Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park
| GPS: |
44°58'25.4"N 110°42'12.9"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Wyoming |
| Trails/Routes: | 0.1-5.3 mi |
Restrooms Picnic Tables Fishing National Park
Camp and Hike
Mammoth Hot Springs is a unique sight in Yellowstone National Park. The soft limestone in this area allowed the water to form colorful terraces. The extremely hot running water is clear and smooth, covering the rock formations with a glistening surface.
Hiking in this area provides views of these colorful terraces from different vantage points. The boardwalk style trail is easy to climb, with a 300-foot elevation and a total distance of about 1 mile. Visitors can expect to see the entire trail in about an hour.
Hikers looking for a longer, more forested trail can find that hiking Beaver Ponds Trail. This trail is a little over 5 miles long and is true to its name. Ponds and trees surround the trail making this a wonderful place to escape the larger crowds of Yellowstone and connect with nature.
Like other areas of Yellowstone, abundant amounts of wildlife can be seen by Mammoth Hot Springs. This area is especially known for the many Elk that frequent the trails and parking lot.
There are 85 campsites available year-round in Mammoth Hot Springs. The campsites in Mammoth Campground can not be reserved and are available on a first come first served basis. These campsites provide for RV’s as well as tent campers. There are restrooms available at the campsites.
Mammoth Hot Springs is a wonderful place to visit when you are looking to see unique thermal activity and wildlife any time of year.
More Information
Yellowstone National Park Itinerary
This Yellowstone National Park Itinerary will help you get started as you plan your vacation to Yellowstone National Park.
https://www.justgotravelstudios.com/collections/national-park-itineraries/products/yellowstone-national-park-itinerary?ref=9zpxis0diinBackcountry Conditions - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
The Backcountry Conditions Map and Area Condition Details are not updated during the winter season. Check back in late-April for current conditions.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/situationreport.htmBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park
- Head northeast on US-89 NToll road(184 ft)
- Sharp left onto US-89 SPartial toll road(0.4 mi)
- Turn leftDestination will be on the left(190 ft)
Getting Here by Bus
Bus service from Bozeman, MT to West Yellowstone, MT via Highway 191 is available all year. Bus service directly from Idaho to West Yellowstone is limited to the summer months. Commercial transportation from Bozeman, MT to Gardiner, MT is available during the winter and summer seasons. Commercial transportation to the park from Cody and Jackson, WY is available during the summer season. Contact local Chambers of Commerce for specific carriers and schedules.
tasiawhicker
1/17/19 9:07 am
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Beaver Ponds Trail
Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park
0.0 miles SWA 5-mile loop above Mammoth Hot Springs with beaver ponds of varying sizes, elk, wildflowers, birds, and occasional bear sightings — a perfect morning or evening hike.
Hike 8.1 mi
Sepulcher Mountain Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
0.0 miles WAn 11-mile loop from Mammoth Hot Springs to the 9,652-foot peak of Sepulcher Mountain, passing colorful meadows, aspen forests, and stunning views of Electric Peak — with frequent bighorn, moose, and grizzly sightings.
Hike
Mammoth/Gardiner Back Road
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
0.3 miles NEThe only road open into Yellowstone in winter runs from Gardiner, Montana through park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs and east to Silver Gate and Cooke City.
Hike, Mountain Bike 4.0 mi
Lava Creek Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
0.5 miles EA 4.2-mile hike along scenic Lava Creek to the 60-foot tiered Undine Falls, with distant Mammoth Hot Springs views, meadows, Mount Everts, and frequent elk and bison sightings.
Hike 2.0 mi
Snow Pass Trail
Yellowstone National Park Wyoming
1.1 miles SWA moderately difficult 2.4-mile out-and-back with 700 feet of gain near Mammoth Hot Springs, passing impressive boulder hoodoos and ending at a secluded mountain valley — hike in groups and carry bear spray.
Backpack, Hike 7.9 mi
Rescue Creek Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
3.1 miles NA level, well-marked 8-mile point-to-point hike across the Montana-Wyoming border through colorful grasslands near Yellowstone, with frequent bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and elk sightings.
Hike 4.0 mi
Bunsen Peak Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
3.1 miles SWA moderately difficult 4.6-mile hike to Bunsen Peak with a 1,300-foot climb and sweeping views of Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces, Swan Lake Flats, and the Gallatin Mountains.
