Our last stop was lower Geyser Basin. My grandson went all around the Fountain Paint Pot trail with the guide and was able to see all five kinds of thermal features - bubbling mud pots, hot springs, fumaroles, and steam vents - and of course geysers. I sat at the beginning of the trail and people watched and bird watched.
Note: I picked this date to go to Yellowstone because it was the beginning of the season with less visitors than in the middle of the summer.
Under construction
Written Aug 17, 2011
At the end of the first day, I went out on the Upper Geyser Basin trail around the Old Faithful Inn and photographed thermal features until it got too dark an I got too cold. I saw many thermal pools, geysers and hot springs including Beauty Pool. Several hundred geysers are found within the basin, together with numerous hot pools.
Unfortunately at the time I did this, I didn't think to photograph the names of all the things I saw (except for Beauty Pool and Chromatic Pool), so now I don't know exactly what all of them are.
Updated Aug 4, 2011
We got lost when we left the lodge and ended up at Black Sand Basin. We had a hard time finding a parking place because the place was full of fishermen. I just walked up to the end of the bridge by Cliff Geyser, and then used the bathroom (non-flush and with no interior light). My grandson walked all the way up to Emerald Pool and took pictures of the various thermal features
According to the NPS website, this was the location of Handkerchief Pool and it was not Morning Glory Pool as I remembered.
Updated Jul 28, 2011
Website: http://mms.nps.gov/yell/ofvec/exhibits/treasures/ugb/blacksand.htm
We stopped at the Mud Volcano area because it looked like rain and the driver decided to put in an extra stop that wasn't on the original schedule, just in case. Although most of the time I didn't do a lot of the trails, in this case, I went up to the Mud Volcano and Dragon's mouth because that short bit of the trail wasn't too long and was reportedly - handicapped accessible. (See map - photo 3). My grandson did the half-mile upper loop trail via Sour Lake and the Black Dragon's Caldron is with the guide. Also in the area was the Sulphur Caldron which can be viewed from a staging area just north of Mud Volcano. The Sulphur Caldron is among the most acidic springs in the park with a pH of 1.3. Its yellow, turbulent splashing waters also there is a large, active mudpot.
Updated Jul 27, 2011
Website: http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/lake-area-nat-highs-3.htm
We took the Ring of Fire tour, so I could see lots of thermal features and my grandmother wouldn't have to drive. We didn't get front seats on the bus, but I sat on one side and she sat on the other. We drove down Firehole Canyon drive and our last stop was Lower Geyser Basin. I went all around the Fountain Paint Pot trail with the guide and was able to see all four kinds of thermal features - mud pots, hot springs, fumaroles, and steam vents - and of course geysers. My grandmother sat and waited for us.
The other thing I did where I saw lots of thermal stuff was to take the trail from the Old Faithful Inn to Black Sand Basin, but I'll make that into another tip
Written Jul 22, 2011
It may seem ridiculous, but many people go to Old Faithful and are unaware that there are trails behind it that lead to many of Yellowstone's most beautiful hot springs, as well as other geysers. If you go to see Old Faithful, do not forget to take a walk on the trails to see the hot springs. Although some of them smell bad, the colors are gorgeous, and Yellowstone has more hot springs and geysers than any other region in the world, so it would be a shame to miss them!
Updated Apr 4, 2011
By far my favorite geyser I saw during my visit was Riverside Geyser. Its distinguishing characteristic is its location mainly. Only a few feet above the bank of the Firehole River this geyser is one of the most predictable in the park. An hour or two prior to each eruption the pool in the cone begins running over the edge into the river. The bubbling becomes more visible and when it erupts water is shot to heights of 75 foot (23m).
The move interesting thing about this geyser though is that the water from its eruption almost entirely lands in the river. The geyser erupts at an angle which causes the flow to arch over the river and create an image of rain falling on the surface of the river. The dispersion of water from its angled eruption allows water vapor to cover a large area and that creates a great habitat for rainbows.
The regularity of the Geyser, every 5 to 7 hours, allows you a much better chance to see it erupt. For eruption times check at the Old Faithful Visitors Center or hike to the geyser and read the prediction sign which is updated daily. Each eruption lasts about 20 minutes.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Grotto Geyser is just a short walk along the paved path from Old Faithful. First Passing the Castle-Grand Group then the Daisy Group you will end up at the Grotto Group next. There are actually a few different Geysers that are commonly erupting in the same area. Like many other attractions in the park, Grotto Geyser was one of the points made in the 1870 report to congress to make Yellowstone a national park.
The main thing that sets Grotto Geyser apart from many of the others in the park is its peculiar shape. It has a semicircular wall that surrounds a single spire in the middle. When it erupts the water is shot into that spire and splashes. One of the other drawing properties of this geyser is its activity. The eruption of this geyser is only 7-29 hours between eruptions, but the eruptions last from 1 to up to 17 hours. The extremely long duration of its eruptions make the chance of you seeing this geyser erupting pretty good. Its nearly constant activity shoots water up to 15 feet in the air consistently and may reach 40 feet (12 m).
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Giant Geyser is the second largest active geyser in the world. Only Steamboat Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin is larger. By active they mean that it has erupted somewhat recently and is likely to erupt again. Both of these Geysers have not erupted in a predictable manner in recent times. As recently as 1997 the geyser had somewhat regular eruptions of every 3-10 days. Since then its regularity has become more sporadic. It may go several months with no eruption and could even go years without.
The beauty of this Geyser is that if you are lucky enough to witness an eruption you will join a very small group of people who have also seen it. Of course their would be no big deal if the geyser was small. This is however, one Giant Geyser. Its eruptions may be shot in excess of 180 - 250 feet (55 - 76m) high. The first minute is usually where the maximum height is reached and it wanes down later in its eruption cycle to 90 feet or less. The eruptions are last a very long time and can go for over an hour. Since it is a cone type geyser like Old Faithful its eruption is fairly constant without spurts like Grand Geyser.
With the long duration and height of the water being erupted it’s no surprise that this geyser amount of water erupted out of this geyser is 100 times that of old faithful. 1,000,000 gallons of water can be shot into the air in one single eruption.
Visually Giant Geyser’s cone looks like a petrified tree stump. Its cone is approximately 10 feet tall and even if it is not erupting you may hear it gurgling and witness water cycling through the center of its cone.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Castle Geyser has the largest cone of any in the park. Along with Grand Geyser and Sawmill Geyser as well as several others it makes up the Castle-Grand Geyser Group. The name was given to this Geyser by the Washburn Expedition. They believed that it looked like "an old feudal tower partially in ruins." The Eruptions of Castle Geyser can be shot up to 100 feet in the air and it erupts approximately every 10-12 hours with 15 to 20 minute durations. For eruption times check at the Old Faithful Visitors Center or hike to the geyser and read the prediction sign which is updated daily.
Near the geyser is Crested Pool at 42 feet to the bottom before the vent. It has a rim which encircles its edge and has a beautiful blue/green color. This pool is very hot and in 1970 a young boy died from burns suffered while trying to swim in this very pool.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Dunraven Lodge Yellowstone National Park
60 Opinions
Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins Yellowstone National Park
7 Reviews and 375 Opinions We stayed in the Snow Lodge (not cabins) for 3 nights at the end of our weeklong trip. My father,...
Cascade Lodge Yellowstone National Park
31 Opinions
Geysers/hot springs tips and photos posted by real travelers and Yellowstone National Park locals.
Write a Review
Castle Geyser has the largest cone of any in the park. Along with Grand Geyser and Sawmill Geyser as well as several others it makes up the Castle-Grand Geyser...
1 member lives in Yellowstone National Park
Q: Dear forumites, My girl and I want to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone next year. Before we book our trip, we would like to...

A: I visited Yellowstone NP and the Grand Tetons. Went at the start of June and saw hundreds of Bison (Buffalo), and many Moose. Not as many visitors in early June. Check...
Read 16 Replies
1
Yellowstone National Park, My Neighbor

We have lived in the East Gate Community of Cody, Wyoming since 1976, so I have been to the park many times, yet I have never tired of its beauty and variety. Yellowstone is famous for its boiling hot...
2
Incredible Yellowstone National Park

Before I met my husband, I was not nearly as interested in hiking, camping or National/State parks in general. I always had an interest, but it was eclipsed by my need to discover other countries....
3
Yellowstone National Park was fantastic

After reading VT member Richiecdisc’s page on the adventures that he and D had experienced in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, my wife Sue and I decided it was high time that we too......
4

Yellowstone is the crown jewel in America's National Park System. It has both one of the most active geothermal areas but also the continental US's largest collection of wildlife.
5

Yellowstone National Park was the one that started it all. On march 2, 1872 the US Congress made Yellowstone the first National Park in the world. Each year more than three million people visit the......
Build your own Yellowstone National Park page