Hiking The Upper Geyser Basin And Old Faithful In Yellowstone National Park
Old Faithful is one of the most famous geysers in the world, located in Yellowstone National Park.
It is known for its remarkably regular eruptions, which occur approximately every 90 minutes, although the exact timing can vary. These eruptions can shoot hot water and steam up to 180 feet into the air, making it a popular tourist attraction.
The Old Faithful Visitor and Education Center is located right beside the viewing area for Old Faithful. Predictions for Old Faithful’s next eruption are listed in the lobby. There are plenty of benches surrounding the geyser for visitors to sit and enjoy the eruption.
During our visit, it was a very gloomy day and minutes before the geyser erupted it started raining and continued to rain through the entire eruption. The picture above is the only one I got of Old Faithful and it’s pretty bad.
Maybe we’ll have better luck on our next visit.
The rain did stop though and we got to explore the Upper Geyser Basin whose trailhead starts near Old Faithful.
The Upper Geyser Basin is one of the most famous and geothermally active areas within Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park has approximately half of the world’s geysers—and most of them are located in this section.
The Upper Geyser Basin contains at least 150 hydrothermal wonders, including the famous Old Faithful Geyser, Castle Geyser, Grand Geyser, Riverside Geyser, and Daisy Geyser.
Visitors can witness the regular eruptions of several geysers and the colorful hot springs throughout the basin. The Old Faithful Visitor and Education Center has predictions for geyser eruptions in their lobby.
To protect both visitors and the delicate geothermal environment, there are well-maintained boardwalks and trails that meander through the Upper Geyser Basin. These allow visitors to explore the area safely while preserving the fragile geothermal features.
The basin is known for its stunning and colorful hot springs, such as Morning Glory Pool and Chromatic Pool. These vividly colored pools are formed by thermophiles, heat-loving microorganisms, that thrive in the extreme temperatures of the hot springs.
The geothermal features in the Upper Geyser Basin are a testament to the geological activity underneath Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone sits atop a supervolcano, and the geothermal activity is a visible manifestation of the intense heat beneath the Earth’s surface.
The loop trail from the visitor center to the Morning Glory Pool and back is a little under three miles and a pretty easy trek.
Visiting the Upper Geyser Basin is a highlight of any trip to Yellowstone National Park, offering a unique opportunity to witness the power and beauty of natural geothermal features in a protected and accessible setting.
Safety reminder:
It is illegal to touch or throw objects into hot springs or other hydrothermal features at the park. Always stay on the walkway in thermal areas.
