Steamboat Springs

Gallatin County, Wyoming · Near West Yellowstone
44.5300°N, 110.2970°W · 7,816 ft
198°F 28°F air · Good soaking weather 7,816 ft Open Roadside National Park Service Camping nearby (17.2 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 198°F, the source water at Steamboat Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Steamboat Springs here is the Yellowstone one, a roadside hot spring beside the East Entrance Road. Near-boiling on record. You can stand on the shoulder and look at it; the record puts it under forty feet from the road. Gallatin County, Park Service land, open. West Yellowstone is the town listed as nearest.

Location

Thirty-eight feet off the East Entrance Road, so no walk to speak of. Close to 7,800 feet of elevation. Snowfall on record runs around twelve feet, precipitation moderate, annual average in the mid thirties. Yellowstone National Park. The East Entrance Road is the only named landmark on file. Nothing is recorded about a pool or a runoff channel.

Keep your distance from the water, it runs close to boiling. The three winter months are what the record picks, so on the East Entrance Road the question becomes whether the plow has been through. Nearest camp anyone logged is Threemile at seventeen miles. No fee listed.

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 Steamboat Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Steamboat Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Steamboat 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
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the east.
Highest ground nearby
137 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
86 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 25% 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
17°
Feb
25°
Mar
30°
Apr
38°
May
49°
Jun
59°
Jul
60°
Aug
51°
Sep
37°
Oct
26°
Nov
16°
Dec
Annual Precip: 26.9 in Annual Snow: 144.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 16°F · Water 198°F · +182° contrast
December Air 16°F · Water 198°F · +182° contrast
February Air 17°F · Water 198°F · +181° contrast
January offers 44°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
28°F
N 0.0 mph 85% Good soaking weather
Today 59° Low 38° Sunny
Spring is +139° warmer
Wednesday 63° Low 41° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +135° warmer
Thursday 61° Low 42° Showers And Thunderstorms 79% precip
Spring is +137° warmer
Friday 54° Low 37° Rain Showers Likely 62% precip
Spring is +144° warmer
Saturday 57° Low 36° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 32% precip
Spring is +141° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Threemile Campground 17.2 mi away

Overview Threemile Campground is located just three miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park, and 50 miles from the full service gateway community of Cody, in northwestern Wyoming. The area is an ideal destination for a family getaway, with many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Hard-sided camp trailers and RVs are required.Recreation Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available around the campground. The North Fork of the Sho...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 7,816 ft

Steamboat Springs sits at 7,816 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
198°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 198°F (92°C)
Avg Air Temp 36°F
Above Ambient +163°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road East Entrance Road
Distance to Road 38 ft
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 Steamboat Springs?
Steamboat Springs has a water temperature of 198°F (92°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Steamboat Springs located?
Steamboat Springs is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,816 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.5300°N, 110.2970°W.
How do I get to Steamboat Springs?
Steamboat Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being East Entrance Road (38 ft from the road).
Is Steamboat Springs free to visit?
Steamboat Springs has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near Steamboat Springs?
Yes, Threemile Campground is located nearby (17.2 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Steamboat Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Steamboat Springs reaches 198°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.