Morning Mist Springs

Gallatin County, Wyoming · Near West Yellowstone
44.5710°N, 110.8110°W · 7,222 ft
205°F 24°F air · Good soaking weather 7,222 ft Open Short Walk National Park Service Camping nearby (22.1 mi)
Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking

Morning Mist Springs 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.

Morning Mist Springs are a group of hot springs in Yellowstone's Gallatin County stretch, ten or so miles from West Yellowstone. On file the reading is 205 degrees, which rules out any soaking. Treat the whole area as dangerous to touch. Park Service land with open public access, and the springs sit a short stroll from the road.

Location

The record does not name the nearest road, only that the springs are about five hundred yards from it. Elevation is a bit above seventy-two hundred feet. Snow is heavy, close to twelve feet a year, and an average year runs thirty-six degrees. Precipitation is moderate. National park land throughout.

December through February get the best-months mark on the record. Confirm the road is open in winter before counting on that short walk. Indian Creek Campground, the campground on record, is some twenty-two miles off. Scalding water and scalding runoff. Do not approach the edge. No fee is mentioned.

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 Morning Mist Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Morning Mist Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Morning Mist 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.

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
137 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
141 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 89% 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
16°
Jan
18°
Feb
26°
Mar
32°
Apr
40°
May
52°
Jun
62°
Jul
61°
Aug
51°
Sep
36°
Oct
23°
Nov
14°
Dec
Annual Precip: 28.2 in Annual Snow: 140.9 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 14°F · Water 205°F · +191° contrast
January Air 16°F · Water 205°F · +189° contrast
February Air 18°F · Water 205°F · +187° contrast
December offers 48°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
24°F
ESE 0.0 mph 100% Good soaking weather
Today 64° Low 28° Sunny
Spring is +141° warmer
Wednesday 70° Low 36° Sunny
Spring is +135° warmer
Thursday 67° Low 36° Showers And Thunderstorms 81% precip
Spring is +138° warmer
Friday 60° Low 29° Rain Showers Likely 61% precip
Spring is +145° warmer
Saturday 63° Low 28° Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 20% precip
Spring is +142° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Indian Creek Campground (Wy) 22.1 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 7,222 ft

Morning Mist Springs sits at 7,222 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 Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.3 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 Morning Mist Springs?
Morning Mist Springs has a water temperature of 205°F (96°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Morning Mist Springs located?
Morning Mist Springs is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,222 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.5710°N, 110.8110°W.
How do I get to Morning Mist Springs?
Morning Mist Springs has Short Walk road access (0.3 mi from the road).
Is Morning Mist Springs free to visit?
Morning Mist Springs has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near Morning Mist Springs?
Yes, Indian Creek Campground (Wy) is located nearby (22.1 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Morning Mist Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Morning Mist Springs 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.