Hold onto your hat! That's the message from Yellowstone National Park staffers who realize the stunning geothermal features of the park are exciting, but flipping your lid is strictly forbidden.
As of September 2025, crews at Yellowstone had pulled more than10,000 items from hot springs and mud pots, and that includes 300 hats, according to Smithsonian.
Crews have to be vigilant to remove all bits of debris, even as small as peanut shells, from the thermal features because it can change the composition and temperature of the springs. In 1880, the Morning Glory Pool was deep purple. Today it is orange and red, mostly because of the trash thrown into the spring.
Yellowstone officials say most of the wayward hats they find are blown off the heads of some of 4 million visitors.
