Beryl Spring
Beryl Spring reaches 198°F in Yellowstone's Gibbon Geyser Basin, creating one of the park's hottest and most accessible superheated pools that boils up to 4 feet high. Positioned just 24.9 meters from Grand Loop Road at 7,320 feet elevation, this roadside thermal feature emerges 163.2 degrees above ambient air temperature with distinctive blue-green coloration from thermophilic organisms. Recent USGS measurements recorded 90.7°C with pH 6.7 and sodium-dominated chemistry at 407 mg/L.
The spring flows at 7,320 feet in the Gibbon Geyser Basin, where concentrated thermal features line the Gibbon River corridor between Norris and Madison junctions. Rhyolitic volcanic rocks and hydrothermal alteration create the white, yellow, and orange terrain surrounding the vivid blue pool. Lodgepole pine forests border the geyser basin on both sides, with meadows and thermal areas breaking the forest continuity. The basin sits within the Yellowstone caldera's northern ring fracture zone, where magmatic heat drives vigorous hydrothermal circulation. The Gibbon River carries thermal discharge northward through the landscape.
Visit year-round via Grand Loop Road, which receives regular winter plowing to maintain access to park thermal basins. The roadside location allows viewing from paved pullouts without trail hiking. Respect all thermal area closures and remain on designated walkways, as scalding water at 198°F causes severe burns. The spring's continuous activity provides reliable viewing regardless of season. Combine with other Gibbon Geyser Basin features including Artists Paintpots and Norris Geyser Basin 8 miles south.
The USGS Hague party named Beryl Spring in 1883 during systematic thermal feature surveys that established baseline nomenclature still used today. Party members chose the name for the blue-green coloration resembling the gemstone beryl. Indigenous peoples traveled through the Gibbon basin for thousands of years before park establishment in 1872. The spring maintains its natural state under National Park Service protection, with boardwalks and viewing areas constructed nearby to manage visitor access while preserving thermal features.
The water at Beryl Spring is slightly acidic (pH 6.7). It is notably rich in sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration) and chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).
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Overview Located about eight miles (13 km) south of Mammoth Hot Springs on the road to Norris, Indian Creek Campground—elevation 7,300 feet (2225 m)—sits near the base of the Gallatin Mountains and offers breathtaking views of Electric Peak. The area offers easy access to fishing and hiking. The campground is away from the main road and provides a quieter, more primitive, experience than many other locations. For reservations at the campgrounds managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges (Fi...
Beryl Spring sits at 7,320 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 29% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Beryl Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot — bring water shoes and test pools carefully. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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