Can anyone give me some details about the firehole river swim. Is it really warm enough? Can you swim early morning? I have read that you shouldn't drink the water or allow your head to go under at the boiling river, but what about at The Firehole? Is there a ton of people there. We are going to be there mid-June 2008.
Anyone have any comment about the Yellowstone River Picnic area. Is the picnic area close to the road and then the hike is near the picnic area? Is this a similar hike to Hell Roaring creek. I am considering one of them, but might want to do both if they are a little different.

I'll try this question again. Would like response from somebody who has been to either the Firehole River swim or Boiling River.

I am not familiar with the yellowstone river picnic area but driving by the firehole river swim area, it can be crowded on a hot day, there is parking along the road, and as to temps, not sure if it is warm, as it is not the lazy river portion, but more creek like where you swim. the hike to hellroaring creek is thru the woods and down to the creek, there are some very good descriptions of hikes in various hiking books of yellowstone. hellroaring from the access i went to is a steep but easy switchbacked trail at the top then it evens out. i stopped at the suspension bridge. be wary of bears on this trail if there are not a lot of people around. the parking area holds may 15 cars?

We stopped by the Firehole swim area, but didn't swim because the air temp was too cold for us. That was an August afternoon. A June morning is likely to be chilly. There were people swimming though.

This past September we stopped at the Boiling River swimming area. It is a lovely, quiet spot as you head out of the park towards Gardiner.

There were about 15 people in the water, mostly Russians. One elderly man undressed right there in front of us!

I don't know how the crowds would be in June. However, there are two parking areas, and I imagine it gets pretty full on a nice, warm day.

It really is unique to try this. The water on one side of you is hot, the other side is cold, you sit in the middle and it is like a jacuzzi.

Be sure to bring waterproof shoes and it's rocky and slippery.

On the same trip, the Firehole River swimming area was vacant and we did not stop to put our feet in.

Boiling River - I had heard here that area was closed, but there is a response here that seems to indicate it is not. Walk in path (maybe 1/4 mile) and entry is on slippery rocks. Can sit in various places in rocked-off area, depending on where you sit determines temperature of water. We were there in July 2005 on a hot day and it was crowded, but not over-whelmingly so. Not sure why you would want to put your head under water - it is not really swimmable.

You did not get an answer the first time you posted since most people in US were asleep between first and second time you posted.

Re Boiling River - even if you don't want to go into the water, the area is really lovely on its own. Just park your car and walk the nicely-groomed, very flat pathway.

Even in September, there were lots of varieties of wildflowers still blooming: purple, white, yellow, etc. I'm sure in June they would be more plentiful.

Gail, are you suggesting people in the US were sleeping between Aug 27 & Nov 2? lol

"You did not get an answer the first time you posted since most people in US were asleep between first and second time you posted."

We are very tired - sorry - I only looked at the time, not the date.

LHS LOL on the dates. Thanks everyone for the info.