Yellowstone Closed due to Flood: First hand account from inside the park 

Mother Nature has never needed humans but we certainly need her, something most people will never understand.

Thanks to those who have noted that the flooding occurred in 2022, not 2020. Chalk it up to a slip of the lip. Welcome to all! And thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences in the comments! We read all comments, and love getting your feedback. Please note that we work very hard to ensure our channel is family friendly. Whatever your thoughts, please keep them respectful and substance-based. Vulgarity and insults may lead to your comment being deleted. If you’re hungry for more Yellowstone, we invite you to check out our Yellowstone National Park playlist. Guaranteed to be some of the best Yellowstone content you’ll find online. Link: ru-vid.com/group/PLdRPR_VkYdYWGNfj59uOJKMNwWn2cdU2N

The environment is not, never has been, and never will be static. It will always be undergoing change. We as humans just need to adapt. I love Yellowstone. My wife and I spent two weeks there last summer. We had been there before and hopefully we will be able to return again one of these days. IMHO people have been lulled into a false sense of security. In an ill advised attempt to "Child Proof" the world, people have come to think the wild areas are not much different than Disney. As noted in your video, nature is beautiful. But it is also very deadly. Long ago this was understood. Now you get foolish people going up to a Bison to take a photo with it. Then they are surprised when something bad happens and look for someone to blame. Very Sad!

Natural disasters aren't disasters in earths timeline. They're disasters when man made structures are destroyed or we're inconvenienced when we can't visit the park.

Truly the best video I've seen about this situation in Yellowstone this year. As a local Wyomingnite I'm very pleased to you tell the truth of what is doing on in Yellowstone right now. I really appreciate your care about us local residents going through the devastating situation. So many communities and neighboring states are being affected by the flooding. Nobody has even mentioned it. We love tourists but the park and our families and businesses have been destroyed. We need time and patience to rebuild what has been lost. So many of these businesses who serve the tourists need time to rebuild. That doesn't happen overnight. Not only the rain but the snow we got on Memorial day weekend and higher temperatures have caused flooding and landslides. Unfortunately there's going to be more run off with higher temperatures starting today. I'm truly sorry for all the people who planned on seeing Yellowstone this summer. As this guy said there's many other places to go see this summer. Yellowstone and surrounding areas will be here next year and the years to come. It's going to be awhile for the Park gets back running again. Enjoy all the other national parks and come back next year. Towns businesses and homes have been destroyed. There's no stopping mother nature. Well done video!

For those whose plans were upended, I highly recommend Custer State Park in South Dakota, it's almost a mini Yellowstone.

Last year I returned to Yellowstone for the first time in 40 years. The first trip I ever took was with my dad in 1981 when I was 21. In 2021 at the age of 61, I made the trip with my 29 year old daughter to reprise the trip I took with my Dad 40 years before. We drove 7k miles and visited 6 NPs, 5 state parks and 2 national monuments. I'm so happy we were able to see Yellowstone together before this natural disaster. It is a magnificent place. Praying for the restoration of this national treasure and for those who call Yellowstone their home.

Yellowstone will come out of this just fine. People also thought it was forever destroyed during the wildfire 30 years ago.

Don't expect much from FJB to help out on this one.

I grew up in Livingston. I was fortunate enough to have a Dad who loved the Park so we went there often. I took my little boys there, worked at the snow lodge at 17. I love it. This flooding went on down river past Billings. It was just the perfect combination of snow melt, and rain. Nothing ppl can do or not do would have prevented it.

I'm 40 years old and finally got to visit Yellowstone for the first time on June 10th. June 10th was beautiful, June 11th was more rainy, but still gorgeous and we took the southern route out of the park to Jackson, Wyoming on the 11th, not knowing that not long after the entire park would be closed due to the record flooding. We were so fortunate to be able to have a couple of days in the park before it closed. I feel so bad for those that have upcoming trips planned. Hopefully at least some of the park reopens soon.

Humans: crazy devastation! Eagle: no biggie.. Deer: no biggie.. Bear: no biggie.. Human: OMG! Sky is falling because our crappy road we built IN the river channel got damaged.. 😭

I've visited the park since i was 12 and am now in my 60's. Ive never gotten pictures of the wildlife as good as yours. So sad the park is closed. Love your video and your comments. Well said!

This is so sad I was there as an employee in the mammoth area absolutely gorgeous loved every second of it but we all got evacuated and my happy place is underwater 😥

Dude, the only inconvenience experienced during the flood was the encroachment of human beings. The animals seemed to have moved away from the elements. The natural elements. Not man made elements.

