# White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool, Wyoming

White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool in Wyoming. 203°F (95°C). Roadside · Public Land. Gallatin County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/white-dome-geyser-surprise-pool
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool?

No. The water at White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool reaches 203°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 203°F (95°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 7,308 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 232 ft from the nearest road (Firehole Lake Drive) |
| Land | Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service |
| County | Gallatin County |
| Nearest town | West Yellowstone |
| Coordinates | 44.53700, -110.80100 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BIG SPRINGS GRP. AREA - ISLAND PARK, 22.6 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Geyser: Not a Soaking Spring.** White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool is a geyser, not a traditional hot spring. These geothermal features can be extremely dangerous. Boiling water, toxic gases, and unstable ground are common hazards. Do not attempt to soak.

## About White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool

Surprise Pool shares its record with White Dome Geyser, over in Yellowstone's Lower Geyser Basin. Firehole Lake Drive runs right alongside, under a hundred yards from the pavement. The reading comes a few degrees shy of 212, so you look and that is all you do. West Yellowstone lies about twelve miles off. Park Service ground, open to anyone.

Roadside. Firehole Lake Drive passes within a couple hundred feet, so reaching it takes almost no walking. The basin floor sits a little above 7,300 feet. Winters are long and deep, close to twelve feet of snow, and the temperature averaged over the year is in the mid thirties. Rain and snowmelt add up to a moderate amount. The Park Service owns and manages the ground.

Wikipedia describes Surprise Pool as a hot spring pool in the Lower Geyser Basin, near Great Fountain Geyser and A-0 Geyser. The USGS logs the spot under a numbered site.

The record puts the best visiting in midwinter. Find out first if the drive is open then, since snowfall is heavy. The Island Park campground called Big Springs Group Area is the closest camping on file, about 23 miles off. Nothing about this water is safe to touch. Severe burns follow the moment skin meets it. No fee is listed.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Jackson](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/wyoming/jackson), 69 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Wyoming](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming)
- [Five Sisters Springs, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/five-sisters-springs): 192°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [White Creek Group, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/white-creek-group): 185°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Black Warrior Group, Shelf Spring, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/black-warrior-group-shelf-spring): 205°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Fountain Paint Pot, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/fountain-paint-pot): 136°F source, Roadside, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Fountain Group, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/fountain-group): 201°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County
- [Hot Springs, Rabbit Creek Group, WY](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/wyoming/hot-springs-rabbit-creek-group): 198°F source, Short Walk, near West Yellowstone, Gallatin County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool?**
White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool has a water temperature of 203°F (95°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool located?**
White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool is located in Gallatin County, Wyoming at 7,308 feet elevation, near West Yellowstone. Coordinates: 44.5370°N, 110.8010°W.

**How do I get to White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool?**
White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Firehole Lake Drive (232 ft from the road).

**Is White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool free to visit?**
White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.

**Can I camp near White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool?**
Yes, Big Springs Grp. Area   Island Park is located nearby (22.6 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool?**
No, not at the source. The water at White Dome Geyser, Surprise Pool reaches 203°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/Surprise_Pool