Hike 7.8 mi
Osprey Falls Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
3.1 miles SWAn 8-mile out-and-back near Mammoth Hot Springs hiking green meadows and burned forest to the rim of Sheepeater Canyon and a breathtaking 150-foot waterfall on the Gardner River.
Hike 0.8 mi
Wraith Falls Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
4.5 miles SEA less-than-a-mile family-friendly hike near Mammoth Hot Springs to the unique fan-shaped 79-foot Wraith Falls — open year-round and easy for all skill levels.
Hike 7.4 mi
Blacktail Deer Creek to Yellowstone River Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
5.5 miles EA 7-mile out-and-back trail dropping through green fields and boulder formations to waterfall views along the Yellowstone River, with a suspension bridge connecting onward trails.
Hike
Forces of the Northern Range
Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park
6.8 miles EA half-mile boardwalk on Yellowstone's Blacktail Deer Plateau with mountain peak displays, a wildlife primer, and a view-packed introduction to the Northern Range's forces of nature.
Hike
Hellroaring Creek Trail
Yellowstone National Park
13.2 miles EA suspension bridge over the Yellowstone River leads to sandy creek-side beaches and a mild backcountry trail past Yellowstone's largest granite slab — great for all ages.
Camp, Hike, Swim 2.4 mi
Lost Lake Trail
Tower Junction, Yellowstone National Park
14.4 miles EAn easy 2.8-mile loop behind Roosevelt Lodge, winding through forest, meadows, and along the shores of Lost Lake — open year-round and finishable in under two hours.
Hike 8.2 mi
Garnet Hill Trail
Tower Junction, Yellowstone National Park
14.7 miles EA 7.6-mile loop through Yellowstone meadows, sagebrush, and riverside forest with exceptional wildlife — wolves, bears, bison, moose, elk, and badgers all roam this area.
Hike 7.3 mi
Agate Creek Trail
Tower Junction, Wyoming
15.3 miles EA moderately difficult 7.3-mile hike along Yellowstone River with colorful cliff overlooks, the Narrows, and a primitive riverside campground at trail's end.
Hike 0.3 mi
Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail
Tower Junction, Yellowstone National Park
15.4 miles EA 3.9-mile loop trail from a Yellowstone picnic area along the canyon rim of the Yellowstone River — steam vents, wildlife sightings in meadows, and canyon erosion views throughout.
Hike 16.9 mi
Specimen Ridge Trail (2K4)
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Hike
Tower Falls
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16.5 miles ETower Fall plunges 132 feet off Tower Creek in Yellowstone, framed by dramatic rock pinnacles — located about 3 miles south of Roosevelt Junction.
Camp, Hike 3.4 mi
Dunraven Pass - Mount Washburn Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
17.9 miles SEA 6-mile Yellowstone hike via Dunraven Pass through quiet forests to the summit of Mount Washburn — a panoramic perch with bighorn sheep in summer and grizzlies near pine nuts in fall.
Hike 16.3 mi
Mount Washburn Spur Trail
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HikeNearby Campsites
Mammoth Hot Springs Campground
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
0.5 miles EThe only year-round campground in Yellowstone, with 85 first-come sites at 5 miles from the North Entrance, walking distance to the famous Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces and nearby hiking and fishing.
Camp
Indian Creek Campground Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
6.6 miles SIndian Creek Campground is a quiet, wooded, tent-friendly Yellowstone campground near Mammoth Hot Springs, big on wildlife and peace.
Camp
Hellroaring Creek Trail
Yellowstone National Park
13.2 miles EA suspension bridge over the Yellowstone River leads to sandy creek-side beaches and a mild backcountry trail past Yellowstone's largest granite slab — great for all ages.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Norris Campground
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16.3 miles SCentrally located in Yellowstone NP, this campground puts you within a short drive of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley, Old Faithful, and Yellowstone Lake.
Camp
Tower Falls
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16.5 miles ETower Fall plunges 132 feet off Tower Creek in Yellowstone, framed by dramatic rock pinnacles — located about 3 miles south of Roosevelt Junction.
Camp, Hike 0.8-3.8 mi
Little Gibbon Falls
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Slough Creek Campground
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Canyon Campground
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Madison Campground
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Pebble Creek Campground
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Camp
Fishing Bridge RV Campground
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Bridge Bay
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Camp 14.8 mi
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Backpack, Camp, Hike
Grant Village
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Big Springs
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Wade Lake
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Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim 6.9 mi
Heart Lake Trail
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Camp, Canoe 0.1 mi
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Camp, Canoe, Kayak 0.9 mi
Buffalo River Campground
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Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim
