Although the ground around hydrothermal areas may appear solid, it is often fragile with scalding water lurking just below the surface. The woman broke through the crust and suffered second- and third-degree burns to her lower leg, park officials said.

A hiker has suffered the first thermal-related injury in Yellowstone for 2024 when she fell into scalding water after going off trail.

The 60-year-old was walking with her husband and dog near a geyser when she broke through the ground into scalding waters on Monday afternoon, according to the National Park Service.

The 60-year-old woman, who has not been named, was near the Old Faithful Geyser at the Wyoming national park this week when she stepped through a thin crust over scalding water, park officials said.

A 60-year-old woman received third-degree burns walking in a thermal area in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming this week, according to park officials.

The woman was reportedly walking with her husband and their leashed dog in a thermal area — but they were not walking on a trail.