Mammoth Hot Springs in northern Yellowstone National Park sits on the border of Wyoming and Montana.
It is a place you have to see to believe. Boardwalk trails give visitors the opportunity to walk near one of the world's best-protected travertine depositing hot springs.
Here are my top finds for Gardiner, Montana (North Entrance of Yellowstone)
🏨Hotels/Lodges: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins (inside the park)
📍Tours: Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour, Guided Yellowstone Wildlife Tour
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip
Mammoth Hot Springs - Yellowstone National Park
Location - Northern section of Yellowstone National Park
Season - Mammoth Hot Springs is open year-round. It is the only area of the park that remains open for the entire year.
Mammoth Hot Springs is broken into Lower Terraces, Main Terrace, and Upper Terraces. There is an excellent boardwalk system that allows you to explore the travertine formation and thermal areas.
Plan a couple of hours at a minimum to explore this unique section of Yellowstone.
For really fun souvenirs, make sure to check out the General Store. Mammoth Hot Springs hotel and cabins are located in the heart of the area and offer the opportunity to stay next to the travertine terraces.
One thing to remember is Mammoth Hot Springs is constantly changing.
Mammoth Hot Springs is one of the world's best-protected examples of travertine-deposited hot springs. Features constantly change with new features appearing and older features becoming inactive.
The maximum water temperature found in this area is 163 degrees Fahrenheit.
The volcanic heat source for Mammoth Hot Springs is still a bit of a mystery for scientists. A network of fractures and fissures form the plumbing system for these hot springs.
The plumbing system allows hot water from underground to reach the surface. The water comes from rain and snow falling on the surrounding mountains and seeping deep into the earth where it is then heated.
The final ingredient is limestone that was deposited millions of years ago when a vast sea covered this area. Hot water with dissolved carbon dioxide makes a solution of weak carbonic acid. As this solution rises through the rock it dissolves calcium carbonate, the primary compound found in limestone.
The calcium carbonate is deposited at the surface to form travertine which is the rock that forms the terraces seen in Mammoth Hot Springs.
The color you see on the terraces and rocks is Thermophiles which are heat-loving microorganisms. They create the tapestry of colors where hot water flows along the terraces. Clear and yellow thermophiles grow in the hottest water. Orange, brown, and green thermophiles thrive in cooler waters.
Is Mammoth Hot Springs drying up?
One of the questions we hear often is asking if Mammoth Hot Springs is drying up. The quick answer is no they are not drying up.
The area is constantly changing and evolving based on the volume of water coming out of the springs. Features will go dormant and then start again sometimes a few days later other times after months or years.
There is always a new feature or growth happening which makes this one of our favorite areas in the park to visit. Every visit you can see something new and check out how the features have changed.
In this area the geologic process is always happening before your eyes.
Lower Terraces
The Lower Terraces of Mammoth Hot Spring can be reached from boardwalks or via Upper Terrace Drive.
Some of the boardwalks are wheelchair accessible but there are areas that have stairs or steep grades. The entire boardwalk system is 1.75 miles.
Make sure to walk the lower path to see Palette Spring up close. This area is constantly changing and evolving.
Liberty Cap
Liberty Cap can't be missed near the parking area for Mammoth Hot Springs. It looks really random when you first see it.
Liberty Cap is 37 feet tall and was created by a hot spring that was active in one location a long time ago.
It was named in 1871 by the Hayden Survey after the peaked knit caps symbolizing freedom and liberty during the French Revolution.
You will see Palette Springs behind Liberty Cap from the parking lot.
Palette Spring
Palette Spring is really easy to access from the lower boardwalks. You can park near the Liberty Cap and walk right up the boardwalk to see this springs.
Water flows down a steep ridge where colorful thermophiles create a changing palette of colors. Every time we visit the park this spring looks a little different. We try to take a photo during every visit to see how it changes and adapts.
Upper Terraces
The Upper Terraces can be explored by walking the boardwalk or by driving the Upper Terrace Loop Drive Road.
The Upper Terraces include Prospect Terrace, New Highland Terrace, Orange Spring Mound, Bath Lake, White Elephant Back Terrace, and Angel Terrace.
