# Unnamed thermal spring, Wyoming

Unnamed thermal spring in Wyoming. 201°F (94°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Gallatin County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/unnamed-spring-gallatin-county-4
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at this spring?

No. The water at this spring reaches 201°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 201°F (94°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 4.5 (Acidic) |
| Elevation | 7,510 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.2 mi from the nearest road (Grand Loop Road) |
| Land | Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service |
| County | Gallatin County |
| Nearest town | West Yellowstone |
| Coordinates | 44.72200, -110.70800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Indian Creek Campground (WY), 11.5 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking.** This spring reaches 201°F, far above safe soaking levels. Contact with this water will cause severe burns. Look for cooled downstream pools or view from a safe distance only.

## About Unnamed thermal spring

An unnamed thermal point in the Norris area of Yellowstone, matched in the record to Big Alcove Spring. It runs above boiling. The 2007 sample came back strongly acidic with iron in it. Two tenths of a mile out from Grand Loop Road, in Gallatin County. Federal park land. Anyone can walk up. West Yellowstone is closer than any other town.

A short walk off the Grand Loop Road, two tenths of a mile. Elevation around 7,500 feet. Snowfall on record near eleven and a half feet, with an annual average in the mid thirties. Moderate precipitation. Yellowstone National Park land, no other designation listed. There is a USGS site record and a photo on file.

Wikipedia's Big Alcove Spring, the feature the record links here, is a hot spring in Norris Geyser Basin measured at 198 degrees in 1996. The USGS site record holds a sample from September 2007 showing iron among the minerals.

Above boiling and acid, a bad combination for skin. Keep to the route. Winter months are on record as best; confirm the road is open. Indian Creek Campground is the closest camp on record, about twelve miles. No fee listed.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 2007-09-20 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 4.5 |
| Calcium | 4.37 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.02 mg/L |
| Sodium | 348 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 51.1 mg/L |
| Chloride | 601 mg/L |
| Iron | 0 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Cody](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/wyoming/cody), 76 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Wyoming](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming)
- [Echinus Geyser, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/echinus-geyser): 185°F source, pH 3.4, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/unnamed-spring-gallatin-county-5): 144°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/unnamed-spring-gallatin-county-3): 192°F source, pH 7.2, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Horseshoe Spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/horseshoe-spring-2): 187°F source, pH 3.6, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Cistern Spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/cistern-spring): 199°F source, pH 3.6, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Gas Vent, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/gas-vent-1): Hot, pH 3.0, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at ?**
 has a water temperature of 201°F (94°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is  located?**
 is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,510 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.7220°N, 110.7080°W.

**How do I get to ?**
 has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Grand Loop Road (0.2 mi from the road).

**Is  free to visit?**
 has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.

**Can I camp near ?**
Yes, Indian Creek Campground (Wy) is located nearby (11.5 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at ?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 4.5 (acidic).

**Is it safe to soak at ?**
No, not at the source. The water at  reaches 201°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Alcove_Spring