Climate and disturbance regimes are both changing rapidly, and it is increasingly important for ecologists and park managers to understand the past and anticipate what lies ahead. The frequency, severity, and extent of natural disturbances are changing substantially as climate warms; effects on many ecosystems may be profound (Westerling et al. 2006; Seidl, Schelhaas, and Lexer 2011; Parks, Parisien, and Miller 2012; Weed, Ayres, and Hicke 2013; Moritz et al. 2014). In the Northern Rocky Mountains, a region with several national parks, fi re and insect outbreaks are key drivers of landscape pattern and ecosystem function. Climate- driven changes in these disturbances will affect most western national parks; indeed, changes may already be underway. Long- term studies in Greater Yellowstone have documented tremendous ecological resilience to these natural disturbances over centuries to millennia, but projected climate change may lead to novel disturbance regimes and unforeseen ecological responses. Understanding the how, when, where, and why of these dynamics is urgent for park management and conservation. Drawing primarily from our research in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rocky Mountains, we highlight the critical role of national parks as living laboratories for scientifi c research during these times of rapid change, as well as the importance of science for park management. We provide an overview of Greater Yellowstone and its dominant natural disturbances, summarize general lessons that emerged from long- term basic scientifi c studies, and then consider how future change in climate and disturbance dynamics may affect the landscape. We conclude by advocating for an even stronger commitment to the value of parks for science.