Hot Springs
Perched at 8,683 feet in Yellowstone's alpine backcountry, this warm spring sits 12.2 miles from Hoodoo Basin Trail, making it one of the park's most isolated thermal features. Classified as warm, it occupies extreme high-elevation terrain near Carbon County's border. The National Park Service maintains permanent protection for this wilderness thermal site.
At 8,683 feet elevation, this represents one of Yellowstone's highest thermal features, occupying severe alpine environment where freezing conditions dominate. Annual snowfall exceeds 165 inches, while average temperatures reach only 31.3°F. The remote location near Hoodoo Basin places the spring in rugged mountain terrain characterized by subalpine forests, meadows, and exposed volcanic rock. The surrounding wilderness receives 29.3 inches of precipitation annually.
Historical records provide scant information about this spring, reflecting its extreme isolation and difficult access. The generic name indicates survey documentation rather than cultural or historical naming traditions. Its distance from any historical travel routes or settlement areas likely meant it remained unknown except to scientific surveys conducted after park establishment.
Access demands expedition-level wilderness skills and multi-day backcountry permits. The extreme elevation and snowfall limit practical access to a brief late-summer window, typically August and early September. Complete cold-weather and high-altitude preparation is essential. Threemile Campground, 23.8 km distant near the park's east entrance, provides the nearest developed facilities.
Is Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Backpacking adventures
- Overnight camping trips
Not ideal for
- Day trips with young children
Overview Threemile Campground is located just three miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park, and 50 miles from the full service gateway community of Cody, in northwestern Wyoming. The area is an ideal destination for a family getaway, with many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Hard-sided camp trailers and RVs are required.Recreation Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available around the campground. The North Fork of the Sho...