Mammoth Campground (Yellowstone)

About this park

The Mammoth Campground is in a high sagebrush steppe, scattered juniper and Douglas fir trees provide shade during hot summer months. Wildlife including elk, bison, pronghorn, and mule deer frequent the Mammoth Hot Springs and the North area of the park, depending on the season. The road from the North Entrance to the Mammoth Campground winds up the Gardner River canyon, past crumbling walls of sandstone and ancient mudflows. The vegetation is much thicker in the canyon than on the open prairie down below, the common trees being Rocky Mountain juniper, cottonwood, and Douglas-fir. Low-growing willows also crowd the river's edge in the flatter, flood-prone sections of the canyon. Watch for wildlife, which varies by the season. Eagles, osprey, dippers, and kingfishers can be spotted along the river, while bighorn sheep climb along the steeper parts of the canyon. Elk are common in Mammoth Hot Springs, while bison can often been seen along the road out to Tower–Roosevelt. Spring and Fall daytime temperatures range from 30°F (-1°C) to 60°F (15°C) with overnight lows in the teens to single digits. Snow is common in the spring and fall. Summer temperatures are often around 70°F (21°) to 80°F (27°C) and occasionally 90°F (32°F) at lower elevations. Nights are usually cool and temperatures may drop below freezing at higher elevations. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons. During winter, sub-zero temperatures and snow are common, especially at night and at higher elevations. Winter temperatures range from 0—20°F (-20—-5°C) throughout the day, with sub-zero temperatures overnight.