Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill

Gallatin County, Wyoming · Near West Yellowstone
44.8250°N, 110.6750°W · 7,640 ft
Hot 38°F air · Good soaking weather 7,640 ft Open Hike National Park Service Camping nearby (5.2 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill
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 Vents At Horseshoe Hill is a thermal point you hike to, Gallatin County, Wyoming, inside Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Loop Road being about two and a half miles back. Hot is how the record lists it, without a measured temperature. A 2006 water sample came back close to neutral and picked up calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfate, chloride and iron. West Yellowstone is around eight and a half miles off, going by the record. National Park Service land, access open.

Location

The walk in is a hike of about two and a half miles from the Grand Loop Road, and the record gives no trail detail. Elevation sits near 7,650 feet. Climate on file is cold with around a hundred and thirty-eight inches of snow a year. National Park Service land inside Yellowstone.

The best months are not recorded. Given the snow total, winter is a hard time for a hike this long, so look up the park's trail status first. Indian Creek Campground, about five miles off, is the nearest place to camp. The temperature is unmeasured. Do not walk up to the vents hoping for a soak, and stay out of the water.

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 Vents At Horseshoe Hill.

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
224 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, December 3, 2022. This spring's heat shows up from about 440 miles up. The brightest yellow marks the warmest ground, roughly 10°F warmer than the land around it.

Aerial view of the ground around Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill Landsat thermal view of the same ground around Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill
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
118 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 70% 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
14°
Jan
16°
Feb
24°
Mar
29°
Apr
38°
May
49°
Jun
59°
Jul
58°
Aug
49°
Sep
33°
Oct
21°
Nov
13°
Dec
Annual Precip: 27.7 in Annual Snow: 138.2 in
Current Conditions
38°F
S 24.9 mph 62% Good soaking weather
Today 58° Low 36° Sunny
Wednesday 64° Low 41° Sunny
Thursday 62° Low 41° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 72% precip
Friday 54° Low 36° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 62% precip
Saturday 57° Low 36° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 32% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 2006-09-14

The water at Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill is slightly acidic (pH 6.6).

pH 6.6 Slightly Acidic
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 6 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 1 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 10 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 3 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 1 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 20 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Indian Creek Campground (Wy) 5.2 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 →
Mile-High Advisory 7,640 ft

Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill sits at 7,640 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 34°F
Access
Open
Road Access Hike
Nearest Road Grand Loop Road
Distance to Road 2.6 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 Vents At Horseshoe Hill?
Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill is classified as hot. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.
Where is Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill located?
Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,640 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.8250°N, 110.6750°W.
How do I get to Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill?
Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill has Hike road access, with the nearest road being Grand Loop Road (2.6 mi from the road).
Is Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill free to visit?
Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill?
Yes, Indian Creek Campground (Wy) is located nearby (5.2 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Gas Vents At Horseshoe Hill?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 6.6 (slightly acidic).
Sources: USGS NWIS