Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone

Gallatin County, Wyoming · Near West Yellowstone
44.5660°N, 110.8710°W · 7,206 ft
205°F 24°F air · Good soaking weather 7,206 ft Open Hike National Park Service Camping nearby (19.5 mi)
Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking

Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone reaches 205°F, far above safe soaking levels. Contact with this water will cause severe burns. Look for cooled downstream pools or view from a safe distance only.

Aerial view of the ground around Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone
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.

Flat Cone Spring and Steep Cone are listed together on the record as one scalding thermal point in Yellowstone National Park, Gallatin County, Wyoming. Water temperature on file is hot enough to cook in, so this is viewing only. West Yellowstone is the town on file, about a dozen miles away. There is no photo on record. Access is open, on National Park Service land.

Location

Getting there means a hike, close to two miles from the nearest road, and the record does not say which road that is. Elevation is a bit over 7,200 feet. The climate on file is cold, with snowfall around a hundred and forty inches a year. Land belongs to the National Park Service inside Yellowstone. No trail details are on record, so what the walk is like is unknown.

December through February show up as the best months on file, and that is deep winter here, so check whether the park has anything open before committing. Hike access, open to the public. Nearest camping on record is a little under twenty miles off: the Big Springs group area, which is at Island Park. The water is scalding. Keep a wide margin and do not test it.

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 Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
58 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the north
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from north to south, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
147 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 92% 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
15°
Jan
18°
Feb
26°
Mar
32°
Apr
40°
May
52°
Jun
63°
Jul
61°
Aug
52°
Sep
36°
Oct
23°
Nov
14°
Dec
Annual Precip: 28.4 in Annual Snow: 141.5 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 14°F · Water 205°F · +191° contrast
January Air 15°F · Water 205°F · +190° contrast
February Air 18°F · Water 205°F · +187° contrast
December offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
24°F
ESE 0.0 mph 100% Good soaking weather
Today 64° Low 26° Sunny
Spring is +141° warmer
Wednesday 71° Low 35° Sunny
Spring is +134° warmer
Thursday 68° Low 34° Showers And Thunderstorms 81% precip
Spring is +137° warmer
Friday 60° Low 28° Rain Showers Likely 61% precip
Spring is +145° warmer
Saturday 63° Low 27° Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 19% precip
Spring is +142° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Big Springs Grp. Area Island Park 19.5 mi away

Overview Big Springs Group Area is located 22 miles south of West Yellowstone, Montana in beautiful Island Park, Idaho at an approximate elevation of 6,300 feet. Visitors love Island Park for its world-class fishing and outstanding scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities.Recreation Big Springs is the headwaters of Henry's Fork and is one of the largest springs in the country. Henry's Fork is considered one of the best fly-fishing streams in the nation. Fishermen cast for rainbow and brook...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 7,206 ft

Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone sits at 7,206 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 29% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
205°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 205°F (96°C)
Avg Air Temp 36°F
Above Ambient +169°F
Access
Open
Road Access Hike
Distance to Road 1.8 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 Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone?
Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone has a water temperature of 205°F (96°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone located?
Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,206 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.5660°N, 110.8710°W.
How do I get to Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone?
Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone has Hike road access (1.8 mi from the road).
Is Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone free to visit?
Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone?
Yes, Big Springs Grp. Area Island Park is located nearby (19.5 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone?
No, not at the source. The water at Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone reaches 205°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: OpenStreetMap