Unnamed Thermal Spring
This unnamed thermal feature flows at 144°F in Yellowstone's Norris Geyser Basin at 7,470 feet elevation, creating moderate geothermal discharge 326 meters from Grand Loop Road. The spring runs 109 degrees above the 35°F ambient temperature, producing warm but sub-boiling conditions accessible via maintained boardwalk systems under National Park Service management.
The spring occupies Norris Geyser Basin's lower thermal terraces at 7,470 feet, surrounded by silica deposits and thermophilic bacterial mats that color the runoff channels in shades of orange and green. The terrain slopes gently toward the Gibbon River drainage, with lodgepole pine forest defining the basin's edges. Annual snowfall averages 137 inches, creating deep winter snow cover that persists into late spring. The spring lies within a quarter-mile walk of parking areas, connected by boardwalks that traverse multiple thermal features across the basin's varied hydrothermal landscape.
The spring remains unnamed in federal geothermal inventories, documented during systematic surveys that cataloged Yellowstone's thousands of thermal features. Norris Geyser Basin has been studied since the park's establishment in 1872, with its extreme heat and chemical diversity attracting scientific attention. The National Park Service maintains the area in natural condition under permanent protection, with visitor access limited to designated trails and boardwalks to prevent thermal ground damage.
Visit between late May and early October when boardwalks are clear of snow and ice. Subfreezing temperatures occur regularly outside peak summer months at this elevation. Stay on boardwalks; even moderately hot water causes burns, and thermal ground is structurally unsound. The lower temperature makes this spring's bacterial mats particularly colorful compared to superheated features. Indian Creek Campground, 18.6 kilometers north, offers the nearest developed camping with advance reservations through park concessioners.
Is this spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
- Overnight camping trips
- Winter soaking with dramatic temperature contrast
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking
Overview Located about eight miles (13 km) south of Mammoth Hot Springs on the road to Norris, Indian Creek Campground—elevation 7,300 feet (2225 m)—sits near the base of the Gallatin Mountains and offers breathtaking views of Electric Peak. The area offers easy access to fishing and hiking. The campground is away from the main road and provides a quieter, more primitive, experience than many other locations. For reservations at the campgrounds managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges (Fi...