When Colin Scott and his sister Sable ventured off the well-worn boardwalk near one of Yellowstone’s most dangerous geothermal hotspots, they were chasing adventure—but ended up caught in a nightmare no one could have foreseen.
What started as a playful quest to find a secret hot spring quickly spiraled into tragedy, leaving a devastated family and park officials grappling with the harsh realities of nature’s lethal power.
A Young Man Lost to Yellowstone’s Deadly Heat
Colin Scott, 23, from Portland, Oregon, was exploring Yellowstone National Park with his sister on June 7, 2025, hoping to experience the thrill of “hot potting”—an illicit practice where visitors soak in naturally heated thermal pools. Despite strict park rules forbidding such behavior, the siblings strayed hundreds of feet off the boardwalk near the Pork Chop Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin, one of the park’s most volatile geothermal areas.
Colin, curious about the temperature of a nearby spring, reached out to test the waters—and in a tragic misstep, slipped and plunged into the scalding, acidic pool.
The Brutal Reality Beneath the Surface
Rescue teams responded quickly, but the boiling water, sometimes reaching temperatures above 400°F (204°C), left little hope. Witnesses say Colin’s remains were briefly visible floating on the surface before disappearing into the harsh waters. Park rangers noted that the corrosive nature of the spring caused significant deterioration of the body in the hours following the accident, making recovery impossible.
Deputy Chief Ranger Lorant Veress highlighted the dangers: “The Norris Basin is incredibly unforgiving. The water here is hotter and more acidic than most people can imagine—it’s not just heat, it’s a chemical hazard.”
A Haunting Reminder Captured on Film
In a somber twist, Sable recorded the tragic event on her phone. Out of respect for the family and the traumatic nature of the footage, Yellowstone officials have decided not to make it public.
Colin’s death is sadly not unique. Yellowstone’s geothermal zones have claimed over 20 lives since the park’s founding. Just last year, a similar accident took the life of 70-year-old Il Hun Ro, whose body was never fully recovered after falling into the Abyss Pool.
Nature’s Stark Warning
Yellowstone’s breathtaking landscapes conceal dangers that demand respect and caution. Millions visit safely each year, but the geothermal features are volatile and unforgiving. Signs and strict rules exist for good reason: to protect lives.
Final Thoughts
Colin Scott’s tragic fall serves as a chilling reminder that Yellowstone’s mesmerizing beauty can mask deadly peril. Adventure and curiosity must be tempered by caution and adherence to park guidelines. His story is a powerful call to honor nature’s boundaries—some lines, drawn in boiling water, are never meant to be crossed.
Our heartfelt sympathies are with the Scott family as they face this unimaginable loss.