The Ultimate Guide to Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin
If you’ve ever dreamed of walking through a place that feels more like another planet than the United States, the Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park is it. Steam hisses from vents, the ground bubbles with hot water, and every so often, one of the basin’s active geysers explodes into the sky.
It’s overwhelming at first. You stand in the Old Faithful area, staring at your map, wondering how you’ll ever see it all. That’s where I come in. Let me walk you through what’s worth the time, what you can skip if you’re short on energy, and a few things I wish I had known before tackling the Upper Geyser Basin trail myself.
Related: Check out our quick guide for the best tips on how to see Old Faithful Geyser!
Quick Snapshot
- Location: Old Faithful area, Yellowstone National Park
- Trail Length: About 4–5 miles round trip (shorter loops possible)
- Time Needed: At least 2 hours; a full day if you want to see it all
- Accessibility: Mostly wooden boardwalk trail and some paved path, partially wheelchair and stroller friendly
- Main Attractions: Old Faithful Geyser, Castle Geyser, Grand Geyser, Riverside Geyser, Daisy Geyser, Beehive Geyser, Morning Glory Pool
Why the Upper Geyser Basin Is So Special
When people picture Yellowstone National Park, they usually think of Old Faithful erupt shooting hundreds of feet into the sky. But what many visitors don’t realize is that Old Faithful is just one of the many geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin, a thermal area with the highest concentration of geysers on earth.
Packed into just a few square miles, you’ll find over 150 hydrothermal features, including active geysers, jewel-toned pools, steaming vents, and even a few bubbling mud pots. It’s like walking across another planet, except this one sits right on the earth’s surface in the United States.
The basin has been famous since the Washburn Expedition of 1870, when some of the first white settlers in the region described the “regular eruptions” of the world’s most famous geyser. Today, the park service maintains the boardwalks and paved bike path so visitors can safely explore without damaging the fragile ground.
Tips Before You Start the Upper Geyser Basin Trail
- Give yourself plenty of time. Even if you only plan a short walk, it always takes longer. This is partly because the area is big, and partly because you’ll keep stopping to watch things bubble, steam, or suddenly blow sky-high.
- Hydrate and bring snacks. There’s very little shade in the thermal area, and steam makes it hotter than you’d expect. Carry water, even in the winter months when you’re more likely to be bundled up.
- Stick to the boardwalk trail. The ground looks solid, but it’s thin and unstable. Stepping off can be deadly. Stay on the wooden boardwalk or paved path at all times.
- Accessibility: Much of the loop is wheelchair-friendly, especially near Old Faithful and Geyser Hill groups, though some side loops are rougher.
- Parking area: The parking lot near the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center is large, but in summer it fills up fast. Arrive early or later in the evening if you can.
- Check eruption times. The gov website, ranger desk, or the board inside the Old Faithful Visitor Center will list predicted eruptions for several of the predictable geysers.
Main Attractions Along the Upper Geyser Basin Trail
Here’s a walk-through of the highlights, starting from the Old Faithful area and working your way out toward Morning Glory Pool.
I have also added the map that is at the entrance to the Upper Geyser Basin. Pro tip: take a photo of the map before you head out so you can see where you want to and need to walk. Even though you can see a lot of the basin because it’s relatively flat, the boardwalks are deceptively winding.
Old Faithful Geyser
You can’t begin this walk without mentioning the most predictable geyser in the world. Old Faithful erupts every 60–110 minutes, blasting hot water up to 185 feet high. Check the posted eruption times in the visitor center to know when to grab a seat on the viewing platform.
Nearby you’ll also find the Old Faithful Inn, a national parks icon with its massive stone fireplace, rustic lodge charm, and even an ice cream counter. It’s worth stepping inside just to take a peek.
Definitely carve out time before or after you visit the Upper Geyser Basin to visit the Old Faithful Education Center. This is a fantastic visitor center with tons of information about how the geysers operate, as well as great hands-on exhibits for kids.
From the Old Faithful Geyser area you can easily hop on the paved trail that extends all the way to the Morning Glory Pool. I would start here. If you are short on time, walking the 1.5 mile paved trail to the Morning Glory pool will give you a great look at numerous geysers and geothermal pools. If you have more time (highly recommend spending more time here), I would still start with this trail.
Castle Geyser
Just a short walk from Old Faithful, this cone geyser looks like a melted fortress. When it erupts, it can shoot water for 20 minutes straight, followed by a noisy steam phase. Even dormant, it’s a great view for photos.
Grand Geyser
This is the tallest of Yellowstone’s predictable geysers, reaching up to 200 feet. The catch? Its major eruptions only happen every 6–7 hours, so you’ll need either luck or planning. When it does go, it often erupts alongside Vent and Turban Geysers, creating one of the most dramatic shows in the basin.
On our most recent trip we didn’t get to see Grand Geyser erupt. But a few years ago we saw it while eating breakfast on the deck of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge!
Giant Geyser
Giant Geyser is one of the true legends of the Upper Geyser Basin. Its cone is enormous, and when it does erupt, it’s absolutely spectacular—water can shoot more than 200 feet high and sometimes keep going for an hour or longer. The catch is that Giant is unpredictable, and major eruptions are rare. Most visitors don’t get to see it in action, but even standing next to its massive cone feels impressive. It’s a good reminder that in Yellowstone, patience (and a little luck) can pay off in a big way.
