Yellowstone 2018: Mammoth Hot Springs Upper and Lower Terraces

The terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs are one of Landis and I’s absolute favorite features with Yellowstone National Park. They are one of the fastest changing features within the park (which I hope I will be able to show). And they are just fantastically beautiful. You have a lot of options to explore the area, however be aware a lot of the boardwalk goes to and by dried up areas. Which can be cool as well. Also, the area is constantly changing so what might have been dry one year could be active the next. I am going to cover some of my favorite spots.

Quick Details:

Length: Anywhere from .2 Miles to 3 miles depending on what you do.
Difficulty: DR3. All elevation gain will be stairs.
Elevation Gain: Again, depends on what you do.
Restroom: Yes there are restrooms near the lower terraces and a pit toilette outside the Upper Terrace Drive.
Dogs? No. Dogs are not allowed on backcountry trails or boardwalks.
Other Info: Fee Area. Yellowstone pass must be displayed.

To Get Here:

The lower terraces are just on the eastern outskirts of town in Mammoth Hot Springs. (Northeast corner of the park). The upper terraces are about 1.7 miles southeast up the road.

The Trail:

The Lower Terrace:

The Lower Terrace is a huge mess of trails that has multiple starting parts and the different boardwalks cross paths in a large maze. We have done almost all of it at some point but have discovered our favorite segments. Keep in mind though, the area changes consistently.

We started with one of our favorite parts the Lower Terrace towards Palette Springs. This short ~400 foot section is at the bottom NE corner of the lower terraces. You’ll know you are at the right spot when you see Liberty Cap.

Liberty Cap is a neat feature that is now an extinct spring.

From the right angle it appears to have a face.

Palette Springs.

And from the other side.

I love all the formations.

Closer to the top.

Pretty color.

Panoramic.

The main terrace again.

Another little pool below.

The lower segment. It looks like syrup drizzled over a pile of pancakes.

Texture.

The Upper Terrace

After this short trek we decided to head up to the upper terrace. From where we were it is just a short 1.7 mile drive up to the Upper Terrace Drive (1.6 miles, one way. No buses, trailers, campers).

The water coming out of Canary Springs (PSP).

Peaks above (PSP).

The Upper Terraces Drive is a one way short loop road (no buses, trailers, campers). The first place we usually stop is the lower terraces overlook.

Ravens hanging out on the car next to us.

I think the license plate is quite fitting here hahaha.

View of the top of the lower terraces. From here we decided to walk down to Canary Springs. Its about a 1000 feet out, and 50 down or so.

Cupid Springs. I don’t think we have seen this one active before.

Wow!!! My new spring (as I called it 10 or so years ago) has grown so much!

Lets go back a ways for a second.

Here it is in 2007, 2008, and 2009. You can see how it slowly grew yearly. And here is what I said about it in 2009: Here is my new formed spring, barely 3 years old and its getting so big. I wonder if they have named it yet, as I have not seen anything. I just call it my new spring. I have been watching this slowly grow over the years, and I will say it again, not only will they need to move the boardwalks, but in 10 years or so, this will be the thing to see at Mammoth.

Well, not only have they now named it Grassy Spring, but as I predicted they have moved the boardwalk. This is one of the fascinating things about Mammoth Hot Springs is being able to observe it changing over the years.

The boardwalk used to go across here. Now it goes up and around it.

Here is the outflow of it.

The top of it.

Panoramic.

Up above it.

Here is where the board walk used to connect. You can see some new boards where they cut it off on the other side.

Neat travertine terraces below.

A little closer.

It’s interesting to watch the water just go back underground.

Getting close to Canary Spring.

Last time were where here this pool was filled.

Image from 2009 to compare.

The water and heat for Canary Spring seems to slowly be working its way east.

Dried terraces to the left.

Canary Springs through the steam.

It’s so neat.

The terraces and a view.

Well this is the end of the line for this boardwalk so time to head on back.

Just amazing.

Various opening in the terraces.

We’ve seen this section with water over it as well.

Grassy Spring from below.

Detail of the deposits.

The other side of Grassy Spring again.

I think this is Highland Terrace. I thought we would still pass by that on the drive, but I guess to see it you need to walk back to it on the boardwalk that went up that way.

View from the Lower Terraces Overlook. You can see the town of Mammoth below.

Panoramic from the Lower Terrace Overlook.

From here we decided to continue the Upper Terrace Drive.

A neat formation (PSP).

This is Orange Spring Mound it is very, very colorful!

From the front. Not all the features up here have a pull out, but most of them do.

From the other side.

Some of the water splashing out of, or off of it.

This is a neat little feature.

This neat feature did not appear to have a name. But I am wondering if it is the top of Highland Terrace.

It’s quite pretty.

This is, or was Bath Lake.

White Elephant Back Terrace. It really does look like an elephants back.

It has a pretty spring next to it.

Both features.

The thin one way road is steep and windy (hence no trailers, campers or buses) but it isn’t too bad (PSP). Just keep to the posted speed limit.

Angel Terrace is spilling out over the roadway. I thought this sign placement with the current conditions was kind of overtly fitting at the moment.

Angel Terrace is pretty.

That is the last feature of the Upper Terrace Drive. I still enjoy doing it. A lot of neat features to see weather you stay in the car or get out and view some of the features its a fun adventure to do. Both segments we walked and the drive all get a combined 10 squirrels!

As for difficulty, whether you do what we did, or do more and climb some of the higher staircases its all pretty easy, boardwalks and stairs. DR3.

Dogs are not allowed on boardwalks or backcountry trails. I imagine you might be okay doing the drive though, just don’t do any of the longer walks while leaving your pet in the car.