---
kind: "range"
citation: "16 U.S.C. §§ 21–24"
title: "16"
from: "21"
to: "24"
count: 8
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/21..24"
---

# §21. Establishment; boundaries; trespassers


The tract of land in the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Montana and Wyoming, lying near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River and described as follows, to wit, commencing at the junction of Gardiner’s River, with the Yellowstone River, and running east to the meridian passing ten miles to the eastward of the most eastern point of Yellowstone Lake; thence south along said meridian to the parallel of latitude passing ten miles south of the most southern point of Yellowstone Lake; thence west along said parallel to the meridian passing fifteen miles west of the most western point of Madison Lake; thence north along said meridian to the latitude of the junction of the Yellowstone and Gardiner’s Rivers; thence east to the place of beginning, is reserved and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy, or sale under the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set apart as a public [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people; and all [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who locate, or settle upon, or occupy any part of the land thus set apart as a public [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), except as provided in [section 22 of this title](/usc/16/22.md), shall be considered trespassers and removed therefrom.


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


The boundary of the Yellowstone [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) is changed so as to read as follows:

Beginning on the present north boundary line of Yellowstone [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) at its intersection with the hydrographic divide immediately north of Pebble Creek, approximately at [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) 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](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5), at a point near [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) 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](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) 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](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5), at a point near [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) 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](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5), approximately at [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) 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](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) 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](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5), at a point near [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) 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](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) at its intersection with the left bank of Gallatin River between [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) 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](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5), at a point near [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) 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](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5); and all of those lands of the present Yellowstone [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) excluded from the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) are included in and made a part of the contiguous [national forests](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) subject to all laws and regulations applicable to [national forests](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3), and upon acceptance thereof by appropriate action of the [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2), jurisdiction for all purposes whatsoever shall be, and is, ceded over the land excluded from the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) to the [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of Wyoming.


# §21b. Extension of certain laws to park


The provisions of the Act of March 1, 1872,[^1] reserving lands for [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) purposes, the Act of July 10, 1890,[^1] admitting the [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of Wyoming into the Union, the Act of May 7, 1894, entitled “An Act to protect the birds and animals in the Yellowstone [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) and to punish crimes in said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), and for other purposes,”[^1] the Act of August 25, 1916, entitled “An Act to establish a [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) Service, and for other purposes,”[^1] and all Acts supplementary to and amendatory of said Acts are made applicable to and extended over the lands added to the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3): Provided, That the provisions of the Federal Power Act [[16 U.S.C. 791a](/usc/16/791a.md) et seq.] shall not apply to or extend over such lands.


# §21c. Section 485 as extending to revised boundaries; lands acquired by exchange


The provisions of [section 485 of this title](/usc/16/485.md) shall continue to be applicable to the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) included within the Yellowstone [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) by [section 21a of this title](/usc/16/21a.md), and any lands within such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) acquired by exchange thereunder shall thereupon become a part of the Yellowstone [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5).


# §21d. Existing claims, locations, and entries as affected by revised boundaries


Nothing herein contained shall affect any valid existing claim, location, or entry under the land laws of the United States, whether for homestead, mineral right of way, or any other purposes whatsoever, or shall affect the right of any such claimant, locator, or entryman to the full use and enjoyment of his land.


# §22. Control of park by Secretary of the Interior; removal of trespassers


The Yellowstone [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) shall be under the exclusive control of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, whose duty it shall be, as soon as practicable, to make and publish such regulations as he may deem necessary or proper for the care and management of the same. Such regulations shall provide for the preservation, from injury or spoliation, of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonders, within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), and their retention in their natural condition. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may, in his discretion, grant leases for building purposes for terms not exceeding ten years, of small parcels of ground, at such places in the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) as may require the erection of buildings for the accommodation of visitors; all of the proceeds of such leases, and all other revenues that may be derived from any source connected with the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), to be expended under his direction in the management of the same, and the construction of roads and bridle-paths therein. He shall provide against the wanton destruction of the fish and game found within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), and against their capture or destruction for the purposes of merchandise or profit. He shall also cause all [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) trespassing upon the same to be removed therefrom, and generally is authorized to take all such measures as may be necessary or proper to fully carry out the objects and purposes of this section.


# §23. Detail of troops for protection of park


The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Army, upon the request of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, is authorized and directed to make the necessary details of troops to prevent trespassers or intruders from entering the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) for the purpose of destroying the game or objects of curiosity therein, or for any other purpose prohibited by law, and to remove such [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) from the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) if found therein.


# §24. Jurisdiction over park; fugitives from justice


The Yellowstone [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5), as its boundaries now are defined, or as they may be hereafter defined or extended, shall be under the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States. All the laws applicable to places under the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, shall have force and effect in said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). Nothing in this Act shall be construed to forbid the service in the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) of any civil or criminal process of any court having jurisdiction in the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. All fugitives from justice taking refuge in said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) shall be subject to the same laws as refugees from justice found in the [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of Wyoming.