10 Things to do Near Mammoth Hot Springs With Kids, Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs is one of my favorite parts of Yellowstone National Park (especially for first timers) and is a great place to bring your kids. Because of the year-round access to the roads, Mammoth Hot Springs is actually the headquarters for Yellowstone. This area is a great destination with enough family friendly activities to keep you busy for several days. Read on for our favorite things to do near Mammoth Hot Springs with your kids! Our favorites? Don’t skip viewing the Mammoth Terraces and seeing wildlife in Lamar Valley!
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What is Mammoth Hot Springs?
The unique features you can see at the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces are created by limestone being carried to the surface by hot water. The limestone is dissolved and the calcium precipitates on the surface which in turn creates the travertine you can see from the boardwalk.
The coolest part?? It’s likely that the next time you visit Yellowstone National Park, these terraces will look totally different. They are constantly changing, sometimes rapidly. The boardwalk also occasionally has to be moved due to the changing hot springs. Colors come from thermophiles (heat loving microorganisms) and range from bright white, to beautiful shades of orange, green, gray, and more.
Where is Mammoth Hot Springs Located?
Mammoth Hot Springs is located in the northern section of Yellowstone National Park. It’s just outside of the town of Gardiner, Montana and just south of the North Entrance to the park. It’s the main part of the park that is accessible all year round so it serves as the park headquarters!
Things to do in Mammoth Hot Springs
1. Walk the boardwalk at the Mammoth Terraces
Grab your baby carrier and check out the Mammoth Terraces trail. Mammoth Hot Springs has stunning otherworldly travertine terraces that can be viewed from a boardwalk path. If you do one thing in Mammoth Hot Springs, make it the terraces!
TIP: There are some stairs throughout these loops so a stroller is not ideal!
The Mammoth Hot Springs Lower Terraces
The lower terraces are absolutely stunning and very easily accessed via a short path. This section of the boardwalk will take you past the Liberty Cap, Devil’s Thumb, and Palette Spring (one of my favorites). If you are crunched for time, I would recommend just doing the lower section of the boardwalk.
The Mammoth Hot Springs Upper Terraces
The upper terrace loop is another fantastic boardwalk to take. The actual distance of this loop is difficult to judge because there are a few different offshoots you can take, and part of the boardwalk was roped off while we were there for construction. However, it’s probably about 1.5 to 2 miles to walk the entire thing. The absolute highlight of this part for me was the Mound Spring – make sure to walk by that one if you have a chance.
SAFETY TIP: For your safety and to protect the delicate features of the park, do not walk off the boardwalk or touch any of the terrace features. If you take your kids on this boardwalk (or any other boardwalk) please make sure they don’t have items they can drop off the side. And of course, watch your little ones extra closely near these dangerous features.
2. Drive or walk through the Roosevelt Arch
The 50 foot tall Roosevelt Arch was built in 1903, when the park was still being protected by the army. It was thought that the approach to the park was too plain and that a grand entryway would help attract visitors to the world’s first National Park. It wasn’t initially intended to be named after President Roosevelt; however, he happened to be visiting Yellowstone while the arch was being constructed. He was asked to speak at a ceremony which was attended by thousands of guests. He never returned to Yellowstone, so he didn’t actually see the completed Arch named in his honor.
The Arch is inscribed with a phrase “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People“, taken from the legislation that established Yellowstone as a National Park (the world’s first!) in 1872. The Roosevelt Arch has become known as one of the great symbols of the National Parks.
TIP: You can walk through the side of the arch, the center, or drive your car through! Whichever way you decide to enjoy the Roosevelt Arch, it is a great photo opportunity and an important piece of history.
ANOTHER TIP: Arch Park right nearby has a big grassy field and picnic tables if you need to eat a picnic lunch somewhere. You also might spot a herd of elk grazing if you’re lucky like we were!
3. Take a Picture with the Yellowstone National Park sign
If you are entering the park through the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana you will be passing right near a Yellowstone National Park sign. It’s such a fun tradition to try and take pictures at all of the National Park signs with your family.
