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Every Hot Spring

Rainbow Springs

Rainbow Springs is a geothermal spring in Wyoming. Water at the source is recorded at 190°F (88°C), hot enough to scald. It is documented as closed to soaking and is listed for reference only.

190°F88°C recorded at the source
Scalding at the source. Do not enter without a cooled, mixed pool.

Rainbow Springs is a thermal feature inside Yellowstone National Park. Swimming or bathing in any water of entirely thermal origin is prohibited in the park, and hydrothermal areas may be viewed only from boardwalks and designated trails.

Facts

Coordinates
44.7690, -110.2690 (Google Maps, OSM)
Source temperature
190°F (88°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 Rainbow Springs; smaller markers are other springs within 50 miles.

Quick answers

Can you soak at Rainbow Springs?
No. Rainbow Springs 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 Rainbow Springs?
The hottest recorded reading at the source is 190°F (88°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 Rainbow Springs?
Rainbow Springs is in Wyoming, at coordinates 44.7690, -110.2690.
What other hot springs are near Rainbow Springs?
The closest listed springs, in straight-line distance, are Hot Spring at 44.75, -110.26, 1 mi; Hot Springs at 44.77, -110.30, 2 mi; and Hot Spring Basin Group, 2 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

Merged from

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