Hidden danger at popular US national park forces trail closures as bear sightings climb

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Nate Luebbe was camping in Katmai National Park in Alaska when he spotted a large grizzly bear just feet away. See the moment the wildlife photographer froze! One of the most visited national parks in the U.S. is closing parts of its hiking trails as officials deal with a spike in bear activity. Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee has temporarily shut down several trails and backcountry areas due to increased sightings of black bears, according to the National Park Service. Officials said closures are put in place when bears frequent specific areas or show signs of unpredictable behavior, posing a risk to both visitors and wildlife. HIDDEN HAZARD AT POPULAR NATIONAL PARK SPARKS URGENT SAFETY WARNING FOR SPRING BREAKERS The park draws more than 12 million visitors each year, meaning even a small increase in bear encounters with visitors c