The terraced hot springs at Mammoth are unlike anything else in the park — a series of travertine terraces cascading down a hillside, coloured pale white, grey, and orange by minerals and thermophilic bacteria. The formations are constantly changing: new springs emerge, old ones go dormant, and the terraces build up or erode within years. The main terrace boardwalk is accessible and easy; the upper terraces require a short drive or walk but offer better views of the largest formations. Elk are almost always grazing around the village, and in autumn the bugling of bulls during the rut is one of the park's more memorable sounds.