Thanks for the video and your wonderful perspective. I've also enjoyed cycling all the roads in the Park, as well as Nordic skiing many of the locations in winter. Those methods of travel, in addition to backpacking trails like the Thoroughfare trail in 1977, have given me a respect for the sights, feelings, smells, and sounds of this jewel. I hope successive generations can experience the awesomeness that is Yellowstone.

That weekend increased snowpack substantially in the area and also helped to end a regional drought. It has also been a cooler than normal spring with lots of precipitation. Just so happened you had one hot day followed by a cooler low pressure system.

Thanks for the video. We had to cancel our trip that was supposed to start next week. I worked in the park in the summers of 91, 92, and 1993 - some of the best summers of my life. I love Yellowstone and hope it can be restored.

Thanks so much for the lecture, I needed that.

Thr number of people crowding our parks is disgusting. I grew up in the shadows of Yellowstone. People are ruining it. I can't even go back.

Wow great job. Love all the footage, you captured the park so well. Hey keep displaying nature like this! We weren’t in MT during the flood, had to make due with lots of phone calls to friends and watching news. 🙏🏻

Just drove out of the park on June 11th after spending 7 great days. Stayed in one of the park cabins. Loved everything. I feel bad for the situation.

Great video and commentary. Thank you 😊

Thank you, Mike! That was a wonderful video with a great message! Kudos, my Friend!

Take care and stay safe. Sending Hawaiian sunshine and prayers to the Yellowstone Park and it’s community. ☀️🌈🙏

Just because you witnessed an event that happens all the time (in geologic time) doesn't mean global warming. Watch a Tony Heller video .

My Mom use to say "If you don't like the weather.... Wait a minute.... It will change !!!" Thank you for the video !!!

Great video Mike!! Thank you for sharing it!!!

Thank you for sharing your post. My family and I have seen the news coverage of this devastating event but your post brings a different spin to it. It brings a personal story to it. As recent visitors to this beautiful park we send our prayers for those personally impacted and well wishes for those who have the long task of putting the pieces back together.

Yellowstone river use to expanded every year till 2001 when drought started to come in . That building was way to close to the river bed . As for the roads washing out . It was due to land so dry the impacted by this high amount water so suddenly . Also it's been drying out do to the volcano Activity. Thank you for the report .

Thank you so much for the video!

It's a beautiful thing, without the floods the park would never exist in the first place.

I think they closed the park in 1988 due to the fires which was 34 years ago. That summer in Montana was nothing but choking smoke. The catastrophe before that was the earthquake in 1959 (we felt it in Missoula) that killed over 20 campers when a mountain slide covered their campground and formed Quake Lake.

Just heartbreaking. On my bucket list, and for now, I’ll have to work around it. And will hope and pray for better days for Yellowstone x

Thanks for clearing up the date, I had not heard of a flooding event in 2020. Excellent footage thanks for posting.

Thank you for the video 👍🏼❣️

Like you said once in 1000 year event. Weather and climate change happens.

Thank you, thank you! Having lived in Billings for nearly 20 years, we have made many, many trips to Yellowstone and the surrounding areas. I watched this aghast with my hand over my mouth almost the whole time. I finally see why the park is mostly closed now. I'm just imagining what must have become of our favorite campground (Pebble Creek), how things look at Fishing Bridge and I was stunned to see your shot of the Old Faithful area. Our usual route took us over Beartooth Pass (I'm sure you've done that one) where we were snowed on on the 4th of July. Now that is a pass that will pucker almost anyone but very beautiful too. I can barely put into words how heartbreaking this is, however - we were living there in 1988 when nearly all of the park was on fire all summer long. We breathed the smoke from it all summer long and were sure it was devastated however, most of it has come back to some degree. There were areas in there that burned so hot that even 10 years later not a thing was growing. What I want to say is that nature heals itself (given a chance). I hope we give it a chance - and I hope it gives us one.

Also…. Love the video man. Great updates.

AMAZING VIDEO bro - 100%quality watch, thank you

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It echoes mine as well. We must respect nature and should not be taking it for granted.

Excellent, excellent video diary. Your video reminded me of the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia, Canada. It too suffered catastrophic flooding with multiple washouts in November. Took nearly two months for the highway to reopen to all traffic. Now the same with the northern entrance. Both are economic lifelines to the communities that line the roadways. There is hope on the horizon. Take it one day at a time. Humanity will prevail. Thanks for the video update. Yellowstone is on my bucket list to visit one day.

Wonderful video! Thank you!!!

We were in Yellowstone June 2-4th. You're right about the weather, 4 seasons in one day, it's crazy.

This video contains an excellent message to all. It is about our responsibility to our parks and the respect we should have in caring for these precious lands. It is also about how unpredictable nature is. Thank you for the time and thoughtfulness in creating and sharing this video with all of us. You have accomplished a great thing!!

