Unnamed Thermal Spring

Gallatin County, Wyoming · Near West Yellowstone
44.7200°N, 110.7150°W · 7,470 ft
144°F 36°F air · Good soaking weather 7,470 ft Open Short Walk National Park Service Camping nearby (11.6 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 144°F, the source water at This spring 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.

An unnamed thermal point in Yellowstone, a fifth of a mile off the Grand Loop Road in Gallatin County. Scalding on record, just over the line where water burns on contact. The USGS has a site number here and there is a photo on file, but nothing names it. West Yellowstone is the nearest town listed. Park Service land, open.

Location

Short walk, around two tenths of a mile from the Grand Loop Road. Elevation near 7,500 feet. Snow on record a little over eleven feet, annual average mid thirties, moderate precipitation. National park land. No chemistry is on file for this one, only the temperature and the position. Nothing on record describes the feature.

Scalding; do not touch. The record rates winter as best, so confirm road access. Indian Creek Campground is the camp on record, about twelve miles off. No fee listed. No water chemistry is on record, so nothing is known about acidity.

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 this spring.

Aerial view of the ground around the spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around the spring
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
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the north.
Highest ground nearby
75 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the north
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.

Heat Below
135 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 85% 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
31°
Apr
39°
May
50°
Jun
61°
Jul
60°
Aug
50°
Sep
34°
Oct
22°
Nov
14°
Dec
Annual Precip: 27.4 in Annual Snow: 136.7 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 14°F · Water 144°F · +131° contrast
January Air 15°F · Water 144°F · +129° contrast
February Air 17°F · Water 144°F · +127° contrast
December offers 48°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
36°F
S 11.5 mph 64% Good soaking weather
Today 62° Low 32° Sunny
Spring is +82° warmer
Wednesday 68° Low 38° Sunny
Spring is +76° warmer
Thursday 65° Low 38° Showers And Thunderstorms 76% precip
Spring is +79° warmer
Friday 58° Low 32° Rain Showers Likely 61% precip
Spring is +86° warmer
Saturday 60° Low 32° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 27% precip
Spring is +84° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Indian Creek Campground (Wy) 11.6 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 7,470 ft

this spring sits at 7,470 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
144°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 144°F (62°C)
Avg Air Temp 35°F
Above Ambient +109°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Grand Loop Road
Distance to Road 0.2 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 ?
has a water temperature of 144°F (62°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is located?
is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,470 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.7200°N, 110.7150°W.
How do I get to ?
has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Grand Loop Road (0.2 mi from the road).
Is free to visit?
has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near ?
Yes, Indian Creek Campground (Wy) is located nearby (11.6 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at ?
No, not at the source. The water at reaches 144°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.