And before you go, make sure you check out our tips on Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Yellowstone with a Toddler or Baby!
4. Swim at Yellowstone Hot Springs
If you are traveling through the North Entrance of Yellowstone, you will definitely want to stop at Yellowstone Hot Springs in Gardiner, Montana. The natural hot springs are just 8 miles north of the park entrance, and are a fun and relaxing stop for both kids and adults.
The hot springs are also a great stop for Mammoth Hot Springs in the wintertime. Additionally, if you are visiting in the warmer months like most people, you can enjoy a cold plunge at a temperature of 60-65 Fahrenheit, a warm pool at 98-100 Fahrenheit, or the hot pool at 103-105 Fahrenheit. The warm pool also makes Yellowstone Hot Springs a great place for young kids – it’s basically the same temperature as a bath!
TIP: Both tent and RV camping are available at Yellowstone Hot Springs if you plan to stay outside of the park. Check out their website for more information.
ANOTHER TIP: Don’t forget swim diapers, but if you do – you can purchase them at the hot springs. However, I wouldn’t count on them having every size in stock.
5. Stay at the Mammoth Hotel or cabins
The Historic Mammoth Hotel was initially built in 1913, but was most recently remodeled and renovated in 2019 with an emphasis on sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint even including using recycled carpet! The cabins located just behind the hotel have a quaint and rustic feel and we loved staying here! Some of the cabins don’t have private bathrooms, but they are a short distance away and the cabins do come equipped with a sink.
TIP: Several of the lodges in Yellowstone have a stuffed animal (ours was a bison) right in the middle of the room that is “available for purchase”. If you don’t want to buy a $20 stuffed animal, but also don’t want a meltdown from your child, get in the room before they see and hide that thing STAT. Just don’t forget to unhide it before you leave so you don’t get charged for it.
6. Look for elk
The Mammoth Hot Springs area is known for having elk that roam around town. We saw them several times around town. Don’t get too close (at least 25 yards away), but take the opportunity to watch these beautiful creatures! Elk are the most common large mammal in Yellowstone, and are attracted to Mammoth because of the green grass around the area.
SAFETY TIP: Be extra cautious if you see a cow elk with a calf and give extra space! There have been incidents with elk attacking humans, especially when they are with their babies.
7. Get your National Parks passport stamped
Get your National Parks Passport stamped at the Albright Visitor Center in Mammoth! While at the visitor center, grab your Junior Ranger booklets and talk to a ranger. You can also explore this historic building. The Albright Visitor Center was built by the US Army in 1909 and served as officer’s quarters for troops who protected the park before the establishment of the National Park Service.
8. Explore Gardiner, Montana
Gardiner, Montana is the perfect gateway town. There are so many options for adventure outside of the park including whitewater rafting, horseback tours, and bike rentals. You could also spend several hours looking for souvenirs, getting ice cream, or trying one of the many restaurants available.
TIP: We ate at Yellowstone Pizza Company, and it was kid friendly due to the fast casual service. However, the pizza was not my favorite, especially with the high price tag. But if you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner with your kids, they will probably like it.
10. Scope out wildlife in the Lamar Valley
The Lamar Valley is located in the Northeast corner of the park. Some call it, “America’s Serengeti” for it’s abundance of large animals and how easy it is to see them. The Lamar Valley is home to several wolfpacks and is the best place for sighting wolves since their reintroduction to Yellowstone National Park. The Lamar Valley has huge populations of bison, elk, grizzlies, antelope, coyote, and more! Not to mention, the scenery in the Lamar Valley is beautiful.
Visit at sunrise or sunset to have your best chance to see wolves or grizzly bears. Bison will likely be seen at most hours in the Lamar Valley. We visited around 8:30 AM and saw antelope, tons of bison, elk, and several birds.
