Actor Pierce Brosnan Fined for Foot Travel in a Thermal Area in Yellowstone National Park

A well known Hollywood actor pleaded guilty in a Wyoming Federal courtroom Thursday for traveling on foot to an off limits thermal area of Yellowstone National Park. 70-year-old Pierce Brosnan of Malibu, California, pleaded guilty to foot travel in a thermal area. Brosnan was fined $500 and must also pay a $1,000 community service payment to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund, a $30 court processing fee, and a $10 special assessment. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence Thursday in Mammoth, Wyoming.

According to court documents, on or about November 1, 2023, Brosnan uploaded pictures to his Instagram page of himself standing on a Yellowstone National Park thermal feature at Mammoth Hot Springs. There are signs posted in the area that warn visitors of the dangers of thermal features and state that visitors must remain on the designated boardwalks and trails. The United States Attorney’s Office asked the court to sentence Brosnan to two years’ probation and the maximum fine of $5,000.

The National Park Service reminds Yellowstone visitors that the ground in thermal areas is fragile and thin, and scalding water is just below the surface. Therefore, trespassing on thermal features is dangerous and can harm delicate natural resources within the park. Additionally, the park was established primarily to protect these hydrothermal areas. The National Park Service encourages visitors to exercise extreme caution around thermal features by staying on boardwalks and trails.