Cody Casey
Hot potting, or soaking in heated, mineral-rich bodies of water, has been a popular activity in Yellowstone for years, but it is also extremely dangerous. In June 2016, 23-year-old Colin Nathaniel Scott died after falling into a boiling hot spring while looking for a place to hot pot with his sister. Despite warning signs, people continue to be drawn to Yellowstone's geysers, which can reach temperatures of up to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, causing third-degree burns in seconds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | June 2016 |
| Name of Victim | Colin Nathaniel Scott |
| Age of Victim | 23 |
| Location | Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park |
| Cause of Death | Lethal Burns |
| Water Temperature | 212 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Water pH | 5 |
| Survivors | Sable Scott (sister of victim) |
What You'll Learn
Colin Nathaniel Scott's death
On June 7, 2016, 23-year-old Colin Nathaniel Scott of Portland, Oregon, died in a tragic accident at Yellowstone National Park. Scott and his sister, 21-year-old Sable Scott, were looking for a place to "hot pot," an illegal practice of bathing in the thermal pools at Yellowstone. They ventured into a prohibited area near the Pork Chop Geyser, ignoring warning signs advising visitors to stay on the boardwalk.
Sable was filming their excursion on her cellphone when Colin reached into the water to test its temperature and slipped, falling into the boiling hot spring. The water's extreme heat and acidic nature caused fatal injuries, and by the time rescue workers returned the next day, Colin's body had dissolved, leaving only his wallet and melted flip-flops.
Sable captured her brother's fatal fall on video, but out of sensitivity to the family, park officials have not released the footage. According to the police report, Sable was traumatized by the incident and sustained visible injuries herself. The Norris Geyser Basin, where the accident occurred, is one of the oldest and hottest thermal areas in Yellowstone, with acidic waters that can exceed the boiling point.
The practice of "hot potting" has been popular in Yellowstone for years, despite its extreme dangers. The hot springs can reach temperatures of up to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, causing third-degree burns in seconds. Unfortunately, Colin Nathaniel Scott's death is a tragic reminder of the fatal consequences of engaging in this illegal activity.
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Hot potting dangers
Hot potting is the act of sitting in a heated, mineral-rich body of water, also known as taking a hot springs soak. While hot potting has been popular in Yellowstone for years, it is an illegal and dangerous activity that has resulted in several fatalities.
The Dangers of Hot Potting in Yellowstone
The hot springs in Yellowstone National Park can reach temperatures of up to 100°C, which is enough to cause third-degree burns in seconds. The water in these springs is also highly acidic, which can severely burn the eyes and skin. The combination of extreme heat and acidity means that people who fall into these springs may be boiled and dissolved alive, as was the tragic case of Colin Scott, who died in 2016.
General Dangers of Hot Potting
Even outside of Yellowstone, hot potting can be dangerous. Firstly, if you are pregnant, it is advised to limit your time hot potting to under 10 minutes. If you have open wounds, you should also refrain from entering the water, as the presence of bacteria and parasites can cause infection.
People with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, seizure disorders, narcolepsy, or fainting disorders, are at a higher risk of injury or drowning when hot potting. It is crucial to consult a doctor before participating in this activity if you have any of these conditions.
Additionally, some hot springs may be highly sulfuric, which can be off-putting for some people due to the egglike smell.
Safety Measures
To ensure safety when hot potting, it is important to follow warning signs and only enter approved springs. Do not ignore safety barriers or venture into prohibited areas. When visiting a controlled facility, inquire about their cleaning and water testing procedures to ensure the water is safe.
Other general safety tips for hot potting include:
- Don't hot pot alone
- Don't submerge your head
- Avoid swallowing the water
- Keep the soak short
- Get out immediately if you feel ill or experience burning sensations
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Yellowstone's hydrothermal features
Yellowstone National Park is home to over 10,000 hydrothermal features, including more than 500 geysers—that's about half of the world's total. The park's hydrothermal features include hot springs, geysers, mudpots, and fumaroles. The most common of these are hot springs, which are created by a process called convection, where superheated water cools as it reaches the surface, sinks, and is replaced by hotter water from below. This prevents the water from reaching the temperature needed to cause an eruption.
