Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs

Park County, Wyoming · Near Cody
44.4820°N, 109.2040°W · 5,390 ft
Warm 43°F air · Good soaking weather 5,390 ft Open Short Walk SPR Camping nearby (19.1 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Buffalo Bill Reservoir 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.

Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs is a named group of springs in the state park of the same name, about eight miles from Cody in Park County, Wyoming. The record carries no temperature, only a note that the water is warm, so do not plan a soak around it. It is state park land and listed as open.

Location

Seven tenths of a mile from the closest road, which is unnamed on file, so count on a walk. Elevation just under 5,400 feet, in a dry stretch of the state: a foot and a half of precipitation in a year and about five feet of snow. The campground on record, Bobcat-Houlihan, is a long way off, nineteen miles.

No best-season figure exists for this one. Snowfall on record is about five feet, so winter access depends on the park's roads. State park rules and any entry fee apply; none is recorded here. Since the temperature is unknown, test the water before assuming anything about it. Camping is not close.

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 Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
Level with the spring
Within a quarter mile

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

Heat Below
69 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 5% 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
20°
Feb
30°
Mar
37°
Apr
48°
May
60°
Jun
69°
Jul
67°
Aug
57°
Sep
42°
Oct
29°
Nov
19°
Dec
Annual Precip: 19.1 in Annual Snow: 63.5 in
Current Conditions
43°F
Clear SW 20.7 mph 61% Good soaking weather
Today 67° Low 51° Sunny
Wednesday 67° Low 51° Sunny 2% precip
Thursday 71° Low 56° Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 44% precip
Friday 69° Low 50° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 38% precip
Saturday 67° Low 50° Chance Rain Showers 35% precip
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Bobcat Houlihan Campground 19.1 mi away

The Bobcat-Houlihan Campground is at the trailhead of the Bobcat-Houlihan Trail. It features interpretive kiosks, horse trailer parking, horse hitching rails, food storage boxes and toilet facilities.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 5,390 ft

Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs sits at 5,390 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 22% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
Warm
Warm Hot Boiling
Avg Air Temp 42°F
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.7 mi
Land
Ownership State
Agency SPR
Designation State Park
Unit Buffalo Bill Reservoir State Park
Manager Bureau of Reclamation
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs?
Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs is classified as warm. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.
Where is Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs located?
Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs is located in Park County, Wyoming at 5,390 feet elevation, near Cody. Coordinates: 44.4820°N, 109.2040°W.
How do I get to Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs?
Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs has Short Walk road access (0.7 mi from the road).
Is Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs free to visit?
Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs has Open access. It is managed by SPR.
Can I camp near Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs?
Yes, Bobcat Houlihan Campground is located nearby (19.1 miles away).