Five Sisters Springs
Five Sisters Springs flows at 192 degrees Fahrenheit in Yellowstone's Lower Geyser Basin, accessible via a third-mile walk from Firehole Lake Drive and named for its multiple closely-spaced vents that suggest familial clustering.
The spring complex emerges at 7,340 feet elevation in Gallatin County along Firehole Lake Drive, one of the park's scenic side roads. The thermal feature sits amid the vast Lower Geyser Basin, where geyserite deposits and thermophilic microbial mats create colorful bands around runoff channels. Lodgepole pine forests surround the basin margins while steam vents and hot springs dot the flats. Annual snowfall of 141 inches blankets the landscape from November through May, with average temperatures of 36 degrees Fahrenheit producing dramatic winter steam displays.
The name references the spring's multiple vents, though specific naming history remains undocumented in park records. The Lower Geyser Basin saw early exploration during the 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition and the 1871 Hayden Survey, which helped establish the case for park creation. The National Park Service has managed the feature since 1916 under permanent natural protection status.
Access the spring from Firehole Lake Drive, typically open June through October depending on snowpack. The short walk crosses boardwalks and packed trails suitable for most visitors. Mornings provide better lighting for photography and fewer crowds. Bring layers as temperatures can swing 40 degrees between morning and afternoon. Winter road closures make the area accessible only by snowmobile or cross-country skis with permit.
Is Five Sisters Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
- Overnight camping trips
- Winter soaking with dramatic temperature contrast
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking
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Overview Big Springs Group Area is located 22 miles south of West Yellowstone, Montana in beautiful Island Park, Idaho at an approximate elevation of 6,300 feet. Visitors love Island Park for its world-class fishing and outstanding scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities.Recreation Big Springs is the headwaters of Henry's Fork and is one of the largest springs in the country. Henry's Fork is considered one of the best fly-fishing streams in the nation. Fishermen cast for rainbow and brook...