Abercrombie Warm Springs
Abercrombie Warm Springs flows at 81°F within Grand Teton National Park, requiring a 104-meter walk from Warm Springs Road. The spring emerges 40.8 degrees warmer than the 40.2°F annual average air temperature at 6,368 feet elevation in Teton County, Wyoming. National Park Service management provides permanent Class 1 protection status for this thermal feature in open-access backcountry.
Located in the Gros Ventre valley on the eastern flank of the Teton Range, the spring sits amid sagebrush flats and cottonwood groves near the Gros Ventre River. At 6,368 feet elevation, the setting features expansive views of Blacktail Butte and the cathedral spires of the Teton peaks to the west. Annual snowfall reaches 141.6 inches while precipitation totals 28.7 inches, supporting riparian corridors along waterways and conifer forests on adjacent slopes. The semi-arid high valley experiences cold winters and brief summers, with wildlife including bison, moose, and mule deer frequenting the thermal area.
Historical documentation for Abercrombie Warm Springs remains limited, though the name likely honors an early explorer, surveyor, or homesteader in the Jackson Hole region. The springs predated Grand Teton National Park's 1929 establishment and subsequent expansions. Indigenous peoples, particularly Shoshone and Bannock groups, traveled through Jackson Hole seasonally; whether they utilized these specific thermal features remains undocumented. The springs avoided commercial development before National Park Service acquisition ensured permanent protection.
Visit from late spring through early fall; winter brings extreme cold and deep snow at this elevation. The 104-meter walk crosses flat terrain suitable for most visitors. Gros Ventre Campground 10.3 km away offers reservable sites along the river with exceptional Teton views and wildlife watching. Water temperature of 81°F provides genuine warmth against cold mountain air. Combine with hiking to Lower Slide Lake or exploring park backcountry on the Tetons' less-visited eastern approaches.
Is Abercrombie Warm Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Gros Ventre (pronounced ‘grow-vont’), means “big belly” in French, and the Gros Ventre Campground—surrounded by cottonwood trees and featuring stunning views of Blacktail Butte and the Teton Mountains—is truly magnificent! The campground’s location next to the Gros Ventre River offers some of the best opportunities in the park for wildlife sightings, as bison, moose, mule deer and a wide variety of birds are known to frequent the area. For avid anglers, the Gros Ventre River offers p...