Washburn Hot Springs
Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.
Washburn Hot Springs is a scalding thermal area in Yellowstone National Park, a little over a mile's walk from the Grand Loop Road. The water is near boiling. Nobody soaks here. It is open to visit under park rules, and the Park Service owns the ground.
Over 8,200 feet on the Yellowstone plateau, the highest spring in this batch. Hike of about 1.3 miles from the Grand Loop Road. Cold mean temperature, 32 degrees, with snow near 133 inches a year and a wet climate. No route detail is on file.
Winter listed as best, though the snow will rule. Tower Fall Campground is just under nine miles away. Scalding water; stay on established ground. No chemistry is on file.
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 Washburn Hot Springs.
- Setting
- Hillside
- The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the north.
- Highest ground nearby
- 120 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the north
A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 79% 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.
See every spring on the geothermal heat map →
Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.
Overview Tower Fall Campground—elevation 6,600 feet (2012 m)—is on the north side of the steep, winding, road to Dunraven Pass. The campground is near the Tower General Store and Tower Fall. The Lamar Valley, with spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities, is nearby as are several Day Hikes in the Tower and Northeast Area. Roosevelt Lodge, a short drive from the campground, offers dining and horseback riding. For reservations at the campgrounds managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges (F...
At 8,248 feet, Washburn Hot Springs is in high-altitude territory where the air is noticeably thinner. Soaking in hot water accelerates dehydration and can amplify altitude effects like headache and fatigue. UV radiation is roughly 33% stronger here. Wear sunscreen even on overcast days and take breaks from the water to rehydrate.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Springs Near Washburn Hot Springs
More Springs Around 196°F
Hike 6 waterfalls near Washburn Hot Springs
Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Washburn Hot Springs, Wyoming.