Upper Terrace Drive is for cars or foot traffic only. The road is too small for RVs, trailers or buses.
Orange Spring Mound
Orange Spring Mound is one of the most accessible springs to see along the Upper Terrace Drive. The road was recently moved to allow the spring to free flow with water.
You can drive along the side of Orange Spring Mound and see up close what is happening. There is also a small parking lot with a boardwalk for getting photos.
There are several vents at the top of the mound that hot spring water flows from.
Canary Spring
Canary Springs is an epic overlook along the terrace boardwalk. You can see hot water flowing creating new travertine terraces.
Albright Visitor Center
The historic building that houses the Albright Visitor Center was built by the US Army in 1909.
The building was built for the bachelor officer's quarters for the cavalry troops who protects the park before the creation of the National Park Service.
Today visitors can find park information, road conditions, shop in the park store, and learn more about the history of Yellowstone.
Park Rangers are available to answer questions, sell fishing permits, and offer information on backcountry trails/camping.
Historic Fort Yellowstone
This part of the park gives you the opportunity to learn more about the beginning of the world's first national park.
Most of the buildings were constructed when the US Army was in charge of protecting the park before the National Park Service was established.
One thing to remember while exploring Historic Fort Yellowstone is many of the buildings are employee residences. Please be courteous and respect the employee's privacy.
Mail Carriers Cabin
One of our favorite things about exploring Mammoth Hot Springs is seeing Yellowstone's history. This Mail Carriers Cabin was built by Alden Roseborough who accepted the mail carrier position in 1895.
The mail carrier route was 100 miles round trip from Mammoth Hot Springs through the northern remote portion of the park and into Cooke City.
Mr. Roseborough built this cabin and became its first occupant. He also leased two cabins along the route to help facilitate delivering the mail regularly.
The cabin also served as an employee residence for more than a century.
45th parallel of latitude
On the road leading to Mammoth Hot Springs, you will see a sign for the 45th parallel. The 45th parallel is an imaginary line that circles the globe halfway between the equator and the North Pole.
This same line passes through Minneapolis-St. Paul, Ottawa, Bordeaux, Venice, Belgrade, and the northern tip of the Japanese islands.
Note: This road is now permenantly closed due to a catastrophic flood that occured June 10-13, 2022. This was a 500-1000 year flood event that major impacts on the Yellowstone area. Pebble Creek Campground was completely washed out and remains closed today, while Slough Creek Campground access road had extensive flooding and erosion but has since reopened. The Boiling River and Hiking trails also suffered extensive damageincluding portions of trail and several footbridges being swept away.
Boiling River - Closed
The Boiling River is closed due to the road washing out
You will pass the Boiling River as you enter the North Entrance to Yellowstone NP and drive towards Mammoth Hot Springs. This is one of 2 areas in the park where you can go swimming.
One thing to know is the Boiling River does not usually open before mid-July to make sure that the water is safe and the current is not too strong.
It is a half-mile walk from the parking lot to the swimming area. The only restroom is in the parking lot.
Roosevelt Arch
The Roosevelt Arch designates the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The massive stone arch was designed so passengers in horse-drawn coaches could pass through the arch. Robert Reamer, a famous architect in Yellowstone, designed the immense stone arch in 1903.
President Theodore Roosevelt was visiting the park during the construction of the arch and laid the cornerstone. The top of the Roosevelt Arch is inscribed with "For the benefit and enjoyment of the people," which also appears in the National Park Service Organic Act of 1916.
Elk
There is a fairly large population of Elk that love to hang out in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. If you are visiting in the Fall you will hear the males bugling and keeping a watchful eye over their harem.
Make sure to be careful while driving in this area because the elk own the road and will walk out when they want to.
Can you swim in mammoth hot springs?
Swimming is not allowed in Mammoth Hot Springs. The water can reach up to 163 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also a protected area within the park. The closest swimming area is the Boiling River just down the road.
Mammoth Hot Springs Map
Park Ranger John Pro Tip
The Mammoth General Store has unique gifts that can only be found in the park. One of these gifts is Roche Jaune Whiskey. This is a fantastic gift for any Bourbon lover out there!
