West Fork Swimming Hole
West Fork Swimming Hole emerges at 79 degrees Fahrenheit in the Beaverhead National Forest of Gallatin County, Montana, near West Yellowstone. At 6,617 feet elevation, this warm spring requires a 1,453-meter walk from the nearest road to reach. The water runs 42 degrees above the ambient annual air temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
The spring occupies high-elevation backcountry southwest of the Madison Range, deep in a landscape of lodgepole pine and Douglas fir forest. Heavy snowfall averaging 95.5 inches blankets the area each winter, and the short summers bring wildflower meadows along creek drainages. Wade Lake lies roughly 6.5 km away, set in a dense Douglas fir forest on a scenic hillside. The terrain is remote and sparsely visited, about 35 miles west of Yellowstone National Park.
Plan a summer trip between late June and early September, as deep snow closes backcountry access for most of the year. The 1.5 km approach requires sturdy footwear and basic navigation skills. Wade Lake Campground, 6.5 km away, provides reservable sites with vault toilets and drinking water. Nighttime temperatures at 6,600 feet drop below freezing even in July; pack warm layers and rain gear.
Documentation on the spring's history is limited. The name references its position along a west-flowing fork in the regional drainage system. The area has served as Forest Service backcountry since the early twentieth century with no known commercial development at the spring site. It remains a primitive, undeveloped thermal feature.
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Overview Wade Lake Campground is located in southwestern Montana on the shore of it’s scenic namesake lake. It is approximately 43 miles south of Ennis and 35 miles west of Yellowstone National Park. The 25 site campground, including two group sites, is situated in a dense Douglas Fir forest on the hillside above the lake. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water taps are provided in each of the two camping loops. The campground is situated on...
West Fork Swimming Hole sits at 6,617 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 26% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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West Fork Swimming Hole is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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