A 17-year-old boy sustained “significant” burns to his foot and ankle after breaking through a fragile thermal crust while hiking in Yellowstone National Park, officials confirmed.
The National Park Service (NPS) said the incident occurred on the morning of Monday, July 28, near the Lone Star Geyser, not far from the popular Old Faithful area. According to a park statement, the teen was walking through a thermal area when his foot punched through the thin surface, exposing him to scalding water beneath.
Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene and transported the teen to a hospital for further medical care. His current condition has not been released. The incident remains under investigation, and no additional details have been made public.
This marks the first known thermal injury reported in Yellowstone in 2025. The last such case occurred in September 2024, when a 60-year-old woman from New Hampshire suffered second- and third-degree burns to her leg after stepping off a designated path. She was walking with her husband and dog when she also broke through a thin crust in a thermal area.
Park officials are urging visitors to remain cautious when exploring Yellowstone’s geothermal zones. “Water in hot springs can cause severe or fatal burns, and scalding water often lies just beneath the surface of what may appear to be solid ground,” the NPS warned in its release.
To reduce the risk of injury, the park emphasizes staying on boardwalks and marked trails, avoiding contact with thermal runoff, and never throwing items into hot springs. Swimming or bathing in thermal waters is strictly prohibited, and pets are not allowed in thermal zones.
The Lone Star Geyser, near where the incident occurred, erupts roughly every three hours, shooting water up to 45 feet into the air. The trail to the geyser typically takes two to three hours to complete.
Park officials say they hope the incident serves as a reminder of the real dangers that exist in Yellowstone’s geothermal landscapes.
