Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring

Gallatin County, Montana · Near West Yellowstone
45.0900°N, 110.7740°W · 5,160 ft
154°F 40°F air · Good soaking weather 5,160 ft Open Roadside US Forest Service Camping nearby (5.6 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 154°F, the source water at Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Laduke Hot Spring, also recorded as Corwin, is a scalding source in the Gallatin National Forest, Gallatin County, north of West Yellowstone. The water is far too hot to enter at the source, hot enough to burn in seconds. Access is open on the record, the land is federal, and the spring sits under three hundred feet from a road. Finding it is the easy part.

Location

Mid elevation, with winters that bring ten feet of snow and a wet year overall. Roadside, though the road's name did not make it into the record, so you will have to find it on the ground. Forest Service land, no fee listed.

Treat the source as scalding; this is not a soak without cooled water, and none is on record. Eagle Creek, the Custer Gallatin National Forest campground, is the nearest listed, about five and a half miles off. The record's pick of winter as prime time makes little sense against ten feet of snow; late summer or fall is the sensible time. Access is open.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
774 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
115 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 67% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
21°
Jan
23°
Feb
32°
Mar
38°
Apr
46°
May
58°
Jun
68°
Jul
66°
Aug
57°
Sep
41°
Oct
28°
Nov
19°
Dec
Annual Precip: 25.5 in Annual Snow: 118.5 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 19°F · Water 154°F · +135° contrast
January Air 21°F · Water 154°F · +133° contrast
February Air 23°F · Water 154°F · +131° contrast
December offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
40°F
SE 24.4 mph 79% Good soaking weather
Today 71° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +83° warmer
Wednesday 76° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +78° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 51° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 60% precip
Spring is +76° warmer
Friday 71° Low 46° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 65% precip
Spring is +83° warmer
Saturday 74° Low 45° Chance Rain Showers 36% precip
Spring is +80° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Eagle Creek Campground Custer Gallatin National Forest 5.6 mi away

Overview Eagle Creek Campground is located 2 miles northeast of the town of Gardiner on Jardine Road and approximately 55 miles south of the city of Livingston along scenic HWY 89 S. At an elevation of 6100 feet, the campground overlooks Yellowstone National Park's majestic peaks. This 20-site campground has gravel roads with unpaved sites that accommodate a maximum of 48’ RVs. The Yellowstone River Trailhead is also located within this campground. Vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables,...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
154°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 154°F (68°C)
Avg Air Temp 42°F
Above Ambient +113°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 256 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Gallatin National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring?
Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring has a water temperature of 154°F (68°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring located?
Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring is located in Gallatin County, Montana at 5,160 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 45.0900°N, 110.7740°W.
How do I get to Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring?
Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring has Roadside road access (256 ft from the road).
Is Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring free to visit?
Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring?
Yes, Eagle Creek Campground Custer Gallatin National Forest is located nearby (5.6 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring?
No, not at the source. The water at Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring reaches 154°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.
Sources: USGS NWIS