Yellowstone National Park close river and streams for fishing from 2 pm to sunrise

Yellowstone National Park: Tourism rebounding after extreme weather events

Yellowstone National Park is a diverse land bordering three states. In the age of social media, getting a chance to see the park's famous bison, moose or bears is a highly desirable experience for the millions of tourists who travel there. But recent extreme weather events like flooding kept the tourists away, now the months ahead look bright as we look at the challenges the park has faced and what lies ahead. FOX Weather’s Robert Ray reports.

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. – As scorching summer temperatures continue to rise across the U.S., some national parks have taken extra precautions as experts observe the effects of the heat.

A significant heat wave is expected to develop across the West starting Friday and through next week, prompting officials at the National Park Service (NPS) to try to beat the heat by imposing restrictions at Yellowstone National Park.

Excessive heat watches have been issued across Idaho, North Dakota, Utah, Colorado and Montana.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING - AUGUST 29: A man fly fishes in the Madison River on August 29, 2024 in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Department of the Interior's National Park Service reported in August that tourism spending in communities near national parks in 2023 resulted in a record spending of a $55.6 billion benefit to the nation's economy and supported 415,400 jobs. (Natalie Behring / Getty Images)

As a result of the heat trend, officials at Yellowstone National Park have decided to close select rivers and streams for fishing daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise the following day due to the warm water temperatures and low river flows.

According to the NPS, water temperatures in select rivers and streams have exceeded 68 degrees in recent days, with hotter days on the way, which could affect already below-average river flows.

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"These conditions are lethal to trout, and the closure will protect the park’s native and wild trout fisheries and will remain in effect until conditions improve," said the NPS.

According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, trout thrive in cool, clean, well-oxygenated water below 68 degrees.

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LIVINGSTON, MONTANA - JULY 31: A wooden drift boat used for fly fishing sits at the Pine Creek take out on July 31, 2023 on the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley near Livingston, Montana. (David Madison / Getty Images)

During the summer, when water levels and flows decrease due to heat and a lack of rainfall, water temperatures rise and dissolved oxygen levels decrease, which adds additional stress on trout.

Although this is a temporary restriction, there is no time frame for when it will be lifted.

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Fishing: Closeup of Trout set to bite line with grasshopper fly on the Yellowstone River. (David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated / Getty Images)

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Which rivers and streams will be closed daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise the following day?

The Madison River and all associated tributaries.
The Firehole River and all associated tributaries.
The Gibbon River and all associated tributaries downstream of Norris Campground.