Teen Suffers Severe Burns After Breaking Through Thermal Crust Near Yellowstone’s Lone Star Geyser
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A 17-year-old boy was seriously injured Monday morning while hiking near the Lone Star Geyser in Yellowstone National Park. According to a park news release, the teen suffered “significant” burns to his foot and ankle after breaking through a thin surface crust in a thermal area.
Park officials said emergency medical crews quickly responded and transported the teen to a nearby hospital for treatment. The injured hiker has not been identified, and the incident remains under investigation.
“The juvenile was on a hike in the thermal area when his foot broke through the thin crust and he suffered burns to a lower extremity,” the release stated.
Hazards in Yellowstone’s Thermal Areas
Yellowstone is home to more than 10,000 hydrothermal features, including geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles. The ground around these features can be extremely unstable, with thin crust hiding near-boiling water just below the surface.
Park officials regularly warn visitors to stay on boardwalks and marked trails when exploring thermal areas. Serious injuries and fatalities have occurred when people venture too close to thermal features or step off designated paths.
Look, Don't Touch
Here are some tips to stay safe in Yellowstone, per the National Park Service:
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- Always walk on boardwalks and designated trails. Keep children close and do not let them run on boardwalks.
- Do not touch thermal features or runoff.
- Swimming or soaking in hot springs is prohibited. More than 20 people have died from burns suffered after they entered or fell into Yellowstone’s hot springs.
- Pets are prohibited in thermal areas.
- Do not throw objects into hot springs or other hydrothermal features.
- Toxic gases may accumulate to dangerous levels in some hydrothermal areas. If you begin to feel sick while exploring one of our geyser basins, leave the area immediately.
Thermal Yellowstone
This is the first known thermal injury in Yellowstone for 2025. The last reported thermal incident happened last September, when a woman broke through the crust and suffered second and third degree burns. She was out walking her dog.
Visitors are urged to follow posted warnings and stay on trails and boardwalks at all times. Yellowstone’s beauty is awe-inspiring—but its geothermal areas can be deadly for those who don’t respect the rules.
As a rule of thumb, stay on the paths at Yellowstone. And don't touch the cuddly bison.
