Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth Hot Springs is the big complex of hot springs on a travertine hill in Yellowstone National Park, Gallatin County, with a measured temperature hot enough to scald. It sits right beside Upper Terrace Drive. People come to look at the travertine, and there is a campground under a mile away. Park Service land, public access open.
Upper Terrace Drive runs within twenty feet of the springs, so this is a roadside stop. The springs rise on a hill of travertine. The elevation is around sixty-six hundred feet. Snowfall runs a bit over nine feet a year; the mean for the year is in the upper thirties. Precipitation is about two feet a year.
Best months on record are December through February. Mammoth Campground, less than a mile off, is the camping on record. The water is scalding; keep to established ground. Access is open and roadside, no fee recorded. With the road that near, winter access comes down to plowing, and the park sets that.
The travertine hill built up over thousands of years as hot water cooled at the surface and dropped calcium carbonate, the mineral that builds travertine. By one estimate more than two tons of it come up in solution every day, and the sheer number of vents keeps the travertine growing. The complex sits next to Fort Yellowstone and the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District.
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Overview Starting Tuesday April 15th, the Mammoth Campground is open and reservations are required. For reservations at the campgrounds managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges (Fishing Bridge RV Park, Bridge Bay, Canyon, Madison, and Grant Village campgrounds), please visit the Yellowstone National Park Lodges Camping website. Recreation There are many recreational opportunities in the Mammoth Hot Springs and the North area. Visit these pages to learn more:Boating Fishing Hiking Phot...
Mammoth Hot Springs sits at 6,589 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 26% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Mammoth Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot, so bring water shoes and test pools carefully. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Springs Near Mammoth Hot Springs
More Springs Around 163°F
Hike 6 waterfalls near Mammoth Hot Springs
Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming.