The plan for day 2 in Yellowstone was the bottom half of the figure 8 loop including the Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful, and several geyser basins. We left first thing in the morning without breakfast to beat traffic.

Yellowstone National Park
2019 Price: Free due to my Annual Pass (Fee would have been $35 for a 7-day pass)

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States and is deeper than a 10-story building. There are bands of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue water. The multiple colors are due to different species of thermophiles – heat-eating bacteria and algae – living in the water around the spring.

I knew the Grand Prismatic Spring would be crowded so we started there. You can view the spring up-close from the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk but there is also an overlook trail.

Steph at the Grand Prismatic Spring
Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park

Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook

To get to the overlook, we started at the Fairy Falls Trail. Instead of turning at the sign for the Grand Prismatic Spring on the road, we drove along the river for about a mile past the sign to the Fairy Falls Trailhead.

The parking lot was almost full when we arrived, and we snagged the last space in the main lot. At the first fork in the trail, we turned left up the hill to the viewing platform overlook.

We saw a dusky grouse in the grass along the trail. It was my first time seeing one of these.

Dusky grouse on Fairy Falls Trailhead

Initially there was a lot of steam rising from the spring due to the cold, which made the bright colors hard to see. It was still beautiful but not the view I was hoping for. We almost left but decided to rest for a moment and take it all in. As the steam cleared, the sun rose, and the wind picked up – we saw great color. It was definitely worth waiting a moment!

Grand Prismatic Spring when we first arrived
When we first arrived
Grand Prismatic Spring once the steam cleared
Once it cleared
Grand Prismatic Spring through the trees from the Fairy Falls Trail
From the Fairy Falls Trail

Midway Geyser Basin Boardwalk

Midway Geyser Basin is a loop boardwalk with 4 main hot springs.

Excelsior Geyser

Excelsior Geyser at Midway Geyser Basin
Excelsior Geyser with blue steam at Midway Geyser Basin

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring from the right side
Grand Prismatic Spring from the left side

Opal Pool

Opal Pool in the Midway Geyser Basin

Turquoise Pool

Turquoise Pool in the Midway Geyser Basin

Many of the springs look similar, so it is helpful to photograph the signs before taking shots of each one.

Black Sand Basin

Then, we continued on the loop road to the Black Sand Basin. The basin contains some small geysers and colorful hot springs. It was a less populated area than Midway Geyser Basin, which made it easier to take our time and enjoy it.

Cliff Geyser

Cliff Geyser in the Black Sand Basin

Green Spring

Green Spring in the Black Sand Basin

Emerald Pool

Emerald Pool can look blue or green depending on where you stand on the boardwalk. This was my favorite hot spring in the Black Sand Basin.

Green Emerald Pool in the Black Sand Basin
Blue Emerald Pool in the Black Sand Basin

Rainbow Pool

Rainbow Pool in the Black Sand Basin

Sunset Lake

Sunset Lake in the Black Sand Basin

Old Faithful Geyser

Then we went to the most well-known attraction in the park – Old Faithful Geyser.

The Visitor Center can provide estimated times of eruption for several geysers including Old Faithful. When we arrived, there was a little over an hour until the next eruption, so we decided to claim our seats before the crowds descended. There are several rows of wooden benches surrounding the geyser. By the time the eruption occurred, there was not an empty spot in the area – people were sitting on every bench seat, standing in aisles, and sitting on the ground.

Old Faithful Geyser 1 in Yellowstone National Park
Old Faithful Geyser 2 in Yellowstone National Park

The estimate was good – but it erupted at the tail-end of the confidence range. It also had some small eruptions for several minutes before the real thing which kept us all on our toes.

Old Faithful Geyser 3 in Yellowstone National Park
Old Faithful Geyser 4 in Yellowstone National Park

The real eruption was approximately three and a half minutes long. All-in-all, I was clenching my camera to keep it level for about 20 minutes straight. Old Faithful is a must-see and lives up to the hype!

Old Faithful Geyser 5 in Yellowstone National Park

In the old Faithful area, we walked through the Yellowstone Art & Photography Center. The center had artwork and photographs of the geyser and a gift shop.

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Our last geyser basin was West Thumb Geyser Basin. West Thumb sits on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. Follow the boardwalk in a circle around the basin.  

Thumb Paint Pots

Thumb Paint Pots in the West Thumb Geyser Basin

Bluebell Pool

Bluebell Pool in the West Thumb Geyser Basin

Lakeshore Geyser

Lakeshore Geyser in the West Thumb Geyser Basin

Fishing Cone

Fishing Cone in the West Thumb Geyser Basin

Big Cone

Big Cone in the West Thumb Geyser Basin

Black Pool

Black Pool in the West Thumb Geyser Basin
Black Pool and boardwalk in the West Thumb Geyser Basin

Abyss Pool

Abyss Pool in the West Thumb Geyser Basin

Mimulus Pool

Mimulus Pool in the West Thumb Geyser Basin

It was a perfect day to get stunning views of Yellowstone Lake from West Thumb. The colors in the water were incredible!

Yellowstone Lake rocks from the West Thumb Geyser Basin
Yellowstone Lake water ripples from the West Thumb Geyser Basin

Once again, we found a herd of bison in Hayden Valley.

Bison herd in the Hayden Valley on Day 2
Bison herd close up in the Hayden Valley on Day 2

Because Bullwinkle’s had become a favorite, we ate dinner there and I had the bison lasagna again.

Kelly Inn West Yellowstone
2019 Price: $1,236 for four nights

Related Posts