Yellowstone Geology Team Removes Record-Breaking Debris From Hydrothermal Areas

Geologists collect over 20,000 pieces of trash from Yellowstone hydrothermal areas

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Geologists in Yellowstone National Park collected 20,100 pieces of trash from hydrothermal areas throughout the busy 2026 tourist season. Officials said most of the time, this debris is left behind completely by accident, but they warned…

Yellowstone geology team removes record-breaking debris from hydrothermal areas

Yellowstone National Park's geology team has removed a record-breaking amount of debris, including over 20,100 pieces of trash and hundreds of hats, from fragile hydrothermal areas during 2026.

20,000 Pieces of Trash Recovered From Yellowstone Geothermal Areas This Summer

Yellowstone National Park's staff recovered more than 20,000 pieces of trash from thermal basins this summer. Among the items were AirPods, Polaroid pictures, Pokémon cards, a single snowshoe, and over 280 hats that will be donated to local organizations.

Yellowstone National Park retrieved 280 hats from hydrothermal vents this summer

Other lost items include hair ties, AirPods, and even an inhaler.

Caps, trash, and other hydrothermal funky finds: 2026 edition

Hold onto your hats and sunglasses—and your trash! Yellowstone National Park’s Geology team collects anything lost or left behind by visitors in the park’s hydrothermal areas, leading to some pretty interesting finds...