With so many people seeking the Great Outdoors as a new escape, it's not surprising that parks such as Yellowstone, a national park that should be on everyone's bucket list, has seen an influx in visitors. While it's great that national parks are gaining notoriety and necessary support, there are rules to follow when walking into one. The second a person steps through that park entrance, they're on protected land and should follow rules accordingly.

Yellowstone is still fairly wild in the sense that animals roam freely, but it's also home to natural occurrences that have proved to be dangerous for visitors in the past. Every sign, boardwalk, and trail is there for a reason and should be kept in mind when visiting the park. It's a visually stunning place that is seemingly set aside from the rest of the country but also has its dangers.

Never Touch The Hot Springs

Yellowstone is a vastly untamed wilderness that's home to many natural features, including hot springs. While they look inviting to those who don't know any better, these hot springs can actually reach temperatures of 160 degrees.

It's places like this that can land people in hot water - literally, with serious injuries - if they're careless or too bold. Recently, some tourists were arrested specifically for "thermal trespassing."

Touching Or Interacting With Wildlife Can Be A Grave Mistake For Both Involved

There was an instance back in 2016 when a couple took it upon themselves to put a baby bison in their car, simply because they thought it looked "cold". This led to tragedy for both the baby and its mother, as the adult bison rejected her child and the baby had to be euthanized.

Additionally, not all wildlife is as friendly as baby bison. Yellowstone is home to many species of wildlife, including grizzly bears, mountain lions, and even adult bison have been known to charge.

Don't Exit The Guided Boardwalks For Any Reason

Everything about Yellowstone, down to the earth visitors walk on, is natural and unaltered by human hands. This means that - especially around the hot springs - the ground is unstable and prone to being fragile. Even something as simple as a person sticking their hand in the water is enough to rupture the top layer of soil, leading to two problems: One, the microbes that keep the environment healthy would be prone to outside contaminants and two, the thermal crust might break and can give way to extremely hot liquid underneath.

Related: Yellowstone's Supervolcano Geysers Is Unusually Active But We're Sure It's Fine

Don't Forget To Bring Bear Spray

Although rare, bear encounters do happen in Yellowstone. While visitors are most likely to see black bears (which can appear brown in color) which are usually harmless if left alone, there is a chance of the occasional grizzly sighting.

The best practice in this instance is to talk in a calm manner and back away from the bear, putting distance between it and yourself, to let it know you're not a threat, whilst readying the bear spray. If the bear charges, it's best to stand your ground as it will likely veer off or go for a bluff charge. In the unlikely instance it doesn't, lay on your stomach with your hands over your neck, elbows over the sides of your face.

Related: 10 Dog-Friendly National Parks to Explore With Your Pooch

Leave No Trace: Leave The Park The Way You Entered

This is perhaps one of the most important things to remember. Trash and pollution can wreak havoc on any natural environment, which we've seen happen around the world. The best way to prevent this in a national park as beloved as Yellowstone is to carry in, carry out - any trash someone carries in should be disposed of properly (trash bins and recyclables) or carried out to do so.

Next: Beautiful Under The Radar State Parks To Explore In The US