Yellowstone Tourists Have Close Encounter as Grizzly Bear Steps Onto Boardwalk
Visiting a National Park means taking a step into nature that most of us don't see in our day-to-day lives. Sometimes, you get more than you bargained for. This group of tourists at Yellowstone had a surprise visit from a massive grizzly bear who decided to join the group. In this case, everyone was OK, but it's an important reminder to stay on top of bear safety.
The caption gives us the details, "While checking out some thermal features this grizzly bear emerged from the woods. Surprisingly, within minutes, a park ranger drove up and was directing everyone on the board walk to move to the back section as the grizz hopped up and joined us on the boardwalk. Everyone remained calm and watched as he strode past Cliff Geyser just like we had minutes ago."
@meredith100 Insane grizzly encounter yesterday While checking out some thermal features this grizzly bear emerged from the woods. Suprisingly within minutes a park ranger drove up and was directing everyone on the board walk to move to the back section as the grizz hopped up and joined us on the boardwalk. Everyone remained calm and watched as he strode past Cliff Geyser just like we had minutes ago. Luckily the grizz chose the opposite route on the boardwalk, but I still had my bear spray ready to go. It was concerning that I was the only person with bear spray… great first day in the park this summer. #grizzly#yellowstone
original sound - Mer
While it might have been a bit of a nerve-racking experience in the moment, commenters were in awe of the poster. @Scott S6337 joked, "He's strutting around like he owns the place...oh, that's right - he does!" It's their homeland and we just visit it. @theescarletandgray added, "Awesome that it stayed on the boardwalk. Didn't know they could read."
Lastly, @rskaggs30 summed it up perfectly, "That's exactly why we need our rangers in our National Parks." It definitely helps to have a professional around, but what do you do if you spot a bear? Read on to find out.
Related: Huge Bear Helps Himself to Woman's Hummingbird Feeder Like He's at a Buffet
What to Do If You Spot a Grizzly Bear in a Park
Sadly, two hikers were recently injured by a bear in Yellowstone, reminding us to take extra caution when entering these wilder spaces. I once witnessed a black bear and her cub at Glacier National Park, but from inside a car. In those instances (when you are protected by cars or buildings), you can watch the scene safely.
By and large, bears want to avoid us as much as we want to avoid them. It's best to stay out of their way and take steps not to surprise the animals. Being appropriately noisy on the trail with a large group is actually a good thing. That may encourage them to leave you alone.
Once a bear has spotted you, the goal is to convince it that you're a human. Experts from the National Park Service recommend talking to the bear and slowly waving your arms. Do not run, scream, or climb a tree. (The bear that I saw climbed halfway up a large tree in a matter of seconds. Believe me, this will not save you.)
You want to stand your ground and look big, but not threatening. Ideally, the bear will decide to walk away. The National Park Service has this advice, "If the bear is stationary, move away slowly and sideways; this allows you to keep an eye on the bear and avoid tripping. Moving sideways is also non-threatening to bears."
The caption on this video reminds us of another tool: bear spray. Bring that with you in situations where you might encounter a grizzly and learn how to use it safely in advance.
These types of bear encounters serve to remind us that Yellowstone and other parks belong to the wilderness and we're the visitors.
SIGN UP to get "pawsitivity" delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM.