5 Shocking Facts About The Yellowstone Tourists Who Rode Electric Scooters On The Old Faithful Boardwalk

The viral video of tourists riding electric scooters across the delicate boardwalks of Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful Geyser Basin remains one of the most infamous examples of 'touron' behavior in recent history. This incident, which gained widespread attention in the recent past, sparked immediate and intense public outrage, forcing a renewed discussion on visitor conduct and the enforcement of vital park regulations designed to protect both the fragile thermal features and public safety. As of December 2025, the video serves as a stark reminder of the consequences—both legal and environmental—of ignoring the National Park Service's clearly posted rules.

The core of the controversy centers on a family seen casually operating unauthorized motorized vehicles—electric scooters—directly over the wooden walkways that crisscross the park's fragile hydrothermal areas. These boardwalks are not merely paths; they are crucial safety barriers designed to keep visitors from stepping onto the superheated, thin, and often unstable ground of the geyser basins, a rule that is non-negotiable for all visitors to the park. The audacity of the act, captured on video and shared across social media, highlighted a dangerous disregard for one of America's most treasured and volatile natural landscapes.

The Shocking Old Faithful Scooter Video: What Really Happened

The incident that stunned millions of viewers took place on the boardwalks surrounding the iconic Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park. The area is one of the most visited and ecologically sensitive locations in the entire National Park System. The viral footage showed a family, including at least one adult and a child, riding recreational electric scooters along the wooden walkways, weaving through other foot traffic.

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• Location of Violation: The Old Faithful Geyser Basin, specifically on the designated boardwalks.
• The Act: Operating recreational electric scooters, which are classified as motorized vehicles, in an area where only foot traffic is permitted.
• The Danger: The boardwalks exist to protect visitors from falling through the thin crust into superheated thermal pools and geysers, which can cause severe or fatal burns.
• Viral Exposure: The video was widely circulated on social media platforms, including Instagram, by popular accounts dedicated to documenting poor tourist behavior, such as @TouronsOfYellowstone.
• Public Reaction: The public response was overwhelmingly negative, with thousands of comments condemning the tourists for their selfishness and disrespect for the natural environment and park regulations.

The term "touron"—a portmanteau of "tourist" and "moron"—is frequently used to describe visitors who engage in reckless behavior within national parks, and this incident quickly became a prime example. The casual nature of the violation, with tourists seemingly unaware or uncaring that they were breaking a fundamental park rule, is what fueled much of the online outrage.

Yellowstone's Strict Rules: Electric Scooters vs. E-Bikes and Mobility Devices

Understanding the specific regulations of Yellowstone National Park is key to grasping the severity of the electric scooter incident. Yellowstone has a layered approach to motorized and electric-powered vehicles, which often confuses visitors coming from urban areas where scooters are common.

The Critical Distinction: Mobility Devices vs. Recreational Vehicles

Yellowstone National Park rules strictly prohibit all motorized vehicles from the boardwalks and designated pedestrian-only trails. However, there is a clear and important exception: "Electric powered mobility assistance devices (e.g., electric scooters, wheelchairs, etc.) are allowed for use by persons with disabilities."

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The tourists in the viral video were not using mobility assistance devices. They were riding recreational electric scooters, which are classified as motorized vehicles and are therefore banned from the boardwalks. This is a crucial detail, as it means their actions were a clear violation of a rule designed for both safety and resource protection. The National Park Service (NPS) has made it clear that while they support accessibility, recreational use of these devices on boardwalks is a serious offense.

E-Bikes and Other Electric Vehicles

The rules for other electric vehicles further highlight the strictness of the boardwalk ban:

• E-Bikes: Electric bicycles (e-bikes) are generally permitted in Yellowstone, but only on roads and in areas where traditional bicycles are allowed. They are treated like conventional bikes.
• Electric Scooters/Mopeds: Devices such as electric scooters, electric mopeds, or electric motorcycles are explicitly *not* covered by the e-bike regulation and are generally subject to stricter rules, often banning them from trails and boardwalks altogether for recreational purposes.

The park's stance is to preserve the natural, non-motorized experience on trails and protect the sensitive geothermal features. The fragile nature of the Old Faithful geyser basin, where the ground is a thin crust over boiling-hot water, necessitates the pedestrian-only rule on the elevated wooden walkways.

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The Price of a 'Touron' Mistake: Potential Fines and Consequences

While the National Park Service has not publicly released a statement confirming the apprehension or citation of the specific family in the viral electric scooter video—a common outcome when tourists are not caught in the act by a ranger—the potential legal consequences for such a violation are severe and serve as a powerful deterrent.

High Fines for Violating Park Regulations

Violating a park regulation, especially one related to safety or resource protection, falls under a serious offense category. Fines for ignoring posted notices or directions in Yellowstone National Park can be substantial. For context, similar violations have resulted in:

• Ignoring Notices: Violating any posted notice, regulation, or direction in Wyoming (which includes much of Yellowstone) can carry a fine of up to $750 and 30 days in jail.
• Off-Trail Walking: In a separate, high-profile incident, a celebrity who walked off-trail in a thermal area was fined $500 and ordered to make a $1,000 donation to a Yellowstone non-profit. This demonstrates the park's willingness to issue substantial penalties for geothermal area violations.

Given that the electric scooter incident involved a motorized vehicle in a highly sensitive thermal area, the tourists, if caught, would likely have faced a significant citation. The potential fine could easily have exceeded $500, not including court fees or mandatory appearances in the U.S. District Court in Mammoth Hot Springs. The park takes these violations seriously because the consequences of a breach in safety can be fatal, not just to the tourist but to the fragile ecosystem.

The Broader Impact on Park Policy

Incidents like the electric scooter video have a long-term impact beyond a single citation. They contribute to the ongoing debate about visitor management, the need for increased ranger presence, and the potential for new regulations on micromobility devices. The NPS is currently evaluating how to handle the growing popularity of electric scooters and other personal transportation devices in national parks, and highly publicized violations only strengthen the case for stricter enforcement and clearer rules. The incident serves as a public service announcement for all future visitors: respect the boardwalks, respect the thermal features, and leave the recreational motorized vehicles at home.

The Yellowstone ecosystem is one of the most unique and volatile places on Earth, and the rules—especially those around the geothermal basins—are in place for a reason. The viral scooter video is now part of the park's history, a cautionary tale that underscores the importance of responsible tourism and following the rules of the road, or in this case, the boardwalk.