Wyoming · Hiking

Liberty Cap

Liberty CapPhoto: Brocken Inaglory — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Liberty Cap open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Yellowstone National Park. It doesn't name Liberty Cap, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: NPS · Yellowstone National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Liberty Cap is 37 feet (11 m) tall. It was created by a hot spring that was active in one location for a long time. Its internal pressure was sufficient to raise the water to a great height, allowing mineral deposits to build slowly and continuously for perhaps hundreds of years. Liberty Cap was named in 1871 by the Hayden Survey because it resembled the peaked knit caps symbolizing freedom and liberty during the French Revolution. Mammoth Hot Springs A network of fractures and fissures form the plumbing system that allows hot water from underground to reach the surface at Mammoth Hot Springs. Small earthquakes may keep the plumbing open. The water comes from rain and snow falling on surrounding mountains and seeping deep into the earth where it is heated. The volcanic heat source for Mammoth Hot Springs remains somewhat of a mystery. Scientists have proposed two sources: the large magma chamber underlying the Yellowstone Caldera or a smaller heat source closer to Mammoth. For hundreds of years, Shoshone and Bannock people collected minerals from the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces for white paint. Travertine Terraces Travertine terraces are formed from limestone (calcium carbonate). Water rises through the limestone, carrying high amounts of dissolved calcium carbonate. At the surface, carbon dioxide is released and calcium carbonate is deposited, forming travertine, the chalky white rock of the terraces. Due to the rapid rate of deposition, these features constantly and quickly change. Use Caution in Hydrothermal Areas Stay on boardwalks and designated trails. Hydrothermal water can severely burn you. Never run, push, or shove. Supervise children at all times. Do not scratch hydrothermal mats. You are responsible for your safety. Think safety, act safely. Yellowstone is a dangerous place.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Liberty Cap

    Best months: July–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      31° / 12°

      11 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      34° / 12°

      11 wet · 9 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 19°

      11 wet · 7 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 26°

      11 wet · 5 snow

    5. May

      60° / 35°

      13 wet · 2 snow

    6. Jun

      69° / 42°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 48°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 47°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 39°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    10. Oct

      54° / 29°

      9 wet · 3 snow

    11. Nov

      39° / 19°

      10 wet · 7 snow

    12. Dec

      30° / 12°

      12 wet · 10 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yellowstone Park Mammoth, WY, 0.5 mi away at 6,195 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Mammoth Terraces TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mammoth Terraces Trail

Next door

Short out-and-back hike to striking travertine terraces in Wyoming.

HIKE

Minerva Terrace

Next door

Activity shifts dramatically around this terrace, named for the Roman goddess of artists and sculptors. The cascades of travertine beside the boardwalks were formed in the 1990s. Some years, they are dry. In dry areas, you can clearly see the many layers and the varying…

HIKE

Bunsen Peak Overlook

~3 min drive

Bunsen Peak prominently sits south of Mammoth Hot Springs. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trails: Bunsen Peak Trail Bunsen Peak Road Trail Osprey Falls Trail Parking is limited. Winter trailhead access requires a snow coach drop-off, or skiing up from…

Sportsman Lake TrailPhoto: cchadek, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sportsman Lake Trail

~4 min drive

Challenging 17.57-mile out-and-back hike to a scenic alpine lake in Wyoming.

Lava Creek TrailPhoto: R. Sieben, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lava Creek Trail

~7 min drive

Accessible out-and-back hike through Wyoming's volcanic landscape and thermal features.

HIKE

Beaver Ponds Trailhead (1N4)

Next door

This trailhead is located behind the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, next to the start of the Old Gardiner Road. From this trailhead, you can access the following trails: Beaver Ponds Trail Selpulcher Mountain Trail There is no parking at the trailhead. However, there is parking…

HIKE

New Highland Terrace

Next door

This terrace was active from the 1950s through the 1980s. Today, it is a stark, white cliffside leading to Orange Spring Mound to the southwest.

Beaver Ponds TrailPhoto: petemckelvey, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Beaver Ponds Trail

~3 min drive

5.31-mile lollipop trail in Wyoming with 788 ft gain.

Yellowstone River TrailPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Yellowstone River Trail

~8 min drive

15.56-mile out-and-back trail along the Yellowstone River in Montana.

Blacktail Deer Creek TrailPhoto: cchadek, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Blacktail Deer Creek Trail

~9 min drive

Easy out-and-back creek hike through Wyoming's scenic drainage.