Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs
Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs emerges at 5,390 feet along the extensive shoreline of Buffalo Bill Reservoir, classified as warm without measured temperature data. Located 1,173 meters from the nearest road, this short-walk spring flows within state park boundaries receiving protection under Bureau of Reclamation management while remaining subject to extractive uses and intensive recreation. The spring discharges in terrain receiving 19.1 inches of annual precipitation and 63.5 inches of snow with temperatures averaging 41.8°F annually.
The spring flows at 5,390 feet in Park County where Buffalo Bill Reservoir extends through the Shoshone River canyon carved into sedimentary formations of the Absaroka Range foothills. The semi-arid landscape receives modest precipitation compared to Yellowstone highlands to the west, supporting sagebrush-grassland vegetation with scattered juniper and pine. Reservoir operations create fluctuating water levels that expose altered shoreline zones during drawdown periods. The surrounding terrain consists of uplifted Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks cut by the ancestral Shoshone River, now impounded behind Buffalo Bill Dam 30 kilometers downstream.
Visit between April and October when weather and reservoir access conditions permit shoreline exploration. The 1,173-meter approach from roadways requires hiking across variable terrain affected by seasonal water levels and reservoir operations. Winter brings moderate snowfall totaling 63.5 inches with temperatures averaging 41.8°F. The warm spring temperature limits bathing opportunities. Bobcat-Houlihan Campground 30.8 kilometers away provides basic camping facilities with horse amenities and trail access. Combine with Buffalo Bill Dam historic site and scenic drives along North Fork Highway toward Yellowstone.
This thermal spring takes its name from Buffalo Bill Reservoir, honoring William F. Cody, the frontier scout and Wild West showman who founded Cody in 1896 to promote irrigation development, tourism, and Yellowstone access. The spring existed along the natural Shoshone River corridor before dam construction from 1905-1910 created the reservoir, altering thermal discharge patterns and submerging original spring locations. Indigenous Crow, Shoshone, and other peoples traveled this corridor for thousands of years. Bureau of Reclamation management prioritizes irrigation storage over thermal resource considerations.
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The Bobcat-Houlihan Campground is at the trailhead of the Bobcat-Houlihan Trail. It features interpretive kiosks, horse trailer parking, horse hitching rails, food storage boxes and toilet facilities.
Buffalo Bill Reservoir Springs sits at 5,390 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 22% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Buffalo Bill Reservoir 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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