Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain

Gallatin County, Wyoming · Near West Yellowstone
44.7810°N, 110.7380°W · 7,540 ft
Hot 38°F air · Good soaking weather 7,540 ft Open Short Walk National Park Service Camping nearby (7.3 mi)
Steam Vent: Not a Soaking Spring

Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain is a steam vent, not a traditional hot spring. These geothermal features can be extremely dangerous. Boiling water, toxic gases, and unstable ground are common hazards. Do not attempt to soak.

Steam vents, as the name says, on Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone. No water temperature is on record, which makes sense for vents that give off steam, and there is no pool described. Gallatin County, Park Service land, open, with West Yellowstone the nearest town on file. A USGS site number and a 2007 chemistry sample are attached. This is something to watch from the path.

Location

A tenth of a mile from the road, though the record leaves the road unnamed. Elevation about 7,500 feet. Cold on record, with an annual average in the mid thirties and snowfall around eleven and a half feet. Precipitation moderate. Yellowstone National Park land, no other designation listed. Roaring Mountain is the named feature the vents belong to.

Steam vents are hot ground. Keep to the walkway. No best months are listed, so summer, when the roads are clear, is the sensible call. Indian Creek Campground is about seven miles off, the nearest camp on record. No fee on file. Temperature is not recorded, so do not assume anything about the water.

History of Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain

The USGS carries a site for this point, and the chemistry on file was sampled in September 2007.

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 Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain.

Aerial view of the ground around Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain
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
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the southeast.
Highest ground nearby
339 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, 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 19°F warmer than the land around it.

Aerial view of the ground around Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain Landsat thermal view of the same ground around Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain
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
130 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 80% 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
17°
Feb
25°
Mar
30°
Apr
38°
May
50°
Jun
60°
Jul
59°
Aug
49°
Sep
34°
Oct
22°
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 59° Low 33° Sunny
Wednesday 66° Low 39° Sunny
Thursday 63° Low 38° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 74% precip
Friday 55° Low 33° Rain Showers Likely 62% precip
Saturday 58° Low 33° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 29% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 2007-09-18

The water at Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain is slightly acidic (pH 6.0).

pH 6.0 Slightly Acidic
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 5 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 1 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 5 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 2 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 1 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Indian Creek Campground (Wy) 7.3 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 7,540 ft

Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain sits at 7,540 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 30% 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 Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.1 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 Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain?
Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain is classified as hot. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.
Where is Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain located?
Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,540 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.7810°N, 110.7380°W.
How do I get to Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain?
Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain free to visit?
Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain?
Yes, Indian Creek Campground (Wy) is located nearby (7.3 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 6.0 (slightly acidic).
Sources: USGS NWIS