Can you swim in hot springs in Yellowstone?

The Boiling River is a six-foot wide stream of hot water pouring over a travertine ledge into the Gardner River. Users have piled rocks to create a soaking area where the 140-degree water mixes with the cold river. It is the quintessential Yellowstone hot springs swimming experience.



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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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While commercial pools are generally safely maintained for visitors, primitive hot springs are subject to their natural environment. Therefore, while hot springs are usually considered safe to swim in, some concerns arise with their rustic settings.

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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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Inside Yellowstone, you can choose to stay in modern or historic hotels and cabins inside the park like the Old Faithful Inn, the world's largest log structure. Here's how to choose the best one for you.

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They will list the current temperature of the water as well as the maximum amount of minutes to stay in at a time. For the most part, almost all commercial hot springs in North America require swimsuits so always err on the side of caution and keep that suit on. Even if you see someone remove their suit – wait.

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If you do any hiking or camping in Yellowstone, you SHOULD bring bear spray. Generally, you don't need bear spray when visiting the popular and crowded geyser areas and villages, such as Old Faithful and Canyon Village.

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In October 2021, a 20-year-old woman suffered second-degree burns after she rushed into a hot spring at Yellowstone while trying to rescue her dog. The hot spring that she entered, Maiden's Grave Spring, has an average temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit, per the NPS.

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Can you drink alcohol in Yellowstone? Yes. You can easily enjoy a cold beer anywhere in Yellowstone National Park, so long as you're not driving. The Park regulations reflect the loose public drinking laws in the three states--Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming--through which the park ranges.

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You could easily take two weeks to explore Yellowstone (and you might want to after you spend a day here). To truly experience the best aspects of the park, you'll want to plan at least three days. But if you only have one day to spend in the park, you want to get the most out of your time here.

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Abyss Pool, deepest hot spring in Yellowstone. Abyss Pool • Abyss Pool is in the West Thumb Geyser Basin and that is Yellowstone Lake in the background. It is 53-feet deep, this is the deepest pool in Yellowstone National Park.

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