A 17-year-old boy suffered significant burns to his foot and ankle Monday morning after breaking through the thin ground crust in a thermal area near Lone Star Geyser, not far from Old Faithful.
According to Yellowstone National Park officials, the juvenile was hiking in the area when his foot broke through the fragile surface and was submerged in the scalding hot water beneath. Emergency medical staff quickly responded and transported him to a hospital for further treatment. The incident remains under investigation, and no further details have been released.
This marks the first reported thermal injury in Yellowstone in 2025. The most recent previous case occurred in September 2024.
Park officials are reminding visitors to exercise extreme caution in thermal areas, where hot springs and geysers present hidden dangers. The crust around thermal features can be thin and easily breakable, with near-boiling water lying just below the surface.
“Boardwalks and trails protect you and delicate thermal formations,” park officials stated. “Water in hot springs can cause severe or fatal burns.”
Yellowstone regulations strictly prohibit leaving designated paths, swimming or soaking in hot springs, or bringing pets into thermal areas. The park reports that more than 20 people have died from burns sustained after entering or falling into hot springs.
Visitors are also advised to keep children close, avoid touching thermal runoff, and leave the area immediately if they begin to feel sick, as toxic gases sometimes accumulate near geyser basins.
