Can you swim in a geyser in Yellowstone?

But Yellowstone's thermal features don't flow cold water like you're used to. Don't touch any water in or around thermal features. Never swim, soak, or wade in thermal features. More than 20 people have died from intentionally entering or falling into hot springs.



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The Boiling River is one of only a few hot springs in Yellowstone National Park for swimming.

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The Boiling River is one of very few legal swimming and soaking locations in Yellowstone National Park- but it still requires plenty of caution and care. Located where the Gardner River meets the Boiling River Hot Spring, the Boiling River is safe enough to swim in.

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As one of the few places in Yellowstone where you can actually enjoy a swim in the warm water, the Boiling River is ideal for an afternoon soak. Trailhead: Just north of the Montana border at the 45th Parallel Sign. Follow the dirt trail along the west bank of the Gardner River. Distance: 1.25 miles round-trip.

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At only 45 feet (14 m) inside Old Faithful's throat, the water temperature is 244°F (117°C). Prior to an eruption, the water at the geyser's vent is 204°F (96°C)—several degrees hotter than the area's normal surface boiling point of 199°F (93°C).

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Don't touch any water in or around thermal features. Never swim, soak, or wade in thermal features. More than 20 people have died from intentionally entering or falling into hot springs. Pets are not allowed in thermal areas, and you're better off leaving your pet at home.

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Swimming is only permitted during designated hours. The Firehole Swim area is closed at night. Bathing suits are required. No food, drink, or alcohol allowed.

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The hot springs within Yellowstone are far too hot to enjoy. Even a dip of a tow could result in serious burns. Please pay attention to signage and do not touch the scalding waters of Yellowstone. There are a few places where hot waters flow into cool rivers, making a warm area to swim and soak.

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The hottest springs in the deepest part of the lake, at 125 m (410 ft) below the water, have a temperature of 174 °C (345 °F). Hot springs in the ocean are even deeper and under more water pressure and, therefore, they have temperatures of up to 400 °C (750 °F)!

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Then, with the work of Mother Nature, the Boiling River ceased to exist as we know it as historic flooding in 2022 destroyed the area. Before and after photos show the area where the Boiling River sat is now a rocky area as the floods changed the river channel.

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Yellowstone National Park strictly prohibits visitors from touching, swimming, or soaking in hot springs.

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1. Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone. This tallest geyser in the world set the highest temperature ever recorded in the park. It's so far above sea level that the boiling point is 199°F rather than the sea-level 212°, but a hole drilled by scientists to 1,087 feet deep found a temperature of 459°F.

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Due to high spring water levels, the swimming area isn't usually open until the middle of summer and closes before winter. Some years, the snow runoff and currents are too aggressive and cause the site to stay closed for the entire normally-open season.

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