Thermal Activity Closes Yellowstone Road Temporarily

If you’re planning to travel to Yellowstone this weekend, you may want to read this first.

Upper Terrace Drive near Mammoth Hot Springs is closed to vehicles because a thermal feature is “impacting the road,” according to the park’s official Facebook page.

“The feature became visibly active this May near the Upper Terrace parking lot, creating new small terraces adjacent to the drive. Geologists and rangers monitored the thermal feature, and found temperatures up to 152 degrees Fahrenheit. Rangers noticed additional thermal activity this week adjacent to and under the pavement, prompting the temporary closure. Thermal imaging shows heat under the pavement as well,” according to a statement on the Facebook page.

“We have known this area had heat near the surface based on the fact that it does not hold snow in the winter,” said Dr. Hank Heasler, park geologist. “We drilled two holes a half-meter (20 inches) deep, both of which now have hot water bubbling at the surface or very near the surface.”

Bumper logs are being prepared to protect the feature and keep the outflow off the pavement. Once those are in place, the drive will reopen to vehicle traffic.

“As in all of the thermal areas, visitors need to stay on the boardwalks or paved areas and avoid touching thermal features,” Heasler said.

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