Every year I get numerous emails from viewers asking where they can get more of this fantastic whiskey. I have to tell them that it is only available at the Yellowstone general stores inside the park. Make sure to check out my article about Spirits inspired by the National Parks.
Where is Mammoth Hot Springs?
Mammoth Hot Springs is located next to the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
The closest city is Gardiner, Montana.
Best Yellowstone National Park Tours & Activities
Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch
⭐️ Rating: 4.8 out of 5 Stars (208+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 6 hours | 🥾🦬 Check Rates and Availability
Take a guided small-group hike into the Lamar Valley is the wildlife-watching experience that serious Yellowstone visitors come back for year after year. Often called America's Serengeti, Lamar Valley is the best place in the park to spot bison herds, pronghorn, coyotes, badgers, wolves, and grizzly bears, and having an expert guide from Yellowstone Hiking Guides on your side dramatically increases what you see and understand. Guides consistentaly earn extraordinary reviews for their knowledge of animal behavior, their ability to navigate around bison safely, and their genuine passion for the park. A packed lunch including sandwich, fruit, nuts, and snacks is provided, along with bear spray, binoculars, and trekking poles.
Montana Whitewater Rafting on the Yellowstone River from Gardiner
⭐️ Rating: 5.0 out of 5 Stars (381+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 hours | 🚣🏔️ Check Rates and Availability
This is by far the most popular non-park tour among visitors staying in Gardiner at the North Entrance. The Yellowstone River runs right through town, and this half-day whitewater rafting trip on Class I to III rapids is a perfect complement to a full day inside the park, giving guests an exciting, active afternoon on the river without sacrificing a full day of sightseeing.
Guided Yellowstone Wildlife Tour from Gardiner
⭐️ Rating: 5.0 out of 5 Stars (107+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 8 hours | 🔭🐺 Check Rates and Availability
This wildlife-focused guided day tour departs from Gardiner at Yellowstone's famous Roosevelt Arch entrance and takes small groups through both Hayden and Lamar Valleys with a professional wildlife guide who uses inter-guide communication to track animal locations in real time across the park. Guides earn extraordinary reviews for finding wolves, grizzlies, and other wildlife that most self-guided visitors never spot, with one reviewer noting their guide located 10 grizzlies and 5 wolves in a single day. The guide provides a spotting scope, binoculars, and deep commentary on animal behavior, ecology, and Yellowstone's geology throughout the day. A genuinely different and more focused experience than the van sightseeing tours, built for travelers who want maximum wildlife encounters.
Click here to find more great Yellowstone National Park Tours.
Nearby Attractions to Mammoth Hot Springs
🚗 Take the Blacktail Plateau Drive, a one-way unpaved road through open sagebrush and forest that is one of the best kept secrets in the park for wildlife watching away from the main highway
🌲 Stop at the Petrified Tree, a remarkably preserved ancient redwood turned to stone by volcanic activity millions of years ago, standing beside a short roadside pullout near Tower Junction
🌊 View Tower Fall, a dramatic 132-foot cascade plunging through a canyon of volcanic pinnacles into the Yellowstone River gorge below
🐺 Drive to Lamar Valley, about an hour east, for some of the finest wildlife watching in the world
🚗 Drive the Grand Loop Road in either direction for geysers, wildlife, and canyon scenery
Visitor Services
There are several services available to park visitors in the Mammoth Hot Springs Area. Services include:
- United States Post Office
- Sinclair gas station
- Mammoth General Store
- Mammoth Dining Room: Sit down dining room
- Mammoth Terrace Grill: Casual dining
- Public Restrooms
Closest Campground
Check out all of the Yellowstone Campgrounds to help plan your time in the park.
Closest Visitor Center
Mammoth Hot Springs Visitor Center
Lodging Options in the Mammoth Hot Springs Area
Lodging options inside the park include
⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel has hotel rooms and cabin accommodations. (Cabins are seasonal) and steps away from Mammoth Hot Springs and a great option for exploring Lamar Valley and wildlife viewing.
⭐️ 3.7 of 5 Stars - Roosevelt Lodge & Cabins - Click here for Rates and Availability.