Were some of the driving shots taken on the new Dunraven Pass road? We go out every year, and can't wait to get back on that road. It's our favorite part of the park.

Well said. Thank you for your video & astute observations.

Thank You for posting.

I've spent my life, 58 yrs, in ur parks & caring for ur planet. I was so extremely fortunate being raised by progressive naturalist. As children we carried garbage bags to cleanup everywhere we went. Today when I go on my backpack trips & adventures w my dogs there's so many garbage I can't pack it all out. Dogs have full bags hanging from their packs. I have full bags hanging from mine & that might b halfway thru a 3 day hike! I've spent 2 days cleaning up a campsite! I've always believed these land belong to all of us to enjoy & explore. The housing crisis of '08 started changing my mind as homeless moved to public lands. (Not getting down in homeless) I moved from the beautiful PacNW 12 yrs ago & now live in a National Park in AR. 2020 hit & people hit the parks bringing their garbage w them. On a pack trip to Colorado I watched a man throw out his 5 gal bucket of urine & fecal matter 5' from his truck towards the river about 10' away! I kept thinking how many days do I have to hike to get away... Needless to say I no longer believe ur lands r for everyone. The #1 first basic rule is pack out what u pack in #2 rule dog 6-8" hole for your poop! Including ur dogs. #3 vegetation is to look out not pick, dog up, or cut down #4 gather down wood for fires ONLY where permitted In WA there r several amazing hikes that u now have to register for & has couple years waiting list all because we humans r destructive slobs who only care about themselves.

While I'm very saddened to see the devastation in the park, this video has a very important and powerful message. Thank you!

THANK YOU for this eyewitness coverage of Yellowstone…!! ❤️❤️👣

Mike nice job on your video, thanks 😊

HEARTBREAKING!! We were there in 2012. Just drove through after visiting northern Idaho, where my Mom was born, on our way home to Texas. We went into Yellowstone via the Northern Entrance, after spending the night in Livingston. It was an AMAZING trip & I'd LOVE to return to spend some time there & see more of it, but I'm SOOOO GLAD I got to see what I did in that 1 SPECIAL DAY!!! Hoping that the Motel we stayed at in Livingston, and the family that owned it, are all OK!!!

We left the park June 4 after being there for three weeks this was one of my bucket list trips from my wife and I we saw some amazing stuff and a sad to see what has become of it yeah hearts go out to all the park people and people caught up in this mess

Terrific video, and fabulous pictures!!

Very well done video and commentary.

I’ve driven all the roads in Yellowstone park a couple of times with my kids. It’s shocking to see what’s happening there and I feel bad for the towns in that area that depend on the visitors.

Excellent footage and dialog. One thing for sure mother nature is a powerful force. Unpredictable and changes come and go. We have only been recording these changes for a footnote in history. For millions of years these changes have occurred with no data to prove what is normal weather patterns and what is not.

Great presentation! Thank you

Thank you for a well done report and evaluation.

great video, thank you for posting. I was at Zion last year right before their big flood. Missed it by a week. Love your analogy of rain drops and power in numbers.

Be kind to the land; be kind to one another.

Excellent video! Thanks!

First time listening! Presentation was great!

great video, lots of good info and scenes/ great message about caring for our planet... /amazing you were out there while the rains were coming down, thanks for sharing the experience.

I was there in 2019. Remarkable video! Loved your message at the close, the raindrop analogy is spot on. Thanks for sharing.

First time here and I love your video! Your dashcam is so nice! What kind/brand of dashcam to you have? I have one but the video quality is horrible.

Well said. Awesome video and commentary. Thank you.

I think it is pretentious to think that we have the ability to controll weather. And while your video is interesting and your title caused me to have curiosity to see what was actually happening I did not enjoy your lecture. while interested on the visual content I stopped the video when the lecture started. I am glad you and your family and those guarding the national park were able to help everyone and no lives were hurt or lost. Stay safe and I hope you and everyone else will be able to return shortly.

Great footage. I’d say not only is Mother Nature fed up but if you overlay maps of underground tunnels in the US you’ll see there’s something else going on here than just a ‘natural disaster.’

Beautiful. Thank you for this upload and information. xoxoxo

Thank you for this remarkable video and your commentary.

Hidi 🤗 just meandering along the trails and your channel came up in the top of my feed, great thoughts 🤔 about stewardship of our forest. Yet I can't agree with the causes of such worldwide weather events. I see them as effects from weather modification strike against humanity, geo engineering. Over the years of intriguing information given in this horrible mutilation of of so called natural weather conditions. It's plain to see the atrocities against humanity. And now more than 90 food related industrial production and warehousing facilities have been destroyed if not permanently closed. Leaves one to think 🤔 about this controlled collapse of economys through our our world stage. Just thoughts 🤔 about our condition. PS May Father guide you in all things so be it praise unto YESHUA Amen 🤗😺🍿💕

We were in Yellowstone when the bear killed and feasted on the elk in your video. It's sad to see that it's closed right now.

