# Excelsior Geyser Crater, Wyoming

Excelsior Geyser Crater in Wyoming. 199°F (93°C). Roadside · Public Land. Gallatin County.

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

## Can you soak at Excelsior Geyser Crater?

No. The water at Excelsior Geyser Crater reaches 199°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 199°F (93°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 7,240 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 222 ft from the nearest road (Grand Loop Road) |
| Land | Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service |
| County | Gallatin County |
| Nearest town | West Yellowstone |
| Coordinates | 44.52600, -110.83500 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BIG SPRINGS GRP. AREA - ISLAND PARK, 20.8 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Geyser: Not a Soaking Spring.** Excelsior Geyser Crater 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 Excelsior Geyser Crater

Excelsior Geyser Crater is what is left of a big fountain geyser that no longer erupts. It sits in the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park, on the Gallatin County side of Wyoming, with West Yellowstone the closest town on record at around fourteen miles. The water is near boiling. OpenStreetMap tags this spot as Indigo Spring, so expect to see both names. Anyone can visit, and visiting means looking. Soaking is out of the question at that heat.

This one is roadside. The Grand Loop Road passes a couple hundred feet from the crater on National Park Service land. The basin sits at roughly 7,200 feet and the climate on file is cold, with a hundred and fifty inches of snow in a typical year. Expect a long winter.

Excelsior was a fountain-type geyser that went dormant, and the name on the map today is Excelsior Geyser Crater. Yellowstone superintendent P. W. Norris named it in 1881. OpenStreetMap records the same spot as Indigo Spring.

The record lists December through February as the best months, and since those are also the snowiest, winter access depends entirely on what the park opens up. Roadside access, open to the public. The closest campground on file is the Big Springs group area over at Island Park, about twenty miles away. The water is near boiling and will scald instantly. Keep well back from the rim.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Jackson](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/wyoming/jackson), 68 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Wyoming](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming)
- [Flood Group, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/flood-group): 203°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Rabbit Creek Group, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/rabbit-creek-group): 198°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Hot Springs, Rabbit Creek Group, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/hot-springs-rabbit-creek-group): 198°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Fairy Springs, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/fairy-springs): 201°F source, Hike, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [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
- [Springs On Fairy Creek, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/springs-on-fairy-creek): Hot, Hike, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Excelsior Geyser Crater?**
Excelsior Geyser Crater has a water temperature of 199°F (93°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Excelsior Geyser Crater located?**
Excelsior Geyser Crater is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,240 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.5260°N, 110.8350°W.

**How do I get to Excelsior Geyser Crater?**
Excelsior Geyser Crater has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Grand Loop Road (222 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Excelsior Geyser Crater?**
Yes, Big Springs Grp. Area   Island Park is located nearby (20.8 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Excelsior Geyser Crater?**
No, not at the source. The water at Excelsior Geyser Crater reaches 199°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/Excelsior_Geyser