Mammoth Hot Springs - Yellowstone National Park
This week we’re adventuring inside Yellowstone National Park. Join me as we explore the upper and lower terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs.
FAST FACTS
• Distance: 1.75 miles
• Elevation Change: 300 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
Orange Spring Mound along Upper Terrace Drive
Location and History
If you’re entering the park from the north entrance, Mammoth Hot Springs sits on a hill along Grand Loop Road, near Gardiner, Montana. This area is adjacent to Fort Yellowstone and the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District. (Note: At the time of this article, the North and Northeast park entrances are closed due to recent flooding. You can still access Mammoth Hot Springs via the Grand Loop Rd. For up-to-date information, visit the official Yellowstone NPS site here.)
The features here were created over thousands of years as hot water cooled and deposited calcium carbonate. The geothermal activity here is unique from other features in the park due to the presence of limestone. This soft type of travertine allows these formations to grow more quickly than others in the park. Comprised of an upper and lower terrace connected by an overlook boardwalk, this spot has nearly 20 hydrothermal features to enjoy.
New Blue Spring with Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District in the distance
Angel Terrace along Upper Terrace Drive
Upper Terrace Highlights
Upper Terrace Drive is a scenic 1.5 mile loop you can explore in your vehicle or by hiking. There are many living sculptures to view here.
Angel Terrace is one of the more unpredictable features found here. For decades this terrace was dry and crumbling away, but in 1985 activity resumed. Depending on temperature and activity, the colors here can be pure white or colorfully vibrant from the microorganisms it produces when highly active. Angel Terrace is also a great reminder that the dormant features here may one day flow again.
Aphrodite Terrace in Yellowstone National Park
New Blue Spring can become active or inactive several times a year, and it’s a great example of this area’s incredible, constantly changing character.
Orange Spring Mound flows from several vents from the top and side, and it’s cooler than most Yellowstone springs. It received its name from the vibrant orange color created by the bacteria and algae. The large mounded shape is the result of very slow water flow and mineral deposition.
White Elephant Back Terrace in Yellowstone National Park
White Elephant Back Terrace has water flowing from a rift in the earth’s crust, which looks a bit like an elephant’s back. Portions of the Upper Terrace beyond White Elephant Back are very old and have been inactive for hundreds of years.
Prospect Terrace sits near the bottom of the Upper Terrace and was given its name in the late 1880s a U.S Geological Service party led by Arnold Hague. It was previously referred to as the “Eleventh Terrace” earlier in the 1800s.
Mound Spring along the Lower Terrace
Palette Spring with an elk resting nearby
Lower Terrace Highlights
Mammoth Hot Springs Trail connects the upper and lower terrace by several hundred steps…so if you have issues with multiple stair cases, consider driving to the upper and lower boardwalks separately.
Minerva Spring was named for the Roman goddess of artists, and it started to form its beautiful cascades in the 1990s after being completely inactive and dry in the early 1900s. This spring is often confused for the nearby Cleopatra Terrace (in fact the name Cleopatra Spring has been given to at least 3 different springs in the area over the past century).
Palette Spring has brown, green, and orange colors due to the presence of different heat-tolerant bacteria that spread down the hillside, creating an effect much like an artist splashing wet paint across their paint pallet.
Liberty Cap with Palette Spring and Devils Thumb in the distance
Liberty Cap is a unique 38 foot tall cone shaped hot spring. This feature was named by the Hayden Survey party in 1871 due to its similar appearance to caps worn during the French Revolution.
Opal Spring flows next to the historic Robert Reamer house built in 1908. After a long stretch of being dormant, this spring became active again in 1926 and now deposits up to a foot of travertine a year.
Opal Spring encroaching on the historic Robert Reamer house
Know Before You Go
• Please remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. If you’re not familiar with the Leave No Trace Principles, consider familiarizing yourself with them before your trip. Please help leave this special place better than you found it, so its natural beauty can be enjoyed for years to come.
• Always stay on the marked trails and boardwalks here for your safety. The hot geothermal features here can be unstable and extremely dangerous.
• Keep a watchful eye out for wildlife in this area. Elk live here year round. They are wild animals and can be unpredictable, especially during the Spring with calves and during the Fall rut. Always maintain a distance of at least 25 yards from wildlife like elk and bison, and 100 yards from bears and wolves.
• This area can be reached by vehicle year round…just be aware there can be a strong “rotten egg” sulphur smell here due to the geothermal activity.
Top 10 Yellowstone Attractions
Lamar Valley
Hayden Valley
Mammoth Hot Springs
Gibbon Falls
Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park
In Summary
Thanks so much for joining me this week in Yellowstone National Park. For a virtual visit of Mammoth Hot Springs, see my Behind the Blog YouTube video at the top of this post. Until next week I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go!
Bull elk calls after his harem of cows in front of Palette Spring
Check out these IG Reels below for more Yellowstone views!
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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Join me at the world's first national park as I share my First Timers Guide to Yellowstone National Park. Mostly located in Wyoming, Yellowstone offers so many things to do, so I've put together a travel guide with all of the top spots to visit on your next Yellowstone road trip vacation, including where to find the best geysers (like Old Faithful & Grand Prismatic), wildlife, and waterfalls.