If you’re wondering “is Lamar Valley worth it to drive extra?” The answer is YES absolutely. Mammoth Hot Springs to Lamar Valley is about a 30 minute drive and SOOO worth the trip. Lamar Valley is one of the best things to do in Yellowstone and you shouldn’t skip it unless you are really crunched for time. I know the thought of driving any further with kids can be daunting, but if you are interested in animals, Lamar Valley is the best place for seeing wildlife in Yellowstone.
The Lamar Valley can also be a little less crowded than some of the other areas of the park (more tips to avoid crowds here!) because it’s a little bit out of the way. But it’s SOOO worth it!
TIP: There are several pullouts on this road, so please use them instead of stopping in the middle of the road (that is unless there is a bison in the middle of the road!). Don’t forget to bring your binoculars!!
Mammoth Hot Springs Map
Frequently Asked Questions: Mammoth Hot Springs
1. Is Mammoth Hot Springs Worth Visiting?
Mammoth Hot Springs is 100% worth visiting! The travertine terraces are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Another benefit of Mammoth Hot Springs is that it’s a little bit less busy than the Old Faithful area of the park. Mammoth Hot Springs is one of my favorite sections of Yellowstone and I would recommend adding it to your itinerary if you have the time.
2. How Long do you Need at Mammoth Hot Springs?
You could keep yourself busy at Mammoth Hot Springs for several days! I would recommend allowing at least one night here to hit the highlights, and two nights to do a bit more exploring. It’s part of the Grand Loop Road, and can easily be added to a Yellowstone itinerary.
3. Is the Boiling River Near Mammoth Hot Springs?
The boiling river is located near Mammoth Hot Springs. However, since the floods of 2022 altered the course of the river, it’s unfortunately no longer open or available to soak.
4. Can you Swim in Mammoth Hot Springs?
No, you cannot swim in Mammoth Hot Springs. You can swim at Yellowstone Hot Springs nearby which is a fantastic place to relax.
5. How Long is the Mammoth Hot Springs Boardwalk?
If you walk the entire upper and lower boardwalk, it’s between 1.5-2 miles. If you’re not quite feeling up for that, it’s very easy to do a shorter route.
Where to Stay Near Mammoth Hot Springs?
Camping:
- Mammoth Campground: the only campground inside the park that is open year round!
- Yellowstone Hot Springs Campground: you can explore the hot springs here too
- Yellowstone RV Park
- Indian Creek Campground
Lodges & Hotels:
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins: A historic hotel located inside the park
- The Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone
- The Roosevelt Hotel
- Yellowstone Riverside Cottages
Where to Eat Near Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth Hot Springs has more dining options than many other parts of the park. It’s located right outside of Gardiner, Montana – so you’ll find several dining options in town as well as a few inside the park.
Dining Options in Gardiner, Montana
Some of the dining options near Mammoth in Gardiner are the Wonderland Cafe, Grizzly Grille, Yellowstone Pizza Company, and Yellowstone Perk (for coffee and ice cream).
Dining Options in Mammoth
The Mammoth Hotel Dining Room is a popular place to eat in Mammoth Hot Springs. It’s a first come first served restaurant that has breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The Mammoth Hotel Terrace Grill is a quick casual place to eat if you’re looking for a quick bite before setting out on your daily adventure. It’s also a good place to grab coffee in the morning.
Exploring more of Yellowstone? Check out our other posts on all the best things to do near Yellowstone National Park with kids!
- 8 Fun Things to do with Kids in Lake Yellowstone
- All the Best Things to do Near Old Faithful with Kids
- One, Two, or Three Day Itinerary for Grand Teton National Park with Kid
- The Best Guide to Grand Teton National Park with Kids
- EPIC 4 Day Yellowstone Itinerary with Kids!
Looking for a great book to read before your Yellowstone National Park vacation? Here are our 9 Must Read Yellowstone National Park Books: For Kids & Adults!
Headed to Glacier National Park as part of your vacation? Check out our other posts or our National Parks page!