However, hot springs with a constriction in their plumbing system can allow pressure to build until an eruption occurs to release it. These eruptions are relatively common in Yellowstone. In fact, a hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin in 2024 damaged a boardwalk as several park guests ran for safety. Another explosion occurred in the Norris Geyser Basin in April 2024, and a smaller one was reported in Biscuit Basin in 2009.
Despite warning signs posted around the park, some tourists are tempted to bathe in Yellowstone's iconic geysers, a practice known as "hot potting." This dangerous trend has resulted in several deaths over the years. The water in the geysers can reach temperatures of up to 205°F (96°C), causing third-degree burns in seconds.
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Hot springs
The hot springs in Yellowstone are fuelled by a large magma body that registers at thousands of degrees Fahrenheit, making the water hotter than in nearly any other thermal spring. The water in the Norris Geyser basin, where a fatal incident occurred in 2016, can reach over 212 degrees Fahrenheit—the boiling point for water.
Despite the dangers, hot springs have been used for thousands of years for their therapeutic benefits. The ancient Greeks bathed in sulfur springs to treat skin diseases and to ease muscle and joint pain. Today, hot springs are used for hydrothermal therapy or immersion therapy, which can help to relieve pain, ease skin conditions, reduce stress, and support cardiovascular health.
However, it is important to exercise caution when visiting hot springs. Some springs contain sulfur, which can be off-putting to some people due to its egglike smell. It is also important to be aware of the temperature and minerality of the water, as well as any potential risks or hazards in the surrounding environment.
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Yellowstone's geysers
Yellowstone National Park is home to the world's largest collection of geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles. The park has over 10,000 hydrothermal features, more than 500 of which are geysers. The geysers of Yellowstone are the product of millions of years of geological activity. The park sits inside an ancient volcanic caldera, with the last major eruption occurring 600,000 years ago. Even today, molten rock can be found just 2-5 miles below the surface in some places.
The heat from this volcanic activity creates the thermal features found in the park. Geysers are a type of hot spring with constrictions in their plumbing that cause them to erupt periodically. The super-heated water below the ground becomes trapped in channels leading to the surface. The deepest water in these channels can exceed the surface boiling point of water (199°F/93°C) due to the surrounding pressure from the weight of the overlying water and rock. As the water rises, steam forms and expands, increasing the pressure in the constricted plumbing near the surface. Eventually, this pressure causes the geyser to splash or overflow, resulting in a decrease in pressure and violent boiling throughout the column of water. This produces a massive volume of steam, forcing water out of the vent in a superheated eruption.
The two main types of geysers are fountain geysers and cone geysers. Fountain geysers, like the Great Fountain Geyser, shoot water in various directions through a pool. They have large openings at the surface that fill with water before or during an eruption. Steam bubbles rising through the pool cause separate bursts of water that spray out in all directions. Cone geysers, on the other hand, shoot water out in a narrow jet, usually from a cone-shaped formation. The plumbing system of a cone geyser has a narrow constriction near the vent, which acts as a nozzle during eruptions. The constant deposition of silica around the vent forms the cone-like structure.
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Frequently asked questions
Hot potting is the act of sitting in a heated, mineral-rich body of water, or taking a hot springs soak. It is also known as hydrothermal therapy or immersion therapy.
Yellowstone's waters get much hotter than your standard hot tub, reaching up to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, which is enough to cause third-degree burns in seconds. The acidity of Yellowstone's springs can also cause chemical burns and, in some cases, dissolve the body.
Yes, several people have died from hot potting in Yellowstone, including 23-year-old Colin Scott, who slipped and fell into a geyser in 2016.
Yes, there are many safe and legal hot springs located elsewhere, such as Bagby Hot Springs in Oregon's Mount Hood National Forest, or the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
