Heading north, the plan for the day was to check out Norris Basin, explore Mammoth Hot Springs and begin making my way to Grand Teton National Park.
While the temperature was cold, the sun was shining bright as I put on my jacket and hiking boots to begin my next hike. The beautiful landscape ahead of me was surreal as I wandered the boardwalk exploring the unusual pools, gases and geysers.
Milky white liquids filled pools that seemed to be harmless, but their position along several major fault lines makes this location one of the hottest geyser basins in the park. Reaching temperatures of close to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, this may well be one of the hottest geyser basins in the world.
This area was abundant with sulfur and sulfuric acids making the water highly acidic and deadly to the trees and plants nearby. The surrounding countryside seemed desolate and barren. With an ever-changing environment, new geysers were being formed daily.
The journey was surreal as the boardwalk was only inches from the smoky haze coming from the ground below. Vegetation was few and far between, yet a single fir tree managed to rise out of the cauldron of steam seemingly unaffected by the poisonous gases.
South of the museum was a one-mile loop known as the Back Basin. I approached the Emerald Pool where, looking closely, I saw the slight bubbling of the pond. With its temperature just below boiling, it had a captivating color and clarity.
A short walk and I reached Steamboat Geyser which was spouting out hot water reaching only about 40 feet. It is known to erupt at distances of 300 feet, more than twice the size of Old Faithful, but this is a rare occasion, happening anytime within a span of 4 days to even 50 years.
The more predictable geysers were fun to watch as their eruptions could be determined like clockwork. With some surges occurring every few minutes, there were some lasting upwards to twenty minutes at a time. With an abundance of geological features, the basin is was one of the park’s more active areas in terms of exploding geysers and bubbling pools.
What is your favorite section of Yellowstone Park? Are you fascinated with the surging geysers or the colorful sulfuric pools. I would love to hear about your favorite memories of Yellowstone if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for taking the time to read my post about Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin and wishing you many Happy Travels.
What to See and What to Do:
Yellowstone National Park
PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Telephone: 307 344 7381
- Admission Fee: Each entrance fee covers 7 days of park entry. Private Vehicle: $35; Motorcycle: $30 and Hiker/Biker: $20 which only applies to visitors 16 years old and older entering the park by foot, bicycle, etc. An annual Pass for Yellowstone National Park is $70 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. The Yellowstone National Park accepts the America the Beautiful Pass which allows access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites for a cost of $80 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. Check out their website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
- Hours: Open daily, 24 hours; Refer to the Yellowstone National Park website for the operating hours of the Visitor Centers.
- Amenities: camping, hiking, boating, skiing, biking, bird watching, climbing and mountaineering, fishing, horseback riding and llama packing, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, Visitor’s Centers which provide interpretive exhibits and park information and Ranger programs. Guided tours are also available in the park.
- Scenic View: Take in the view of Grand Prismatic Spring from the Overlook off of the Fairy Falls Trailhead. For the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, you can see this beautiful waterfall from several locations offering different views of the falls: Brink of Lower Falls, Lookout Point, Uncle Tom’s Trail and Artist Point. Check out the stadium seating at Old Faithful for a front row seat of this geyser that erupts every 35 to 120 minutes. The park’s Twitter account, @GeyserNPS, the Geyser Activity Page on their website or the Geyser App lists the predicted times for Old Faithful.
- Length of Visit: Three days is recommended to see all of the attractions at Yellowstone.
- Tips for Your Visit: The park is open year around, but winter time can be a challenging during snow and ice. If you are looking for animals, winter is the time that they hibernate. Spring is a wonderful time to visit because you can see newborn babies. When viewing wildlife, you must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yard from all other animals in the park. For photographers, you may already know that dawn and dusk are the best times to photograph animals and you will want to bring a telephoto lens for capturing them from far distances. Summer is the busiest time for the park you may find road construction and traffic.
Where to Stay:
I was fortunate enough to stay at one of the lodges at Yellowstone. I absolutely loved staying at the park and have Melba Coleman to thank for assisting me in my reservation.
Where to Eat:
Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room
Yellowstone Park, WY 82190
Telephone: 307 344 7311
For a light lunch, I ordered the charcuterie plate which included meats, cheeses, olives, walnuts and whole grain crackers. It was the perfect location to enjoy the park sitting by a large viewing window, mesmerized by the spectacular view.