These Cabin accommodations is the closest lodging in the park you can get to Lamar Valley! Caution, these rooms are hard to get as they are very popular. They also have an Old West Dinner Cookout, offer horseback rides, and Stagecoach Adventures.
Lodging Options in Gardiner include
⭐️ 4.9 of 5 Stars - Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel - Click here for Rates and Availability.
One of the most unique places to sleep near any national park in America, a luxury glamping resort featuring 20 individually decorated tipis tucked in the Montana mountains just minutes from Yellowstone's North Entrance!
Each tipi features memory foam beds with down comforters, premium bedding, rainfall showerheads in the private-use bathrooms, eco-friendly toiletries, free WiFi, and a furnished private patio with mountain views. Every evening guests gather around a communal campfire for s'mores, wine, and beer under some of the darkest skies in Montana, and a free continental breakfast with grab-and-go hiking options is served each morning. Additional amenities include BBQ grills, a garden, gift shop, EV charging, concierge services, and free parking. Steps from Gallatin National Forest, the Yellowstone River, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and fly fishing. Pet friendly and open seasonally!
Check out my Yellowstone Lodging Guide for a complete Guide to Yellowstone Lodging options inside America's first national park!
Click this link or the map below for a complete list of hotels and vacation rentals in the Gardiner, Montana Area.
https://www.stay22.com/embed/699ccfc98a014664584ca03dYellowstone National Park Entrance Fee
New in 2026: Each Non-US Resident aged 16 and older visiting Yellowstone National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Snowmobile - $30.00 Entry for one driver and one passenger (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$20.00 for Non-Commercial Group (16+ persons)
$20.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons) ($25.00 plus $20.00 per person)
$125.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$300.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.
Additional Yellowstone National Park Information
- Yellowstone National Park Guide - Your complete guide to exploring the world's first National Park!
- Things to do in Yellowstone - These are the top things to do that you don't want to miss, including exploring the Mammoth Hot Springs, the Museum of the National Park Ranger, Yellowstone Waterfalls, Kayaking in Yellowstone, fishing in Yellowstone, Fairy Falls Trail, and more!
- Yellowstone National Park Facts - Learn more about our 1st National Park and fun facts about the wildlife in the park.
- Yellowstone Wildlife Guide- Complete Guide to seeing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, including the most popular wildlife viewing areas, including Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley.
- Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Lodging Guide - This complete guide to all of Yellowstone National Park's Lodges and cabins
- Ultimate Yellowstone Camping Guide - This complete guide to camping in Yellowstone includes all front country campgrounds
Yellowstone Geyser Basin Areas
- Upper Geyser Basin, including Biscuit Basin, Black Sand Basin, and Old Faithful Geyser.
- Midway Geyser Basin, including Grand Prismatic Spring and Firehole Lake Drive.
- Lower Geyser Basin, including Fountain Paint Pot Trail and Firehole Canyon Drive
- Norris Geyser Basin-This basin is known for having some of the hottest water and springs in the park. It is actually two basins: Porcelain Basin and Black Basin, with famous geysers, including Ledge Geyser, Cistern Geyser, and Steamboat Geyser.
- West Thumb Geyser Basin - Beautiful boardwalk trail with hydrothermal features right next to Lake Yellowstone!
- Mud Volcano - The Mud Volcano area is Located south of Canyon Village and North of Lake Yellowstone. It has several hydrothermal features, including a mud volcano and Dragon's Mouth Spring.
Additional Montana National Parks
- Complete Guide to Grand Teton National Park - Your complete guide to go explore Grand Teton National Park before or after you visit Yellowstone!
- Epic Guide to Glacier National Park - Complete guide to exploring Glacier National Park
- Little Bighorn Battlefield - Also known as Custer's Last Stand, a place where the Plains Tribes fought their last major battle and won.
- Big Hole National Battlefield - site of the pivotal battle in the Nez Perce War of 1877 between Colonel Gibbon's troops and five bands of the Nez Perce Indians led by the famous Native American Leader, Cheif Joseph.
- Grant Kohr's Ranch National Historic Site - See what ranch life was like in the 1800s in Montana
Check out all of the Montana National Parks along with neighboring National Parks in Wyoming, National Parks in South Dakota, North Dakota National Parks, and Idaho National Parks.
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