Yellowstone’s Boiling River No Longer Boils
Find out what happened to Yellowstone's Boiling River during the flood of June 2022.
Many Yellowstone National Park visitors have taken a dip in the Boiling River, where just a few years ago in 2019, the National Park Service had made upgrades to pathways and signage. This swimming and soaking spot, just south of the 45th Parallel Bridge, was located in the Mammoth area of the park off of the North Entrance Road.
In June, 2022, the popular Boiling River swimming area was dramatically altered by the flood. The surge caused the river to shift its course, so much that there is no longer as much of a convergence of hot spring water mixing with the cold river water. The walkways have also been washed out and there is no longer road access to the area. The original North Entrance Road was damaged so extensively that traffic has been temporarily diverted to a nearby road, therefore cutting off access to the swimming area. Check the Yellowstone National Park website at www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/swimming-soaking.htm for up-to-date information about the Boiling River.
What is the Boiling River?
The Boiling River was created where runoff from a large hot spring used to enter the Gardner River, allowing the hot and cool waters to mix creating a temperature comfortable enough to bathe in. The natural hot tub made a great place to stop and relax while dipping in the warm water and soaking up the natural beauty of Yellowstone.
How to find Yellowstone’s Boiling River
Yellowstone’s Boiling River was located approximately 2 miles north of Mammoth and 2.9 miles south of the park’s North Entrance.
Click here to download the official Yellowstone park map.
Driving south from Roosevelt Arch on Hwy 89/N. Entrance Road, there is a sign that says “45th Parallel of Latitude Halfway Between Equator and North Pole.” Visitors would drive a short distance farther south (about three miles south of Roosevelt Arch) and look for a parking area on the east side of the road.
You would park here and walk upstream about a half-mile to where the footpath intersects with the river. At the end of the flat trail, you’d find the Boiling River, marked by large steam clouds.
Is the Boiling River open?
The Boiling River is closed following the June 2022 flood. Below is a video from 2018, before the flood altered the course of the river.
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