For those of us that threw away all of our face masks from the pandemic, we've got some breaking news for you. They're back...and just in time for tourist season.

In a recent turn of events, if you're heading to Yellowstone National Park and plan on entering any of the buildings in the park, you must wear a mask no matter your vaccination status, according to the National Park Service.  In a statement on their website, the NPS says:

"Consistent with CDC guidance concerning high community levels, all visitors to Yellowstone National Park over the age of 2 are required to wear a mask in all indoor common areas, regardless of vaccination status."

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The current Covid-19 community level for Yellowstone National Park is high, which is what put the mask mandate back into place. According to the National Park Service website, levels of medium and low means masks are optional in indoor common areas.

Photo by Frank OConnor on Unsplash
Photo by Frank OConnor on Unsplash
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So, what is considered an "indoor common area"?  According to the website, indoor common areas include, but are not limited to:

  • Park Visitors Centers
  • Administrative Offices
  • Lodges
  • Gift Shops
  • Restaurants

You must also wear a mask if you're using public or commercial transportation while in Yellowstone National Park.

Photo by Meina Yin on Unsplash
Photo by Meina Yin on Unsplash
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Yellowstone National Park is celebrating its 150th Anniversary this year, and so far it's been a bit of a rocky start. First, the flooding that took place last month temporarily shut the park down, and while it's back up and running, there are still certain areas that won't reopen during the 2022 season.

For further information regarding the park and the latest updates, make sure to visit the National Park Service website.

RANKED: Here are the most popular national parks

To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020. Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.

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