Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§21a Revision of boundaries; contiguous national forests; jurisdiction of forests

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK › § 21a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Redraws the Yellowstone National Park boundary so it follows certain rivers, ridgelines, and peaks in the park’s northern, eastern, and western areas. The new line starts near the park’s north boundary at the hydrographic divide north of Pebble Creek (near park monument 29 east) and then follows divides and crests around the heads of Pebble, Soda Butte, Lamar, Jones, Middle, and other creeks, passing over peaks such as Republic, Hoodoo, Pyramid, Cathedral, Mount Chittenden, Avalanche, Reservation, Atkins, Mount Schurz, Mount Humphreys, and Eagle. The west-side change begins on the Gallatin River bank between monuments 45 and 46 north and runs along divides around Daly, Black Butte, Specimen, and Fan Creeks to near monument 11 west. All land inside the new boundary and the park’s present north, east, and west lines becomes part of Yellowstone National Park. Land taken out of the park becomes part of the nearby national forests. If the State of Wyoming accepts those lands, legal control over the removed areas is transferred to the State.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §21a

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The boundary of the Yellowstone National Park is changed so as to read as follows: Beginning on the present north boundary line of Yellowstone National Park at its intersection with the hydrographic divide immediately north of Pebble Creek, approximately at park boundary monument 29 east; thence following said divide around the head of the drainage of Pebble Creek to its intersection with the present east boundary line of Yellowstone National Park, at a point near park boundary monument 54 north; thence southerly along said boundary line to its intersection with the hydrographic divide between Soda Butte and Cache Creeks, at a point near park boundary monument 51 north; thence easterly along said hydrographic divide to its intersection with the crest of the Absaroka Range; thence southerly along said crest to its intersection with the main hydrographic divide between Little Lamar River and the North Fork of Shoshone River, passing over Republic and Hoodoo Peaks; thence westerly along said divide passing over Notch Mountain to its intersection with the present east boundary line of Yellowstone National Park, at a point near park boundary monument 26 north; thence continuing westerly along said divide, now between the headwaters of Lamar River and Jones Creek; headwaters of Sedge, Bear, Cub, and Clear Creeks, and the headwaters of Jones and Crow Creeks, and between Crow Creek and Middle Creek, to its intersection with the present east boundary line of Yellowstone National Park, approximately at park boundary monument 18 north, passing over Pyramid and Cathedral Peaks, Mount Chittenden, and Avalanche Peak, thence southerly along said boundary line to its intersection with the hydrographic divide immediately south of Middle Creek, approximately at park boundary monument 15 north; thence westerly along said divide, now between a southern tributary of Middle Creek, headwaters of Beaverdam, Trappers, and Mountain Creeks, and the headwaters of Canfield and Eagle Creeks, to its intersection with the present east boundary line of Yellowstone National Park, at a point near park boundary monument 5 north, passing over Reservation and Atkins Peaks, Mount Schurz, Mount Humphreys, and Eagle Peak; and Beginning on the present west boundary line of Yellowstone National Park at its intersection with the left bank of Gallatin River between park monuments 45 and 46 north; thence northwesterly along said bank to a point opposite the hydrographic divide between Daly and Tepee Creeks; thence northeasterly across the Gallatin River and along said divide, around the headwaters of Daly, Black Butte, Specimen, and Fan Creeks, to the intersection of said divide with the present north boundary line of Yellowstone National Park, at a point near park boundary monument 11 west. All of those lands lying within the boundary lines above described and the present north, east, and west boundary lines are included in and made a part of the Yellowstone National Park; and all of those lands of the present Yellowstone National Park excluded from the park are included in and made a part of the contiguous national forests subject to all laws and regulations applicable to national forests, and upon acceptance thereof by appropriate action of the State, jurisdiction for all purposes whatsoever shall be, and is, ceded over the land excluded from the park to the State of Wyoming.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1930—Act Apr. 19, 1930, struck out “Provided, That whereas it is the purpose and intent of Congress to retain the areas hereby added to the park in its original wilderness character, therefore, no new roads shall be constructed and no hotels or permanent camps shall be authorized or permitted to be maintained on such lands”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 21a

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73