# Echinus Geyser, Wyoming

Echinus Geyser in Wyoming. 185°F (85°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Gallatin County.

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

## Can you soak at Echinus Geyser?

No. The water at Echinus Geyser reaches 185°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 185°F (85°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 3.4 (Acidic) |
| Elevation | 7,510 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 511 ft from the nearest road (Grand Loop Road) |
| Land | Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service |
| County | Gallatin County |
| Nearest town | West Yellowstone |
| Coordinates | 44.72200, -110.70100 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Indian Creek Campground (WY), 11.6 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Geyser: Not a Soaking Spring.** Echinus Geyser is a geyser, not a traditional hot spring. These geothermal features can be extremely dangerous. Boiling water, toxic gases, and unstable ground are common hazards. Do not attempt to soak.

## About Echinus Geyser

Scalding and sharply acidic, Echinus Geyser is a geyser inside Yellowstone National Park, in the Gallatin County corner of Wyoming. The record puts West Yellowstone about two miles off. When the Geological Survey sampled the water in 2007 it came out hotter than anything you would want near skin, with a pH low enough to count as strongly acidic. There is no soaking in water like that. This is a geyser to stand back from, on National Park Service ground that anyone may visit.

A few hundred feet separate the geyser from the Grand Loop Road, so getting there is a short walk, well under a quarter mile. The ground is high, around seven and a half thousand feet. The climate on file is cold year round, and snow totals run past a hundred and thirty inches. Winter buries this place. The land belongs to the National Park Service as part of Yellowstone.

Deep winter, December through February, is the season rated best here, and that coincides with the heaviest snow, so check what the park has open before building a trip around it. From the road it is a short walk, and access is public. The nearest camping is Indian Creek Campground, a bit under twelve miles off. Scalding water. Keep back from the edge and hold onto children, because contact will burn.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 2007-07-10 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 3.4 |
| Calcium | 4.59 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.51 mg/L |
| Sodium | 181 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 286 mg/L |
| Chloride | 160 mg/L |
| Iron | 1,850 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Cody](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/wyoming/cody), 76 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Wyoming](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming)
- [Unnamed thermal spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/unnamed-spring-gallatin-county-4): 201°F source, pH 4.5, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/unnamed-spring-gallatin-county-3): 192°F source, pH 7.2, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/unnamed-spring-gallatin-county-5): 144°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Cistern Spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/cistern-spring): 199°F source, pH 3.6, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Horseshoe Spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/horseshoe-spring-2): 187°F source, pH 3.6, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Gas Vent, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/gas-vent-1): Hot, pH 3.0, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Echinus Geyser?**
Echinus Geyser has a water temperature of 185°F (85°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Echinus Geyser located?**
Echinus Geyser is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,510 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.7220°N, 110.7010°W.

**How do I get to Echinus Geyser?**
Echinus Geyser has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Grand Loop Road (511 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Echinus Geyser?**
Yes, Indian Creek Campground (Wy) is located nearby (11.6 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Echinus Geyser?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 3.4 (acidic).

**Is it safe to soak at Echinus Geyser?**
No, not at the source. The water at Echinus Geyser reaches 185°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
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Spring