Dunanda Falls Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park

General Description
Several pools along Boundary Creek lurk near the base of Dunanda Falls. The trailhead is at Cave Falls; if you don't have a snowmobile it's an additional 14 miles from where they stop plowing the road and approximately 10 mile cross country ski trip to the base of the falls. I've never been here during the summer, but have been told it is a mosquito infested swamp until late July as well as a favorite hangout for bears. Plenty of reasons to go in the winter/spring.

Since most of the water in Boundary Creek in March comes from thermal features the creek itself runs about 60 degrees.


Camping Notes
You'll need to get a permit to camp, but during the winter at least they have always me fax in the application, then they fax me back the permit. There is a campsite on the east ridge above the falls but it's a wicked climb down to the falls. During the winter the Park Service does not force you to camp in their designated campsites. Once snow is gone you'll have to camp on ridge above the falls. Since always go in the winter I've always camped in the canyon below the falls. With 4-6' of snow you can just make yourself a flat spot within 100 yards of the hot springs.

03.19.06 - 03.22.06 Trip Report
It's a long hard day to get to Dunanda Falls. It was dusk by the time we got to the base of the falls. Within 10 minutes of getting the tents setup my sons were in their tents. First thing in the morning we walked the 100 yards to the hot pools. The main pool on the east side of the creek is big enough for the 5 of us but after a couple of hours Ian and I headed across the creek to a pool below a huge boulder. As we soaked Ian asked me "Dad, do you think this is what heaven is like?". Other than a few bottle caps it looked as though we were the first ones to wander up this canyon.

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