Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake

Gallatin County, Wyoming · Near West Yellowstone
44.6010°N, 110.6320°W · 8,349 ft
Hot 26°F air · Good soaking weather 8,349 ft Open Backcountry National Park Service Camping nearby (20.4 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake
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.

Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake sits deep in the Yellowstone backcountry, Gallatin County, Wyoming, with the Grand Loop Road around seven miles away. Hot, says the record, and nothing more. Nobody has measured a temperature and no water sample is on file. Roughly nine miles off is West Yellowstone, the only town listed. Open access on National Park Service land.

Location

Grand Loop Road is the closest road, and it is nearly seven miles off with nothing written down about what lies between. Up around 8,350 feet. Winters here are cold enough to hold an annual average near freezing, and the snow piles to something close to a hundred and fifty inches. Yellowstone backcountry, National Park Service land.

Nothing lists a best season. Snow this heavy makes timing the whole question, and the park's backcountry rules come before anything else. Camping means Indian Creek Campground, about twenty miles. No temperature is on record. Count on nothing from it and stay clear of the vent.

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 Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the east.
Highest ground nearby
48 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
Cross-section through the spring

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

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

Heat Below
127 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 78% 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
13°
Jan
15°
Feb
23°
Mar
28°
Apr
36°
May
47°
Jun
58°
Jul
57°
Aug
48°
Sep
32°
Oct
20°
Nov
11°
Dec
Annual Precip: 29.4 in Annual Snow: 146.6 in
Current Conditions
26°F
N 0.0 mph 88% Good soaking weather
Today 59° Low 32° Sunny
Wednesday 65° Low 38° Sunny
Thursday 62° Low 37° Showers And Thunderstorms 80% precip
Friday 54° Low 32° Rain Showers Likely 61% precip
Saturday 57° Low 31° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 27% precip
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Indian Creek Campground (Wy) 20.4 mi away

Overview Located about eight miles (13 km) south of Mammoth Hot Springs on the road to Norris, Indian Creek Campground—elevation 7,300 feet (2225 m)—sits near the base of the Gallatin Mountains and offers breathtaking views of Electric Peak. The area offers easy access to fishing and hiking. The campground is away from the main road and provides a quieter, more primitive, experience than many other locations.  For reservations at the campgrounds managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges (Fi...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
High Altitude Advisory 8,349 ft

At 8,349 feet, Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake is in high-altitude territory where the air is noticeably thinner. Soaking in hot water accelerates dehydration and can amplify altitude effects like headache and fatigue. UV radiation is roughly 33% stronger here. Wear sunscreen even on overcast days and take breaks from the water to rehydrate.

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Temperature
Hot
Warm Hot Boiling
Avg Air Temp 32°F
Access
Open
Road Access Backcountry
Nearest Road Grand Loop Road
Distance to Road 6.8 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 Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake?
Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake is classified as hot. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.
Where is Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake located?
Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 8,349 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.6010°N, 110.6320°W.
How do I get to Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake?
Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake has Backcountry road access, with the nearest road being Grand Loop Road (6.8 mi from the road).
Is Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake free to visit?
Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near Gas Vent East Of Mary Lake?
Yes, Indian Creek Campground (Wy) is located nearby (20.4 miles away).