Beach Springs
Beach Springs flows in Yellowstone National Park near the East Entrance at 7,744 feet elevation, classified historically as hot but lacking specific temperature measurements in contemporary databases. Located 189.7 meters from East Entrance Road in Gallatin County, this short-walk thermal feature sits within the park's permanent protection zone under National Park Service management. The spring emerges in terrain receiving 26.9 inches of annual precipitation and 144 inches of snow where air temperatures average 35.1°F.
The spring discharges at 7,744 feet elevation in the park's eastern thermal basins, where geothermal features cluster along fault zones associated with the Yellowstone caldera's margins. East Entrance Road provides access through dense lodgepole pine forests that dominate this elevation band, with Yellowstone Lake visible to the west and the Absaroka Range rising to the east. The surrounding landscape consists of rhyolitic volcanic rocks and glacial deposits, with meadows and thermal areas punctuating the conifer forests. Yellowstone River drainage systems carry thermal waters through a terrain shaped by volcanism, glaciation, and ongoing hydrothermal activity.
Visit between June and October when East Entrance Road remains open and snow has melted from trails leading to the spring. Winter closure typically runs from early November through mid-May, with the 189-meter walk requiring navigation through snowpack exceeding 12 feet in depth during colder months. The 7,744-foot elevation creates cool conditions even in summer. Combine with Yellowstone Lake exploration and wildlife viewing along East Entrance Road corridor.
Beach Springs appears in early Yellowstone National Park thermal inventories compiled during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when USGS teams systematically catalogued the park's geothermal features. The name likely derives from descriptive physical characteristics observed by early park surveyors. Indigenous peoples including Shoshone, Bannock, and Crow traveled through this area for thousands of years. Park designation in 1872 placed the spring under federal protection, with contemporary National Park Service management maintaining strict preservation protocols.
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Overview Threemile Campground is located just three miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park, and 50 miles from the full service gateway community of Cody, in northwestern Wyoming. The area is an ideal destination for a family getaway, with many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Hard-sided camp trailers and RVs are required.Recreation Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available around the campground. The North Fork of the Sho...
Beach Springs sits at 7,744 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 31% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Beach Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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