Can I Smoke in Yellowstone?

Smoking is permitted only in designated areas in Yellowstone National Park.

Permitted: Smoking inside vehicles, on sidewalks, in gravel or paved parking areas, in developed campgrounds and immediately adjacent to backcountry fire rings.

Strictly Forbidden: Smoking within 25 feet of entrances to all public buildings, visitor centers, and ranger stations. In addition, smoking is not allowed on trails and in thermal areas.

Litter of all types is a problem, but cigarette butts can become especially numerous if smoking is allowed in natural areas.

Smoking also is a fire hazard. The great fire of 1988, the largest in Yellowstone’s history, started as three smaller fires that merged together. Two were started by lightning. One was started by a cigarette. The person responsible was caught by using DNA evidence from the cigarette butt.

Why can’t I smoke at the geyser basin areas?

Most thermal areas have sulfur deposits lying on the surface. When sulfur catches fire, dangerous, sometimes lethal, fumes are given off. This is a chance we just aren’t willing to take.

Read more about regulations in Yellowstone at www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/rules.htm.

Is it legal to have marijuana in Yellowstone?

Noting that laws are changing rapidly, marijuana possession on federal land, such as a national park, national forest or BLM land, is a federal crime. At the Wyoming state level, a first marijuana possession offense (up to three ounces) is a misdemeanor. Source: tetonattorney.com/wyoming-criminal-defense-lawyer/possession-of-a-controlled-substance/