A hiker in Yellowstone National Park suffered severe burns on Monday while hiking off-trail near Old Faithful geyser.
A 60-year-old woman from Windsor, New Hampshire, reportedly suffered second- and third-degree burns to her lower leg while walking in a thermal area near Mallard Lake Trailhead, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office.
The woman was walking off-trail with her husband and leashed dog in a thermal area when she broke through a thin crust that had formed over scalding water. She suffered burns to her leg. The husband and dog were not injured, according to the National Park Service.
The woman and her husband went to a park medical clinic where they were evaluated. The patient was later transported via helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for further treatment.
This is the first known serious thermal injury in Yellowstone in 2024, and the incident is under investigation. The woman’s name was not released.
Park officials remind visitors to stay on boardwalks and trails in hydrothermal areas, and exercise extreme caution. The ground in these areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface. Pets, even when leashed, are prohibited on Yellowstone’s boardwalks, hiking trails, in the backcountry and in thermal areas.
Learn more about safety in thermal areas at the park’s website.
