Hot Springs On Upper Sour Creek
Hot Springs on Upper Sour Creek emerges at 194 degrees Fahrenheit in Yellowstone's extreme backcountry at 8,585 feet elevation, nearly six miles from Grand Loop Road. The 163-degree temperature differential between spring water and ambient air creates massive steam plumes in terrain averaging just 31.5 degrees Fahrenheit annually. Access requires technical backcountry skills.
Perched at 8,585 feet on Sour Creek's upper reaches, this spring occupies high-elevation plateau country in Gallatin County. The harsh environment receives 143 inches of snow with 28 inches of total precipitation, limiting vegetation to scattered whitebark pine, alpine grasses, and willow thickets along drainages. Sour Creek flows northeast toward the Lamar River through increasingly steep terrain. Thermal features dot the creek corridor, creating biological hotspots in otherwise frozen landscape.
Sour Creek's name derives from sulfurous thermal water acidifying the drainage. USGS geologists surveyed these remote thermal features during Yellowstone research programs in the 1960s and 1970s, cataloging temperature and flow characteristics. The spring area has seen minimal human impact beyond scientific study, protected by extreme remoteness and National Park Service wilderness designation since 1872. Indigenous travel routes likely skirted this high country.
Reaching this spring demands expert wilderness navigation across more than nine kilometers of trailless high country from Grand Loop Road. Visits possible only during brief August-September window between snowmelt and autumn storms. Essential gear includes satellite communication device, cold-weather layers, and grizzly bear precautions. Mandatory backcountry permit required. Tower Fall Campground lies 24 kilometers away.
Is Hot Springs On Upper Sour Creek worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
- Backpacking adventures
- Overnight camping trips
- Winter soaking with dramatic temperature contrast
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking
- Day trips with young children
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Overview Tower Fall Campground—elevation 6,600 feet (2012 m)—is on the north side of the steep, winding, road to Dunraven Pass. The campground is near the Tower General Store and Tower Fall. The Lamar Valley, with spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities, is nearby as are several Day Hikes in the Tower and Northeast Area. Roosevelt Lodge, a short drive from the campground, offers dining and horseback riding. For reservations at the campgrounds managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges (F...