Accessibility around Mammoth Hot Springs

 

Mammoth Hot Springs as seen from an accessible pullout along Upper Terrace Drive.

NPS/Neal Herbert

 

Facilities

Wheelchair Rental

Wheelchairs can be rented at the medical clinic for a $300 deposit and $15 per day. Wheelchairs are available for loan at the hotel for its guests, and at the visitor center while in the area.

Albright Visitor Center

Two designated parking spaces directly across the street from the accessible entrance. The Backcountry Office and all restrooms are in the basement (accessible by elevator). Accessible restrooms. A manual wheelchair is available for loan at the visitor center while in the area.

Induction loop technology is available for conversations with park rangers at the front desk. Audio description headsets (assistive listening system), a written description of the visitor center exhibits in large print (24 point), large print and braille versions of the official map and guide, and newspaper are available from information desk. Open captioning is included on silent videos associated with displays. Tactile exhibits are throughout the main floor.

Medical Clinic

Two designated parking spaces and wheelchair access at the rear of the building; no wheelchair-accessible restrooms.

Food Service

• Terrace Grill
  Designated accessible parking on the side of the building, adjacent to the ramp. Accessible entrance with ramp, dining, and restrooms. There is a doorbell at the Terrace Grill if assistance is needed.
• Mammoth Hotel Dining Room
  Accessible entrance to the Dining Room and accessible restrooms are inside the Terrace Grill located at the opposite end of the building. To enter the Dining Room, go up the ramp into the Terrace Grill. There is a doorbell at the Terrace Grill if assistance is needed.
• Mammoth Hotel Map Room
  Two spaces in front and two in rear.

Stores

• General Store
  Accessible (ramp on the south side of building).
• Hotel Gift Shop
  Front entrance accessible, near front door.
• Hotel Gift Shop
  Front entrance accessible.
• Mammoth Hot Springs Gas Station
  Staffed seasonally during daylight hours and have call buttons at the pumps. Accessible restrooms are south, right next to the service station on the Grand Loop Road.

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins

Accessible entrances to the hotel, gift shop, and Terrace Grill. Accessible restrooms in the hotel lobby and Terrace Grill. Two accessible hotel rooms. Four accessible cabins.

Campgrounds

Mammoth Campground will remain closed for the 2023-2024 winter season and will reopen in 2024 (dates TBD). During the 2022 flood, a sewer line adjacent to the road that carried wastewater from Mammoth Hot Springs to a sewage treatment plant in Gardiner was ruptured. Currently, work is underway to connect the Mammoth Campground to the new wastewater treatment system in Mammoth.

• Mammoth
  Five accessible sites. Picnic tables, fire rings, and tent platforms are accessible. The water hydrant near site #15 is accessible. Accessible routes along paved roadway. An accessible restroom is near site #4. Public accessible showers are available in Gardiner (5 miles/8 km north). They are the closest accessible shower facility to the Mammoth Hot Springs Campground. Evening ranger programs in the amphitheater are accessible. Designated parking is available. Loose gravel in the seating area may be difficult for wheelchair users to negotiate. Mammoth Campground will remain closed for the 2023-2024 winter season and will reopen in 2024 (dates TBD).
• Indian Creek (south of Mammoth)
  Two designated campsites with accessible tables and fire rings. Accessible vault toilets are adjacent to campsites. Amphitheater is accessible.
• Learn more about campgrounds in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center

Located in Gardiner, MT, this wheelchair-accessible building houses the park’s research library and has exhibits about the park’s history. Learn more about the Heritage and Research Center.

Post Office

Designated accessible parking in front. Accessible entrance on south side of building.

Learning About the Area

Area Trail Guides

Available for a nominal fee at the Albright Visitor Center and near the boardwalks. The Mammoth area guide describes the hydrothermal features of Mammoth Hot Springs. The Fort Yellowstone guide describes the historic area (see below).

