A Colorado man was sentenced to jail and banned from Yellowstone National Park after officials say he walked off a designated trail and entered a protected area.

While the 63 national parks across the U.S. delight visitors with scenery and wildlife not found anywhere else, untapped nature also poses many dangers — particularly for those who wander off the official trails.

A Colorado Springs man will no longer be allowed inside a popular national park after entering a protected area.

In Yellowstone National Park, signs everywhere tell hikers not to leave the boardwalk near thermal hot springs. But what could be the harm in straying just a little to get closer to these natural wonders?

A Colorado man was sentenced to seven days in jail for walking off a designated trail or boardwalk in a thermal area in Yellowstone National Park in July.