Firehole Swim Area

Current status: closed through 2026

The Firehole Swim Area did not open in 2026. The NPS place page for the site, updated August 3, 2026, read “CLOSED. Estimated opening date: no earlier than late summer/early fall.” At the end of September, both the Yellowstone swimming page and the park’s current conditions page still listed it as closed. The road from the West Entrance to Madison closes to wheeled vehicles after October 31, so there is no realistic chance of a swim here this year.

The NPS has not posted a reason for this year’s closure beyond its standard note that the river stays closed until conditions are safe. That is worth knowing, because the summer of 2026 was a low-water year on this river: the park closed the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon to fishing from July 15 to August 28 because flows were low and water temperatures went above 68°F20°C. If you want to swim here in a future summer, check the park’s conditions page shortly before your trip rather than relying on the usual opening pattern.

What to expect when it is open

This is a river swim, not a hot spring. The Firehole River runs through Yellowstone’s busiest geyser basins before it reaches this canyon, and the hot water that drains into it makes it noticeably warmer than a typical Rocky Mountain river. Wikipedia cites readings as high as 86°F30°C, with averages 9-18°F5-10°C above the water upstream of the thermal areas. Do not expect bathwater: the NPS still treats it as a cold river with a real hypothermia risk, and it moves fast.

The swim area is a short stretch of the river in a narrow canyon of dark volcanic rock, just upstream of Firehole Falls. From the small parking area, a short flight of steps leads down to the water. The only facilities are two vault toilets. There are no changing rooms, no lifeguards and no concession stand.

Because soaking in Yellowstone’s hot springs is banned, and because Boiling River near Mammoth has been closed since the 2022 flood, this is the only designated place in the park where you can legally get into the water for a swim. That makes it very busy on the days it is open.

Getting there

The swim area is on Firehole Canyon Drive, about 2 miles south of Madison Junction.

• From West Yellowstone, Montana: Enter at the West Entrance and drive about 14 miles east to Madison Junction. Turn south toward Old Faithful on the Grand Loop Road, then take the signed turn onto Firehole Canyon Drive just south of the junction.
• From Old Faithful: Drive north on the Grand Loop Road toward Madison. The drive is one-way, southbound, so you need to pass its southern end, continue to its northern entrance near Madison Junction, and loop back in.

Firehole Canyon Drive is a narrow paved road with a 25 mph limit. It passes Firehole Falls before reaching the swim area. Parking is limited, and the NPS warns that the lot is often full and overflowing on summer afternoons.

The roads around Madison are seasonal. In 2026 the West Entrance to Madison and Madison to Old Faithful roads were open from April 17 to October 31. From mid-December to mid-March the park interior is reachable only by guided snowmobile or snowcoach, and the swim area is closed.

When to go

The NPS says the river is usually closed to swimming until mid-summer because of high water and strong currents, and that in years with heavy snowpack the swim area may stay closed all season. In a normal year, that leaves a window from mid or late summer into early fall.

When it is open, arrive late morning on a weekday. Afternoons are the busiest time, and the parking lot fills fast. The water is coldest early in the season, right after runoff.

Rules

The NPS rules for the swim area are strict and rangers do enforce them:

• Swimsuits are required.
• Swim only during designated hours. The area closes at night.
• No food, drink or alcohol. Cans, bottles and plastic containers are not allowed in the swim area.
• No soap, shampoo, conditioner or any other substance, biodegradable or not.
• No climbing, diving or jumping from cliffs or trees.
• No rafts, tubes, noodles, pool floats or similar toys. Water wings are allowed, and life jackets are recommended.
• No lifeguards. You swim at your own risk.

Swimming and wading in the Firehole River are also banned in the Upper Geyser Basin, from the Biscuit Basin bridge to the Grand Loop Road bridge near Old Faithful. That is a different stretch of the same river, so do not go looking for an alternative swim upstream.

Prices and passes

There is no extra charge for the swim area, but you need a Yellowstone entrance pass. In 2026 that is $35 per private vehicle for seven days, $30 per motorcycle, and $20 per person on foot or bicycle. A Yellowstone annual pass costs $70. Non-US residents 16 and over pay an additional $100 per person unless they enter on an annual or America the Beautiful pass.

Where to stay nearby

West Yellowstone, Montana, about 16 miles away, has the most motels, cabins and restaurants close to this part of the park. Inside the park, Madison Campground sits right by Madison Junction, a few minutes from Firehole Canyon Drive. The lodges and cabins at Old Faithful are about 16 miles south. Book well ahead for any summer stay inside the park.

Safety notes

• Current: The Firehole is a swift river, even in the swim area. The NPS warns that park waters are swift and cold. Weak swimmers should wear a life jacket.
• Cold water: Even with the geyser runoff, hypothermia is possible, especially early in the season or on a cool day.
• Thermal water: The NPS says all thermal waters contain organisms that can cause illness, including skin rashes and rarer, more serious infections. Keep your head above the water and do not swallow it.
• Rocks: The canyon walls and river bottom are hard volcanic rock. Jumping is banned for good reason.
• Emergencies: Call 911. Cell signal in the canyon is not guaranteed, so do not rely on it.

Nearby stops worth adding

Firehole Falls, a short drive before the swim area on the same road, drops over a ledge in the canyon and is worth a stop even when swimming is closed. The Cascades of the Firehole, a stretch of small drops in the same canyon, are on the same short drive. South toward Old Faithful, the river runs past the Lower, Midway and Upper geyser basins, where you can see the hot water that warms it, from the boardwalks only.