Glacier & Yellowstone NPS Safety Disclaimer

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Bear country — carry bear spray. Both Glacier and Yellowstone have active grizzly and black bear populations throughout all seasons. Bear encounters can be fatal. PeakScout displays bear activity information from NPS alerts and reports, but cannot predict encounter risk for any specific trail or time. Carry EPA-registered bear spray, know how to use it, and keep it accessible at all times.

📡 1. NPS Data Sourcing & Accuracy Limitations

PeakScout aggregates Glacier and Yellowstone National Park data from:

NPS Developer API — Park alerts, news releases, visitor center hours, and campground status. Data is fetched every 30 minutes and cached. Alerts published between cache cycles will not appear until the next fetch.
NPS Alerts feed — Emergency closures, trail closures, fire incidents, flooding, and other hazards are transmitted via the NPS alerts API. PeakScout displays active alerts with the NPS-reported modification timestamp — not the PeakScout fetch time.
Rec.gov campground data — Campsite availability for NPS campgrounds is polled via the Recreation.gov API. Availability status reflects the API's last response, not real-time occupancy.

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For life-safety conditions, always verify with NPS directly. Wildfire evacuations, road closures for emergency operations, and bear closures on specific trails are issued faster than any third-party aggregation can relay them. Check Glacier Conditions and Yellowstone Conditions directly before travel.

🎫 2. Timed Entry & Permit System Accuracy

Glacier National Park and other NPS units operate timed entry permit systems for peak-season vehicle access. PeakScout displays timed entry status and general permit window information for enrolled facilities.

Annual setup varies: NPS announces timed entry requirements, dates, and lottery windows annually, typically in winter-spring. The system, pricing, and entry windows can change from year to year. PeakScout's permit data reflects the information available at our last update — verify current-year requirements directly at recreation.gov.
Availability is not real-time: PeakScout polls permit availability at the facility level based on the lookahead days configured per facility. Available permits shown in PeakScout may sell out between our poll interval and your visit to recreation.gov.
Permit type distinctions: Glacier uses separate timed entry permits for the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor (vehicle-based) vs. specific trailhead access. Both types may apply simultaneously. PeakScout summarizes but may not display every permit type required for your specific itinerary.
Exemptions and walk-up quotas: Some access points have limited walk-up/day-of permits not visible in advance systems. PeakScout does not track walk-up quota availability.

Never drive to Glacier assuming a timed entry permit is available. Obtain your permit at recreation.gov before departing.

🛣️ 3. Going-to-the-Sun Road Condition Caveats

Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) is one of the most avalanche-prone and weather-sensitive roads in the National Park System. PeakScout displays GTSR status from NPS alerts and the Glacier NPS road status feed.

Seasonal opening date varies by year: GTSR opens when snowpack allows — typically mid-June through mid-July, but this has ranged from late May to mid-July in recent years. The opening date published by NPS in spring is a target, not a guarantee.
Vehicle restrictions: Vehicles over 21 feet in length are restricted from the Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Creek and the Sun Point parking area. Trailers are not permitted from Avalanche Creek to St. Mary. PeakScout does not replicate all vehicle size restriction details.
Avalanche control operations: GTSR is periodically closed for avalanche blasting operations during clearing season. These closures can happen same-day or overnight without advance notice visible in our data feed.
Weather-related closures: High winds, lightning, and ice can close GTSR at the summit (Logan Pass) at any time of year. NPS rangers have authority to close segments at their discretion.

Current GTSR status: nps.gov/glac — Going-to-the-Sun Road

🐻 4. Bear Country Safety Requirements

Both Glacier and Yellowstone are active grizzly bear and black bear habitat. Bear incidents occur every season despite extensive management. PeakScout displays bear activity information from NPS alerts only — this is not a comprehensive record of recent bear activity in any specific area.

