Directions to Trailhead: To get to the Mammoth Hot Springs Hike, from the Roosevelt Arch at Yellowstone’s north entrance near the city of Gardiner, Montana, drive approximately 6 miles south on Route 89, passing the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel to reach the parking area for the Liberty Cap on the west side of the road. Continue another 1.7 miles south up a horseshoe bend to reach the Upper Terrace Drive (also on the west side of the road). Enter the loop and turn right to reach the parking area for the Main Terrace boardwalks. If you are traveling to Mammoth Hot Springs from the south, drive roughly 19 miles north from the Norris Junction (Grand Loop Road) to reach Upper Terrace Drive. Click Here for an interactive map of Yellowstone National Park. There is an entrance fee for Yellowstone National Park, but no permit is required to hike at the Mammoth Hot Springs.

Further Thoughts: Ashley and I enjoyed our hike on the trails at the Mammoth Hot Springs area. When we went to Yellowstone National Park we stayed at the Mammoth Hot Spring Hotel which is literally right next to this area. When we did this hike we had the chance to see Elk as well as deer in this area. If you are looking to do more of a back-country hike in Yellowstone, then this hike is probably not for you. But if you are looking to see more thermal features in the park then this hike is a great one. Additionally, most of the hike is exposed with little shade so if you visit on a warm day make sure to have sunscreen and water.

The Palette Springs (accessed from the bottom parking lots) and the sulfur-yellow Canary Springs (accessed from the top loop) are the most beautiful sites, but the thermal activity of the Mammoth Hot Springs is always in flux and continuously changes, so make sure to check with the visitor center about activity in this thermal area. Periodically trails get closed and are moved due to the ever changing nature of the thermal feature. At the bottom of the Mammoth terraces, by the parking area, is the dormant 36 foot high hot spring cone called Liberty Cap, which is a neat sight to see (Shown in picture next to Further Thoughts).

Rating: Elevation Gain: 300 ft. (Easy), Distance: 1.8 Miles Roundtrip (Easy).
Time to Complete Hike: 1.5 to 2 hours.
MORE TRAIL WRITE-UPS ON YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Mammoth Hot Springs (This Post)
Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail
View Mammoth Hot Springs Hike in Yellowstone National Park in a larger map
View Mammoth Hot Springs Hike in Yellowstone National Park in a larger map
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Ashley and I encourage and welcome our readers to submit comments about their experiences on the trails we have posted on our blog or about their own hiking experiences in general.