Montana]]. The closest air transport is available by way of [[Bozeman, Montana]]; [[Billings, Montana]]; [[Jackson, Wyoming|Jackson]]; [[Cody, Wyoming]], or [[Idaho Falls, Idaho]].<ref name="directions">{{cite web |title=Directions |publisher=National Park Service |date=January 4, 2007 |url=http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/directions.htm |access-date=January 4, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923041517/http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/directions.htm |archive-date=September 23, 2013 }}</ref> [[Salt Lake City]], {{convert|320|mi|km}} to the south, is the closest large metropolitan area.