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Every Hot Spring

Hot River

Hot River is a geothermal spring in Wyoming. Water at the source is recorded at 136°F (58°C), hot enough to scald. It is documented as closed to soaking and is listed for reference only.

136°F58°C recorded at the source
Scalding at the source. Do not enter without a cooled, mixed pool.

Hot River, better known as the Boiling River, is where hot spring water from Mammoth Hot Springs enters the Gardner River near the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. It was once the park's best-known legal soaking spot, but the National Park Service reports that swimming there is not currently possible because of the impacts of the 2022 floods.

Facts

Coordinates
44.9850, -110.6890 (Google Maps, OSM)
Source temperature
136°F (58°C)
Access
Public land
Type
Unknown
Fee
Not recorded
Clothing optional
Not recorded
Nearest town
Not recorded
State
Wyoming
Data sources
NOAA NCEI, Official sources (linked below). See sources

Map

Larger marker is Hot River; smaller markers are other springs within 50 miles.

Quick answers

Can you soak at Hot River?
No. Hot River is documented as closed to soaking or off-limits to bathing. It is listed for reference only; see the sources on this page.
How hot is Hot River?
The hottest recorded reading at the source is 136°F (58°C). That is the outlet temperature, not a pool temperature; water cools as it flows away from the source. Water this hot can cause serious burns, so test any pool by hand first.
Where is Hot River?
Hot River is in Wyoming, at coordinates 44.9850, -110.6890.
What other hot springs are near Hot River?
The closest listed springs, in straight-line distance, are Mammoth Hot Springs, 1 mi; Orange Mound Spring, 2 mi; and Bear Creek Springs, 3 mi.

Before you go

  • Temperatures are measured at the source and can be far hotter than any soaking pool. Test with a hand before stepping in.
  • Access, fees, and road conditions change. Verify with the land manager or owner; "public" here reflects survey records, not a current right of entry.
  • Water in natural springs is untreated. Keep your head above water and avoid soaking with open wounds. Some springs carry Naegleria fowleri risk.
  • Pack out everything, including soap residue. Many springs have been closed because of trash and overcrowding.

Sources

Dataset last rebuilt October 11, 2026. Not yet checked on site by a person. Access, fee, clothing and closure details appear only when a source below states them. How this data is built.

Checked against

  1. National Park Servicenps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety.htm
  2. National Park Servicenps.gov/yell/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm
  3. National Park Servicenps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/swimming.htm

Merged from

  1. NOAA NCEI Thermal Springs List (archived 2025): survey location and source temperature, public domain