# Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring, Wyoming

Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring in Wyoming. 205°F (96°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Gallatin County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/black-warrior-group-shelf-spring
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring?

No. The water at Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring reaches 205°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 205°F (96°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 7,360 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 346 ft from the nearest road (Firehole Lake Drive) |
| Land | Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service |
| County | Gallatin County |
| Nearest town | West Yellowstone |
| Coordinates | 44.54400, -110.78800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BIG SPRINGS GRP. AREA - ISLAND PARK, 23.2 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking.** Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring reaches 205°F, far above safe soaking levels. Contact with this water will cause severe burns. Look for cooled downstream pools or view from a safe distance only.

## About Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring

Shelf Spring belongs to the Black Warrior Group of thermal features in Yellowstone National Park, about twelve miles from West Yellowstone. The reading on file is past two hundred degrees, scalding. OpenStreetMap labels the spot Hot Lake. Park Service land, open. Photo on file.

Firehole Lake Drive passes within a few hundred feet, a short walk. High country inside the park, cold year round with heavy snow. The nearest campground on record is the Big Springs group area at Island Park, more than twenty miles off.

Shelf Spring is the name it goes by inside the Black Warrior Group, while OpenStreetMap calls the same spot Hot Lake. The USGS keeps a site number on it.

Winter months rate best. Water this hot will scald instantly. Stay where the park puts you. No fee is listed. No chemistry sampled, though a USGS site record exists.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Jackson](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/wyoming/jackson), 69 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Wyoming](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming)
- [White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/white-dome-geyser-surprise-pool): 203°F source, Roadside, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Five Sisters Springs, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/five-sisters-springs): 192°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Fountain Paint Pot, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/fountain-paint-pot): 136°F source, Roadside, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [White Creek Group, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/white-creek-group): 185°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Fountain Group, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/fountain-group): 201°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Quagmire Group, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/quagmire-group): 203°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring?**
Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring has a water temperature of 205°F (96°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring located?**
Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,360 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.5440°N, 110.7880°W.

**How do I get to Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring?**
Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Firehole Lake Drive (346 ft from the road).

**Is Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring free to visit?**
Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.

**Can I camp near Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring?**
Yes, Big Springs Grp. Area   Island Park is located nearby (23.2 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring reaches 205°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