Can you swim in the hot springs at Yellowstone National Park?

Answer 1

Many people have been killed by jumping into hot springs that are superheated above the normal boiling point of water.

Some of the hot springs are cool enough to sit in, but this is NOT SAFE and NOT RECOMMENDED.

Ok, generally speaking no, but there is at least one exception to the rule that we enjoyed. It was heavenly!!! "45th Parallel Bridge and Boiling River A sign north of where the road crosses the Gardner River marks the 45th parallel of latitude. It is, here in Yellowstone, roughly aligned with the Montana-Wyoming border. A little distance south of the sign, a parking area on the east side of the road is used by bathers in the "Boiling River." Bathers must walk upstream about a half mile from the parking area to the place where the footpath reaches the river. This spot is also marked by large clouds of steam, especially in cold weather. Here, a large hot spring, known as Boiling River, enters the Gardner River. The hot and the cold water mix in pools along the river's edge. Bathers are allowed in the river during daylight hours only. Bathing suits are required, and no Alcoholic Beverages are allowed. Boiling River is closed in the springtime due to hazardous high water and often does not reopen until mid-summer. " from nps.gov. We were there in late June and it was open.

Answer 2

Absolutely not. Swimming in any hydro-thermal in Yellowstone is strictly prohibited, and very dangerous. It took nature thousands of years to make this beautiful source of joy; a few stupid tourists could destroy in a matter of weeks. In a bizarre form of natural justice, anyone doing so will die within a few hours due to the intense heat of its water.