Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain
Steam Vents at Roaring Mountain create fumarole displays in Yellowstone National Park at 7,540 feet elevation, accessible via a 233-meter walk from the Grand Loop Road where steam-heated groundwater and volcanic gases emerge from fractured rhyolite.
The thermal feature occupies a hillside of altered volcanic rock between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction where acidic vapors have converted rhyolite to white and yellow clay minerals. At 7,540 feet on Yellowstone's northern plateau, the site receives 28 inches of precipitation and 138 inches of snowfall annually. Dead standing timber surrounds active fumaroles where ground temperatures kill tree roots. The barren white slopes contrast sharply with adjacent lodgepole forest, visible from the Grand Loop Road below.
Roaring Mountain gained its name from intense fumarole activity in the 1880s when steam jets could be heard from considerable distance. Thermal activity has varied over subsequent decades, with current steam vents representing subdued expression of the underlying hydrothermal system. USGS monitoring documents pH 6.0 and dilute chemistry in condensed steam samples. The feature continues as a roadside thermal display along the main park circuit.
Visit May through October when the Grand Loop Road operates. Winter access requires snowcoach from Mammoth. The short walk from parking areas allows quick stops on Yellowstone circuit tours. Ground temperature and acidic conditions prevent close approach; designated viewing areas protect both visitors and thermal features. Indian Creek Campground lies 12 kilometers south for quieter camping than Mammoth or Canyon areas.
Is Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Steam Vents At Roaring Mountain is slightly acidic (pH 6.0).
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Overview Located about eight miles (13 km) south of Mammoth Hot Springs on the road to Norris, Indian Creek Campground—elevation 7,300 feet (2225 m)—sits near the base of the Gallatin Mountains and offers breathtaking views of Electric Peak. The area offers easy access to fishing and hiking. The campground is away from the main road and provides a quieter, more primitive, experience than many other locations. For reservations at the campgrounds managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges (Fi...