# Artists Paintpots, Wyoming

Artists Paintpots in Wyoming. 199°F (93°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Gallatin County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/artists-paintpots
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Artists Paintpots?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 199°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road. It's on National Park Service land.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 199°F (93°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 5.4 (Acidic) |
| Elevation | 7,400 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.3 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service |
| County | Gallatin County |
| Nearest town | West Yellowstone |
| Coordinates | 44.69300, -110.73800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Indian Creek Campground (WY), 13.4 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 199°F, the source water at Artists Paintpots 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.

## About Artists Paintpots

Artists Paintpots is a cluster of scalding thermal features in Yellowstone National Park, with West Yellowstone the nearest town on the record. The water is near boiling and sharply acidic, with iron among the minerals sampled. Public access is open. A photo is on file.

It is a walk of about a third of a mile from an unnamed road, on National Park Service ground in the high country of the park. Snow buries the place all winter, and the mid thirties is what the year averages out to. Indian Creek Campground, thirteen or so miles off, is the nearest on record.

OpenStreetMap spells the name Artists' Paintpots, with the apostrophe. The USGS maintains a site record here and sampled the water in September 2006.

Winter months rate best on file. The water scalds on contact and the acidity on record is strong. Park rules apply. No separate fee is listed. Chemistry dates to a 2006 USGS sample.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 2006-09-12 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 5.4 |
| Calcium | 3.97 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.17 mg/L |
| Sodium | 240 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 115 mg/L |
| Chloride | 329 mg/L |
| Iron | 40 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Cody](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/wyoming/cody), 77 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Wyoming](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming)
- [Geyser Springs Group, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/geyser-springs-group): 201°F source, pH 5.4, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/unnamed-spring-gallatin-county-7): 187°F source, pH 6.7, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Gibbon Hill Geyser, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/gibbon-hill-geyser): 199°F source, pH 5.6, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Monument Geyser Basin, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/monument-geyser-basin): 197°F source, pH 6.7, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Beryl Spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/beryl-spring): 198°F source, pH 6.7, Roadside, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Chocolate Pots, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/chocolate-pots): 124°F source, pH 5.8, Roadside, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Artists Paintpots?**
Artists Paintpots has a water temperature of 199°F (93°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Artists Paintpots located?**
Artists Paintpots is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,400 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.6930°N, 110.7380°W.

**How do I get to Artists Paintpots?**
Artists Paintpots has Short Walk road access (0.3 mi from the road).

**Is Artists Paintpots free to visit?**
Artists Paintpots has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.

**Can I camp near Artists Paintpots?**
Yes, Indian Creek Campground (Wy) is located nearby (13.4 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Artists Paintpots?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 5.4 (acidic).

**Is it safe to soak at Artists Paintpots?**
No, not at the source. The water at Artists Paintpots reaches 199°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals