Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake

Gallatin County, Wyoming · Near West Yellowstone
44.6070°N, 110.6170°W · 8,210 ft
Hot 26°F air · Good soaking weather 8,210 ft Open Backcountry National Park Service Camping nearby (20.2 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Hot Springs 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.

East of Mary Lake in the Yellowstone interior there are hot springs the record flags as hot without giving a measured temperature. Gallatin County, National Park Service land, open access, under ten miles from West Yellowstone as the crow flies. How hot is not on file, so no soak can be planned around it.

Location

The Norris-Canyon Road is the nearest road listed, and the springs are six and a half miles beyond it, all of it backcountry. Elevation puts this above eight thousand feet. The climate record shows a yearly average one degree over freezing and twelve-odd feet of snow, with moderate precipitation spread across the year. Expect a short snow-free season.

No best-months entry here. Go by the snow instead and confirm trail conditions with the park before you walk in. Indian Creek Campground shows up as the nearest campground, roughly twenty miles away. Temperature is unrecorded, so assume it could scald until proven otherwise, and keep off the crust around any vent. No fee is noted.

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 Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the south.
Highest ground nearby
128 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the south
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 20°F warmer than the land around it.

Aerial view of the ground around Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake Landsat thermal view of the same ground around Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake
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
126 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 77% 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
16°
Feb
24°
Mar
29°
Apr
37°
May
48°
Jun
59°
Jul
58°
Aug
48°
Sep
33°
Oct
21°
Nov
12°
Dec
Annual Precip: 28.7 in Annual Snow: 145.2 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) 20.2 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 →
High Altitude Advisory 8,210 ft

At 8,210 feet, Hot Springs 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.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Temperature
Hot
Warm Hot Boiling
Avg Air Temp 33°F
Access
Open
Road Access Backcountry
Nearest Road Norris-Canyon Road
Distance to Road 6.7 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 Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake?
Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake is classified as hot. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.
Where is Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake located?
Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 8,210 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.6070°N, 110.6170°W.
How do I get to Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake?
Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake has Backcountry road access, with the nearest road being Norris-Canyon Road (6.7 mi from the road).
Is Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake free to visit?
Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near Hot Springs East Of Mary Lake?
Yes, Indian Creek Campground (Wy) is located nearby (20.2 miles away).