Mammoth Hot Springs
Stepped white travertine terraces built by calcium carbonate deposits, with hot water flowing down layer by layer. It looks like a living white sculpture and is located near the North Entrance.
Mammoth Hot Springs lies in the northwest corner of Yellowstone, about 8 km from the Gardiner North Entrance. Unlike the silica-based geothermal features elsewhere in the park, the hot water here rises through limestone on its way up, dissolving large amounts of calcium carbonate. When it reaches the surface, carbon dioxide escapes and the calcium carbonate quickly settles out as travertine. About 2 tonnes are deposited each day, forming stacked white terraces similar to Pamukkale in Turkey or Huanglong in China. The water channels constantly shift, so some terraces are bright white and active while others turn grey and die off. The appearance changes every year. The Lower Terraces boardwalk starts at Liberty Cap, an 11-metre cone of sinter, and Palette Spring, whose orange-brown microbial mats flow like a painter's palette. The boardwalk climbs about 90 metres to Minerva and Canary Spring, which is bright yellow. The Upper Terrace Drive is a one-way loop road of about 2.5 km, closed in winter. The village of Mammoth is the park's headquarters, with the Fort Yellowstone buildings from the late 19th century, when the US Army was stationed there, as well as a visitor center, hotels and restaurants. Elk often lie on the lawns. The Roosevelt Arch at the North Entrance, built in 1903, is inscribed with 'For the benefit and enjoyment of the people,' and is a classic photo spot. The Boiling River natural hot spring swimming area nearby is currently closed due to flood damage. The full boardwalk has many steps and takes 1.5 to 2 hours.
Opening hours
Open all day (North Gate to Mammoth road open year-round)
Nearby sights
- Roosevelt Arch & Gardiner
- Norris Geyser Basin
- Artists' Paintpots
- Mount Washburn
- Gibbon Falls
- Tower Fall
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Firehole Canyon Drive & Firehole Falls