Beach Springs

Gallatin County, Wyoming · Near West Yellowstone
44.5530°N, 110.3010°W · 7,744 ft
Hot 28°F air · Good soaking weather 7,744 ft Open Short Walk National Park Service Camping nearby (17.7 mi)

Beach Springs is a thermal spring in Yellowstone National Park, about twenty-four miles from West Yellowstone. The record flags it as hot but holds no measured temperature, so there is nothing to say about soaking one way or the other. National Park Service land, access listed open. A photo is on file.

Location

East Entrance Road runs within about a tenth of a mile. This is high ground, well above seven thousand feet. Winter brings heavy snow, and the yearly average temperature stays cold. Threemile is the nearest camping anyone has recorded, close to eighteen miles off.

No best months are recorded. Without a temperature on file, do not assume the water is safe to touch; the record only says hot. Park rules apply and no fee is listed. Chemistry has not been sampled.

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 Beach Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Beach Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Beach Springs
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
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
134 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.

Seen From Space

Landsat's thermal camera passed over on a clear winter day, February 21, 2020. This spring's heat shows up from about 440 miles up. The brightest yellow marks the warmest ground, roughly 17°F warmer than the land around it.

Aerial view of the ground around Beach Springs Landsat thermal view of the same ground around Beach Springs
Aerial Thermal

Drag to compare. The view is about 2½ miles across, and each thermal pixel covers roughly 300 feet of ground, so individual pools blur into one warm patch.

Thermal: Landsat 8/9 surface temperature, USGS (public domain), via Microsoft Planetary Computer. Aerial: USGS The National Map. More springs seen from space.

Heat Below
82 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 19% 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
16°
Jan
17°
Feb
25°
Mar
30°
Apr
38°
May
49°
Jun
59°
Jul
59°
Aug
50°
Sep
36°
Oct
25°
Nov
16°
Dec
Annual Precip: 26.9 in Annual Snow: 144.0 in
Current Conditions
28°F
N 0.0 mph 85% Good soaking weather
Today 61° Low 31° Sunny
Wednesday 65° Low 35° Sunny 2% precip
Thursday 63° Low 36° Showers And Thunderstorms 79% precip
Friday 56° Low 30° Rain Showers Likely 62% precip
Saturday 58° Low 30° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 32% precip
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Threemile Campground 17.7 mi away

Overview Threemile Campground is located just three miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park, and 50 miles from the full service gateway community of Cody, in northwestern Wyoming. The area is an ideal destination for a family getaway, with many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Hard-sided camp trailers and RVs are required.Recreation Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available around the campground. The North Fork of the Sho...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 7,744 ft

Beach Springs sits at 7,744 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 31% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
Hot
Warm Hot Boiling
Avg Air Temp 35°F
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road East Entrance Road
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency National Park Service
Designation National Park
Unit Yellowstone National Park
Manager National Park Service
Protection 1 - Permanent protection, natural state
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Beach Springs?
Beach Springs is classified as hot. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.
Where is Beach Springs located?
Beach Springs is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,744 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.5530°N, 110.3010°W.
How do I get to Beach Springs?
Beach Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being East Entrance Road (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Beach Springs free to visit?
Beach Springs has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near Beach Springs?
Yes, Threemile Campground is located nearby (17.7 miles away).