Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone
Flat Cone Spring flows at 205 degrees Fahrenheit, among the hottest features in Yellowstone's inventory, paired with Steep Cone to form a dual-cone thermal complex that heats water 169 degrees above the 36-degree ambient air temperature.
The spring emerges at 7,206 feet elevation in Gallatin County, requiring a 1.8-mile hike into backcountry thermal areas west of the Grand Loop Road. The landscape features scattered lodgepole pine transitioning to thermally barren ground around sinter cones and steam vents. Winter brings 141 inches of snow while annual precipitation totals 28 inches, creating wet meadows between thermal clusters. The Firehole River drainage system collects runoff from surrounding thermal features across this western section of Lower Geyser Basin.
Plan for a 3.6-mile round-trip hike across uneven terrain with thermal hazards. Visit between late June and September when trails are passable; snow lingers into early summer at this elevation. Carry adequate water as no safe drinking sources exist along the route. Stay on established paths as thermal crusts conceal scalding water. Rangers occasionally close areas due to bear activity or thermal changes.
The descriptive names distinguish between the spring's two cone structures, one spreading laterally while the other rises steeply. Early park surveys documented these features but specific naming dates remain unclear in archival records. The National Park Service has maintained the springs under the strictest protection classification since assuming management, preserving them in unmodified natural condition.
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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...
Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone sits at 7,206 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 29% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Flat Cone Spring, Steep Cone is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot — bring water shoes and test pools carefully. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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