🐻 Required Bear Safety Practices in Both Parks

Carry EPA-registered bear spray and keep it accessible (not in your pack — on your hip or chest strap). Know how to deploy it before you need it.
Hike in groups of three or more — NPS data shows most bear attacks in grizzly habitat involve parties of 1-2 people.
Make noise on the trail — Call out, clap, or use a bear bell on blind corners and in thick brush.
Never approach bears — Minimum safe distance is 100 yards for bears and wolves; 25 yards for all other wildlife. Use binoculars and telephoto lenses.
Store food and scented items in bear boxes or canisters — Both parks require hard-sided bear-resistant containers for overnight camping. Bear canisters are required in certain Glacier backcountry zones.
If charged by a grizzly: Deploy bear spray when within 60 feet. If physical contact occurs, play dead — protect your neck and vital organs. Do not run.
If charged by a black bear: Do not play dead. Fight back aggressively — black bears respond differently to submission than grizzlies.

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PeakScout bear activity data is informational only. NPS alerts about bear closures or activity reflect reported incidents — not a continuous real-time sensor network. Bears move continuously. A trail that was bear-closure-free when PeakScout last fetched NPS alerts may have an active closure by the time you arrive. Always check the physical trailhead closure signs and ranger station postings at the park.

🌋 5. Yellowstone Hydrothermal & Geologic Hazards

Yellowstone National Park sits atop one of the world's most active volcanic systems. The following hazards exist throughout the park and are not fully captured in any data aggregation platform:

Hydrothermal features: Geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles can be lethally hot (above 200°F/93°C). Ground surfaces in thermal areas may be unstable — thin crusts can collapse without warning. Stay on designated boardwalks at all times in thermal areas.
New hydrothermal features: New hot springs and geysers can emerge rapidly in previously stable areas. PeakScout does not track new thermal feature emergence.
Seismic activity: Yellowstone experiences frequent small earthquakes. Major seismic events can affect trail stability, geyser activity, and road conditions. PeakScout does not display seismic alerts for Yellowstone.
Off-boardwalk injuries: The majority of thermal injury fatalities at Yellowstone occur when visitors leave designated boardwalks. There is no safe hydrothermal area off-trail at Yellowstone — treat all ground in thermal basins as potentially unstable.

Current hydrothermal and geologic conditions: nps.gov/yell — Safety

⚖️ 6. Applicable Law & NPS Regulations

Federal Recreation Use — 36 CFR Part 2 (NPS Regulations)

Use of National Park lands is governed by 36 CFR Part 2 (Resource Protection, Public Use, and Recreation) and park-specific superintendent orders. Violations of NPS regulations — including off-boardwalk travel in thermal areas, approaching wildlife within minimum distances, and entering closed areas — are federal misdemeanor offenses subject to fines and arrest.

PeakScout does not replicate all applicable NPS regulations, superintendent closure orders, or special use restrictions. You are responsible for knowing and complying with all NPS rules applicable to your activities in each park.

Montana Recreation Responsibility Act — MCA § 27-1-736

MCA § 27-1-736 limits landowner liability (including the State of Montana) for inherent risks of recreational activities. Glacier National Park is federal land — NPS is the land manager, not the State of Montana — but the inherent risk doctrine applies analogously under federal recreational use framework. The United States' sovereign immunity limits personal injury claims against the federal government for inherent recreational risks on federal lands.

Endangered Species — Grizzly Bear ESA Status

The grizzly bear is listed as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (Glacier). Harassing, harming, pursuing, or killing a grizzly bear — except in defense of human life — carries severe federal penalties. Self-defense bear spray use is a recognized legal exception; intentional killing requires post-incident reporting to USFWS.

Acknowledge & Continue

Type your full legal name to confirm you have read and understood the Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park safety and data accuracy disclaimer above.

I understand Glacier and Yellowstone are active grizzly and black bear habitat and will carry bear spray.
Timed entry permit data may not reflect real-time availability — I will obtain permits at recreation.gov before departing.
Going-to-the-Sun Road can close without advance notice; I will verify current status at nps.gov/glac before travel.
NPS alert data is cached up to 30 minutes — I will check physical trailhead signs and ranger postings on arrival.
I will stay on designated boardwalks in all Yellowstone hydrothermal areas at all times.
I will comply with all applicable 36 CFR Part 2 NPS regulations and superintendent orders.

Your full legal name

Must match a government-issued ID.

Glacier & Yellowstone National Park Safety Disclaimer