Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring
LaDuke Hot Spring, also called Corwin Hot Spring, discharges at 154°F on the Gallatin National Forest in Gallatin County, Montana. At 5,160 feet elevation and just 78 meters from the road, it is effectively roadside. The water runs a dramatic 112.5°F above the ambient annual temperature of 41.5°F. The site is federally managed and open to the public.
The spring lies in the Yellowstone River canyon between Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs, in the gateway corridor to Yellowstone National Park. Steep canyon walls of Precambrian metamorphic rock and Paleozoic sedimentary layers frame the narrow valley. At 5,160 feet, the vegetation transitions from sagebrush-grassland on south-facing slopes to Douglas-fir on north aspects. Annual snowfall exceeds 118 inches, and the Yellowstone River runs within earshot. The Absaroka Range rises to the east, the Gallatin Range to the west.
The dual name reflects two historical figures: LaDuke and Corwin, both associated with early settlement in the Yellowstone gateway region. The spring has been known since the 1800s and was noted in early geological surveys of the Yellowstone area. It sits on Gallatin National Forest land immediately north of the Yellowstone National Park boundary. Eagle Creek Campground, 9 km away on Jardine Road above Gardiner, has 20 sites at 6,100 feet elevation overlooking park peaks.
The spring is accessible year-round via Highway 89 between Livingston and Gardiner. The 154°F source temperature is extremely dangerous — do not touch or enter the outflow. Winter driving on Highway 89 can be challenging; check conditions. Eagle Creek Campground near Gardiner accepts reservations and makes a practical base. Combine a visit with Yellowstone National Park, whose north entrance at Gardiner is minutes away.
Is Laduke (Corwin) Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking
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Overview Eagle Creek Campground is located 2 miles northeast of the town of Gardiner on Jardine Road and approximately 55 miles south of the city of Livingston along scenic HWY 89 S. At an elevation of 6100 feet, the campground overlooks Yellowstone National Park's majestic peaks. This 20-site campground has gravel roads with unpaved sites that accommodate a maximum of 48’ RVs. The Yellowstone River Trailhead is also located within this campground. Vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables,...