Mud Volcano
Mud Volcano discharges at 131 degrees Fahrenheit just 11 meters from Grand Loop Road at 7,744 feet elevation, providing immediate roadside access to acidic thermal activity. The water runs 97 degrees above the 34.2-degree ambient temperature in terrain receiving 125 inches of annual snow.
The feature sits in forested terrain where thermal activity has created barren ground and acid-killed trees. The site occupies the Mud Volcano thermal area east of Yellowstone Lake, named for vigorous mud pot and fumarole activity. The accessible location along the main park loop attracts heavy visitor traffic.
The site gained recognition from early park explorers, with accounts documenting violent hydrothermal explosions in the 1870s that reshaped the thermal basin. The feature's dramatic activity and roadside location made it a signature attraction, remaining under permanent National Park Service protection with minimal infrastructure beyond parking and boardwalks.
Visit year-round with winter access depending on road plowing. Boardwalks provide close viewing of thermal features with interpretive signage. Tower Fall Campground, 29.6 kilometers away, offers the nearest established camping. Arrive early morning or late afternoon in summer to avoid peak crowds at this popular roadside stop.
Is Mud Volcano worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
- Winter soaking with dramatic temperature contrast
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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...