Steele Hot Springs

Sublette County, Wyoming · Near Pinedale
42.7500°N, 109.6160°W · 7,065 ft
102°F 7,065 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (5.4 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Steele Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Steele Hot 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.

Steele Hot Springs sits in Sublette County roughly fifteen miles from Pinedale, a soaking warm spring with strongly alkaline water. Five hundred feet or so of walking from Fremont Butte Road. Land ownership and public access are both blank on file, and that gap matters more than the temperature here.

Location

High sagebrush country near Fremont Butte, at around seven thousand feet. Snow piles deep, more than eighty inches in an average winter, and the year's mean temperature sits in the high thirties. The walk in is short, about a tenth of a mile. What the spring looks like once you arrive is not recorded.

Winter is the best season on file. Large Vehicle Campground is listed five and a half miles off. The pH reading of 9.3 comes from a September 1966 sample, so both chemistry and temperature are old. Who owns the ground is unknown, and so is whether the public may enter. Find that out first.

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 Steele Hot Springs.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the east.
Highest ground nearby
234 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
93 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 36% 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
26°
Mar
33°
Apr
45°
May
58°
Jun
66°
Jul
64°
Aug
55°
Sep
39°
Oct
25°
Nov
14°
Dec
Annual Precip: 17.8 in Annual Snow: 84.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 14°F · Water 102°F · +88° contrast
January Air 15°F · Water 102°F · +87° contrast
February Air 17°F · Water 102°F · +85° contrast
December offers 52°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Clear WNW 20.9 mph
Today 71° Low 41° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +31° warmer
Wednesday 73° Low 44° Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 17% precip
Spring is +29° warmer
Thursday 72° Low 40° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 69% precip
Spring is +30° warmer
Friday 68° Low 33° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 26% precip
Spring is +34° warmer
Saturday 68° Low 32° Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 13% precip
Spring is +34° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1966-09-22

The water at Steele Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.3).

pH 9.3 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 2 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 91 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 14 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 70 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Large Vehicle Campground 5.4 mi away

The Large Vehicle Campground located within Scab Creek Recreation Area provides 7 campsites for those wishing to camp with packs stock, trailers, large RV's or campers. There are corrals provided in the campground for pack stock. Vault toilette and potable water can be found up the road at the pack stock staging area, also within the Scab Creek Recreation Area.

Fee Non-Fee Area
Stay limit 14 Days
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 7,065 ft

Steele Hot Springs sits at 7,065 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 28% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
102°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 102°F (39°C)
Avg Air Temp 38°F
Above Ambient +64°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Fremont Butte Road
Distance to Road 521 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Steele Hot Springs?
Steele Hot Springs has a water temperature of 102°F (39°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Steele Hot Springs located?
Steele Hot Springs is located in Sublette County, Wyoming at 7,065 feet elevation, near Pinedale. Coordinates: 42.7500°N, 109.6160°W.
How do I get to Steele Hot Springs?
Steele Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Fremont Butte Road (521 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Steele Hot Springs?
Yes, Large Vehicle Campground is located nearby (5.4 miles away). Non-Fee Area.
What minerals are in the water at Steele Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.3 (alkaline).
Sources: USGS NWIS