Mammoth Hot Springs

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Mammoth Hot Springs is located at the northernmost part of Yellowstone. This is where the Army established Fort Yellowstone with barracks, buildings and troops assigned to guard the fledgling national park. Most of those buildings still exist and have been transformed into lodging and park buildings. Elk seem to have the run of the place since they are all over.

Mammoth's claim to fame are hot springs and the limestone terraces and hills they build. When we visited, many of the springs I saw in the early 1960s had dried up. This happens as an ongoing process as minor earthquakes re-align the underground "plumbing" with some springs drying up and others flourishing. Other factors such as ground water levels and rainfall also affect the springs.

An extensive boardwalk system runs all over the main terraces, which is where most of these shots were taken, and a scenic drive loop covers other, mostly inactive at this time, hot springs. There is also a great visitor's center and museum to see. Spending an entire day here is possible.

Canary Springs area looking towards park buildings	A closer look at Minerva Terrace. Steam is visible coming up.
A grove of trees dessicated by hot springs action	A face in the rock! I don't remember seeing it when I took the photo, but there it is.
The elk don't seem to mind the dry dusty exposed limestone.	A slightly different shot of Canary Springs

All information and photos Copyright ©1994- 2002 John R. Powell

updated 3/25/03