Ranger-led Programs

The schedule is in the park newspaper, in the online calendar, and posted around the Mammoth area. Evening programs at the hotel and campground are wheelchair-accessible; others as noted in the schedule.

What to See

Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

• Lower Terraces
  Some sections of boardwalk are accessible. Transitions from asphalt walkways to boardwalks may require assistance. See the Mammoth Hot Springs Trail Guide map. Distance from the north parking lot in front of Liberty Cap to the end of the boardwalk at Palette Spring is approximately 135 yards (123 m).
• Upper Terrace Drive
  Accessible views of the hot springs. Enter the drive and proceed a short distance to the designated parking area on the left; the boardwalk begins on the right. An accessible boardwalk trail to Canary spring is available as well. Continue 0.7 miles (1.1 km) around the drive to Orange Spring Mound, which has wheelchair accessible parking and a short boardwalk to an exhibit. See the Mammoth Hot Springs Trail Guide map. Recreational vehicles and vehicles towing trailers are not permitted due to the steep and narrow roadway.

Fort Yellowstone National Historic Landmark Self-Guiding Trail

Enjoy a self-guiding tour of this historic site at Mammoth Hot Springs, which dates from the time of U.S. Army management (1886–1918). The route has some potential hazards where the concrete sidewalk has buckled (up to 1.5 inches / 3.6 cm high) or has large gaps at expansion joints. The concrete sidewalk is cracked or deteriorated in some places. Side slope may be up to 6% in places along Officer’s Row. The sidewalks between the Albright Visitor Center and the Administration Building (originally double cavalry barracks) have 10–12% slopes. The audio description in the app describes the wayside exhibits.

Forces of the Northern Range Trail

Designated accessible parking. The entire boardwalk is accessible. Some gaps between boards may exceed .5 inches (1 cm). The boardwalk surface is somewhat uneven in places. There are some tactile exhibits. The audio description in the app describes the wayside exhibits. The closest accessible toilet is at the Blacktail Creek pullout.

Boiling River Trail

Accessible parking space and vault toilet. The first 50 yards (45 m) of the compacted soil trail is accessible. Beyond this point, there are rocks, eroded trail surfacing, and drop-offs, as well as a couple small hills with up to a 20% grade. The soaking area is not accessible.

Winter in Mammoth

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

Accessible entrances to the hotel, and gift shop. Accessible restrooms in the hotel lobby. Two accessible hotel rooms.

Medical Clinic

See above. Closed weekends.

Food Service

• Mammoth Hotel Dining Room
  Accessible entrance to the Dining Room and accessible restrooms are inside the Terrace Grill located at the opposite end of the building. To enter the Dining Room, go up the ramp to the Terrace Grill. Ring the doorbell to enter. Make your way through the Grill, towards the door on the far wall (near the front windows).
• Mammoth General Store
  Acessible; ramp on the south side of building.

Stores

• Mammoth General Store
  Acessible; ramp on the south side of building.
• Mammoth Hot Springs Gas Station
  Not staffed during winter. However, gas is available.
• Hotel Gift Shop
  Front entrance accessible, near front door.

Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

• Lower Terraces
  Some sections of boardwalk are accessible during early and late winter depending on snowpack. Talk to a ranger at the Albright Visitor Center for updates.

Groomed Ski Trails

• Blacktail Plateau Drive
  The Blacktail Plateau Ski Trail is an easiest to more difficult 8 mile (12.8 km) one-way ski with two trailhead options. This trail travels through open meadows and forests with great wildlife viewing opportunities in winter.
• Upper Terrace Drive
  In winter this drive is closed to vehicles and groomed for skiing and snowshoeing. The Upper Terrace Loop Ski Trail is a groomed 1.5 mile (2.4 km) loop that ranges from easy to more difficult due to a steep downhill section if traveled to the right from the trailhead. This trail takes you around the Upper Terrace Drive to views of impressive thermal features, the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District, and distant snow-covered mountain ranges.

Accessibility Map

 

Map depicting the accessibility options around Mammoth Hot Springs.

NPS