Are Campfires Allowed in Yellowstone?

Sitting around a campfire at night is one of the most wonderful experiences to have while camping. So, of course it is obvious to ask before a trip – are campfires allowed in Yellowstone? In short, yes campfires are allowed in Yellowstone National Park. However, campfires in Yellowstone are restricted to specific areas of the… Read More »

Rules & Regulations

The following rules and regulations have been sorted by subject for your convenience. This section does not attempt to duplicate the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) so it should not be regarded as a comprehensive list of regulations. It will, however, answer many of the most common questions regarding park rules. The Superintendent’s Orders (Compendium)… Read More »

Resource Management

Yellowstone’s unique geological and biological resources inspired its creation as the world’s first national park in 1872. The National Park Service is legally responsible for preserving, unimpaired, the park’s natural and cultural resources and values for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Yellowstone Center for Resources (YCR) works to fulfill… Read More »

Park Maintenance

Yellowstone’s facilities and infrastructure are distributed across seven districts that are geographically separated over its 2.2 million acres. The Park’s Maintenance staff oversee the daily operation of campgrounds, buildings, restroom facilities, grounds, roads, trails, transportation systems, and utilities. YNP Maintenance Division Org Chart The Park’s Maintenance Division is headed by a Chief, who has a… Read More »

Medical Services

The World’s First National Park Medical Services LifeFlight on the pad behind Lake Clinic There are three medical clinics located within Yellowstone National Park, each operated by the park’s primary medical contractor, Medcor. The clinics are open to the general public, NPS employees, and concessionaire staff.   Each clinic provides basic medical care, including stabilization of… Read More »

Law Enforcement

Law enforcement within Yellowstone is provided by a compliment of rangers.  The Chief Ranger is based at park headquarters in Mammoth, and has several components of park operations that report to him/her. Officially, the Chief Ranger is the head of the Resource and Visitor Protection Branch.  Two Deputy Chief Rangers work for the Chief, one… Read More »

Fire Protection

Fire protection within Yellowstone falls into two broad categories: Structural fire protection, provided just as with any fire department in any other city, and wildland fire protection, or the management and suppression of fires that occur in the undeveloped, wild areas of the park. Structural Fire Suppression The structural fire protection system in Yellowstone is… Read More »