Dead trees at Yellowstone Dead trees were seen very often at Yellowstone national park. There are several reasons contributing to those dead trees. Fire mostly but also wind insects erosion flooding snow lightning Some of the standing dead timber is beetle kill. Some of it is left over from the 1988 fire (the Yellowstone fires of 1988 burned over 3000 square kilometers). Some are from natural overcrowding and self-thinning. The main reason you see all the down trees is the altitude and dry... Yellowstone Fire, Yellowstone National Park, National Parks, Calcium Carbonate, Spring Water, Terraces, Hot Springs, Ph, Seen