Kelly Warm Spring
Kelly Warm Spring flows at 81 degrees Fahrenheit just 108 meters from Gros Ventre Road at 6,684 feet elevation in Grand Teton National Park. The moderate temperature runs 42 degrees above the 38.9-degree ambient air in terrain receiving 135 inches of annual snowfall.
The spring emerges in sagebrush-dotted terrain with views of Blacktail Butte and the Teton Range. The nearby Gros Ventre River winds through cottonwood groves, supporting moose, bison, and mule deer populations. Elevation places the feature in the transition zone between valley floor and mountain slopes.
The spring takes its name from the nearby settlement of Kelly, established by homesteaders in the early 1900s. The area saw limited thermal development compared to other regional springs, remaining relatively undisturbed within park boundaries since Grand Teton's expansion.
Access from spring through fall when Gros Ventre Road remains open. The short walk from roadside parking requires no special equipment. Gros Ventre Campground, 4.9 kilometers distant, offers established camping with river access. Watch for wildlife crossing the road, particularly at dawn and dusk.
Is Kelly Warm Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Overnight camping trips
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Overview Gros Ventre (pronounced ‘grow-vont’), means “big belly” in French, and the Gros Ventre Campground—surrounded by cottonwood trees and featuring stunning views of Blacktail Butte and the Teton Mountains—is truly magnificent! The campground’s location next to the Gros Ventre River offers some of the best opportunities in the park for wildlife sightings, as bison, moose, mule deer and a wide variety of birds are known to frequent the area. For avid anglers, the Gros Ventre River offers p...