Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
Yellowstone, WY
Stepped travertine terraces built by hot springs above the old Fort Yellowstone buildings, with boardwalks and a one-way upper loop drive. Elk often wander the lawns; the road from Gardiner is open all year.
The travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs form because hot water carries dissolved calcium carbonate to the surface and, as it cools, deposits it in thin layers. That is why some steps are still growing today. Highlights include Minerva Terrace, the white-and-orange Canary Spring, whose terraces drop about 6 m (20 feet) and are still growing, and, at the foot of the terraces, Liberty Cap, a dormant hot spring cone about 11 m (37 feet) tall.
Boardwalks run for about 2.8 km (1.75 miles) through the lower and middle terraces, with about 90 m (300 feet) of elevation change; allow a little over an hour. Above them, Upper Terrace Drive, a 2.4 km (1.5-mile) one-way loop, leads to more springs. Buses, RVs and trailers are not allowed there; trailers can park below the Lower Terraces. Cars have several parking areas along the different sections.
- Nearest town
- Yellowstone, WY
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 44.9690, -110.7040
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Mammoth CampgroundCampsite1 mi from Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces · 82 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking water
- Indian CreekCampsite6 mi from Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces · 70 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterToilets
- Norris CampgroundMotorhome stopover16 mi from Mammoth Hot Springs TerracesMotorhomes
- Tower FallCampsite16 mi from Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces · 31 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterToilets
- Canyon CampgroundCampsite19 mi from Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces · 273 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Slough Creek CampgroundCampsite19 mi from Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces · 16 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterToilets
All campsites in Wyoming · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces?
Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces is in Yellowstone, WY, at GPS 44.9690, -110.7040. It is about 4 mi from Gardiner.
Can you camp near Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Mammoth Campground, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 15 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces?
Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Chief Joseph Byway and Yellowstone’s northern range and Geysers, grizzlies and granite peaks – through Grand Teton and Yellowstone to Cody.
What is there to see near Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces?
Places worth a stop nearby: Roosevelt Arch (4 mi), Tower Fall (16 mi), Norris Geyser Basin (17 mi) and Artist Point, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (20 mi).
When is the best time to visit Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)