Can you swim in the pools at Yellowstone?

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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The Boiling River should be on your “Yellowstone must see” list along with the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Old Faithful Geyser. It's not as dramatic as either of these, but it is one of two front country places to swim in Yellowstone in a hot spring.

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A. No swimming is allowed in any of the park's thermal features because it is unsafe for visitors, as well as damaging to the resource. You are permitted to swim in waters that are fed by the runoff from the thermal features. One place you can swim is at the Boiling River at certain times of year.

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The water in Yellowstone looks pristine and clear, but don't be fooled to think that it is clean and safe to drink on it's own. Because of the park's immense wildlife populations, there are animals constantly drinking, defecating and dying in and around these waters.

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However, Yellowstone is also an active geothermal area with hot springs emerging at ~92°C (~198°F) (the boiling point of water at Yellowstone's mean altitude) and steam vents reported as high as 135°C (275°F).

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

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The best months to visit Yellowstone are April, September, and October. These “off season” months provide more chances to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife and enjoy thinner crowds. Bears emerge from hibernation between March and April, migrating birds arrive just before May, and the elk rut begins mid-September.

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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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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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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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Over 20 people have died after falling into Yellowstone's hot springs, or after having become severely burned after touching one. The park's hot springs are one of the park's most dangerous features. However, deaths are still an incredibly rare event.

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The third largest spring in the world, the Grand Prismatic is bigger than a football field at 370 feet in diameter. A gridiron is 360 feet long and 160 feet wide. The hot spring has bright bands of orange, yellow, and green ring the deep blue waters in the spring.

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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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If you plan to do any water activities while at your stay water shoes are a must. Activities could include swimming in the Boiling River in Yellowstone, rafting in Glacier, or kayaking on the many lakes in the area. Make sure your water shoes are secure and won't fall off (flip-flops are not recommended).

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