Awesome presentation; and your message IS Glorious. Mahalo w/Aloha!!!

Very Well Done!! Thx.

This was great until you tried blaming humans fir a natural flood.

Why is the Pacific Northwest so cold this spring if its so hot in that area? We can't even grow spring crops because of the cold.

Great aspirational essay and account of your experience. Thank you so much for sharing!

Great documentation!!👏

Thanks for the video. We had just left the area on 6/10 and I couldn't wrap my head around what had happened in such a short period of time. I knew it was rain and melting snow, but your video and explanation were helpful. And it was nice seeing some of the sample places we had just been. It was our first time and I'm still in awe of the place. We spent some time in Grand Tetons as well (we stayed in Headwaters/Flagg ranch between the two, so we were mostly in the south) and we noticed that the lakes were low at Colter Bay and surrounding areas just before this flooding up in Yellowstone. Did this weather affect those areas at all? I wonder if the lakes are doing any better. I really appreciate the animal shots. One thing we didn't get to see was bears. It amazes me how so many people are so resistant to even considering that humans might be playing a role in this. What does a person have to lose by just trying to make a difference ... just in case the scientists are right? Is being right, saving face, or backing a political party really worth the risk? I'll never understand why it's impossible to convince some people that we can and should do better.

Sleepy Joe should have the Army Corp of Engineers working yesterday, wake him please.

Thanks for sharing! 🙏

Superb message at the end and you make a great guide to understanding the variability and vulnerability of the precious, wild world.

Yellowstone is an amazing place. Being a Wyoming native I am proud to have part of it here in my home state, however I feel that the population of people allowed to travel through the park needs to be cut down, the traffic in and around the area is as congested as the worst rush hour in America, not to mention the CRAZY out of staters that think that taking a selfie with an Elk or petting the fluffy cows is a great idea, there was even a couple who put a baby bison in the back of their Subaru because they said it was too cold for it... Although this park has been around for many years it is still a place of wild and should be kept as such. Less people, less politics, less big business and lower costs in the park would go a long long way to help secure the verity FIRST national park in the USA.

We're in year 2 of an El Nino brought on by extraordinary solar activity. This is not a man-made event, contrary to the somewhat popular belief that changes in weather are caused by mankind's behavior. Weather changes and has done so since the origins of the planet and long before man's entrance into it's existence. The reason for weather change is easy to see. Just look up in the sky on a bright sunny day and you'll see this huge radiating orb that gives and takes life here on our planet. Don't be fooled by charlatans who have cooked up a scheme to enrich themselves with fable about greenhouse gas emissions, etc. They just want your money.

Thanks for your video and your recognition to our part in whats happening.

Mike, thank you for your excellent video and thoughtful narration. You reminded me why I love this special place.

Wise words! Thanks!

How come there were such high temperatures when Oregon has unusually cold temperatures? Especially towards the coast.

Thank you for this great and impressive video. I like the images as well as your text.

Thanks for this video.

Climate change is the polarizing issue that will not unite us. So what person freedoms do we give up in the name of carbon emissions? I’d say there are numerous human activities that could be addressed and issues resolved without polarization. How do we get China and India to comply? Answer, we never will.

Thanks for sharing ' we all care about Mother Earth ' Native American has always loved their land , respected every animals etc.. talk about climate control that is a your typical man has created all the damaged for $$$$$$$$ and now look what has happen , Own Government , state and Local officials is the human climate Control -including black hills , Yellowstone , Big Hole Battlefield , Bryce Canyon , Sedona park , Devils Tower , Gila Cliffs Dwelling etc .. and hundreds more scared to Native American People as I am . that is The Plain Truth. Earth has always been self cooling , warming for thousands of Years.

Great job on video & info, Thanks 👍😎🇺🇸

I am so sorry to hear about the damage caused in Yellowstone. I agree with you so much. Our parks and gardens are so important. Where I live in the UK, many people are getting rid of their gardens and replacing them with paving or gravel beds. In fact out of 20 houses in my close, there are only 3 gardens left. And the result of all this concrete, gravel and tarmac is that in the last couple of days during a heatwave, temperatures reached 98f when the weather reports were giving lower temperature readings. By the way, I have one of the 3 gardens.

Great video until you went eco what do you think happens at the end of an ice age.

well whadda you know, nature being nature, how strange just shows that God is most definitely in charge

Thank you for the video

Mother nature was just showing who is in charge!