Mammoth Hot Springs Trails
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The water in these springs is hot enough to cause severe burns — temperatures exceed 160 degrees Fahrenheit in many pools. Stay on the boardwalks at all times. The ground near thermal features can be thin crust over boiling water, and people have died stepping off trail here.
Boardwalk surfaces get slippery when wet from steam and mineral deposits. Wear shoes with decent tread, not flip-flops, especially on the sections with stairs between the upper and lower terraces.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start at the lower terraces near the parking area by the historic Fort Yellowstone buildings, then work your way up — the upper terraces are less crowded and arguably more impressive, and you'll have the steepest boardwalk sections behind you on the way back down.
Visit in early morning or late afternoon when the low-angle light makes the mineral deposits glow and the steam becomes dramatically backlit — midday sun flattens everything and the terraces photograph like a parking lot.
Check the current conditions at the Albright Visitor Center before heading out. Terraces go dormant and reactivate unpredictably — rangers can tell you which sections are actively flowing so you don't spend your time staring at dry limestone.
Photos
NPS / Jim Peaco