Spite and Mortar Geyser
Spite and Mortar Geysers sit side by side near Grotto, and they’ve got a bit of a sibling rivalry going on. They often erupt together in bursts, sometimes sending water 20–30 feet into the air, but other times just hissing and splashing like they’re teasing you. The eruptions aren’t on a schedule, so you may catch them active or you may just see the cones steaming away. Either way, they’re fun little surprises along the Upper Geyser Basin trail, especially since you never quite know what they’ll do next.
I was incredibly fortunate to see these two geyers and they were super impressive! And the fact that I just happened to see them almost on accident highlights a lot of the charm of the Upper Geyser Basin. Just show up and you might get a fantastic and unexpected show!
These two geyers were really powerful and one of them seems to be spurting right from the side of the river.
Pro Tip: These twin geysers are literally next to the Morning Glory Pool.
Daisy Geyser
Another predictable eruption geyser, Daisy goes off every 2–3 hours. Instead of shooting straight up, it sprays at an angle, which makes for fun photos against the boardwalk trail or Firehole River.
Riverside Geyser
This is one of my personal favorites. Riverside sits right on the edge of the Firehole River and throws an arc of water across it every 5–7 hours. The sight of boiling water cascading into the river is one of the must-see features on the trail.
Beehive Geyser
True to its name, this geyser looks like a little beehive sitting in the ground. When it erupts, it’s incredibly powerful—sending water nearly 200 feet in the air with a roar you can hear all over the basin. Eruptions are less predictable, but there’s a small “indicator” geyser nearby that gives a warning when Beehive is about to go off.
Grotto Geyser
This one looks like melted rock with arches and holes, like something out of a fairy tale. When it erupts, it sprays from multiple vents and can last for hours.
We visited this geyser in 2021 and again in 2025. I think it’s really interesting to see the changes in the geyser in just 4 years.
Jewel Geyser & Small Pools
This little geyser is charming because it goes off often- every 7–10 minutes. Perfect if you’ve got kids who don’t want to wait an hour for the next eruption. Keep an eye out for nearby small pools like Mustard Spring and Heart Spring, which add pops of color along the way.
Morning Glory Pool
The Morning Glory Pool is the finale for most visitors walking the Upper Geyser Basin trail. Its deep blue color and rainbow-like rings are stunning, though sadly its vents have been partially clogged by debris tossed in by careless visitors over the years. It’s still one of the most photographed hot springs in Yellowstone and worth the round trip walk.
I have seen the Morning Glory Pool when it’s sunny out and when it’s cloudy. It’s really stunning either way. I am including photos of each so you can see the difference.
Here are photos of Morning Glory when it’s sunny out:
And here are photos of the Morning Glory Pool when it’s a bit overcast outside:
Quick photo Safari of Some of the other notable pools and geyers
It would be really hard to see everything at the Upper Geyser Basin on one trip. Ok, not hard… you literally walk by everything. But to stop and appreciate the more than 100 pools, geysers, and geothermal features… even the most ardent fan might lose interest. Here is a photo tour of some of the pools and features we most loved!
Belgian Pool
I love this pool! It’s pretty small but the water is so clear and I love the light blue color.
Blue Star Spring
Some of the thermal pools have the deepest blue color. If you are lucky enough to visit on a sunny day it’s really super stunning.
Bottomless Pit
Chinese Spring
This is another fantastic spring that’s right next to the Firehole River.
Chromatic Spring/Pool
The reflection of the tree line in this pool is visually so stunning. The pool itself is one of of the bigger pools at the Upper Geyser Basin.
Heart Spring
Again, the deep blue of this pool is so gorgeous!
Oblong Geyser
We only saw a little sputtering of this geyser into the river. It was still really neat.
Sawmill Geyser
Again, you might not see the bigger geysers erupt, but you will likely see at least some of the smaller geysers along the route.
Shield Spring
South Scalloped Spring
As with many of the geysers and geothermals in Yellowstone National Park, the bright orange of the the sulpher water is other-wordly and really beautiful.
Spa Geyser
Spasmodic Pool
Check out how the crust of the earth around the pool looks like the crust of a pot pie or something. So interesting.
Tardy Geyser
Wave Pool
Side Trips & Nearby Basins
If you still have energy after the Upper Basin, there are several nearby geyser basins worth exploring:
- Black Sand Basin: A short walk or drive, home to Cliff Geyser and Emerald Pool.
- Biscuit Basin: Famous for Sapphire Pool and as the trailhead for the Mystic Falls trip hike.
- Midway Geyser Basin: Where you’ll find the iconic Grand Prismatic Spring—an absolute must-see.
- Lower Geyser Basin: Includes the Fountain Paint Pots (mud pots!) and Firehole Lake Drive.
- West Thumb Geyser Basin: On the shore of Yellowstone Lake, with colorful pools and great views.
- Mammoth Hot Springs: Farther north, with its travertine terraces and interesting features unlike anything else in the park.
Seasonal Notes
- Summer: Crowds are thickest, but all features are accessible.
- Winter months: You can still visit parts of the Old Faithful area on scenic drives and by snow coach. The boardwalk trail becomes a popular spot for cross-country skiing.
- Spring/Fall: Quieter, but bring layers. Temperatures and water temperature contrasts can be extreme.
Wrap-Up
The Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park is the heart of the park’s geothermal world. With the largest concentration of active geysers anywhere on earth, it’s a mix of history, geology, and wonder you won’t forget.
Whether you’re watching Old Faithful erupt, wandering out to the colorful Morning Glory Pool, or stumbling across a small spring that wasn’t even on your radar, you’ll see why this area is one of the park’s main attractions.
Take your time, bring water, and don’t be afraid to linger. You never know when the next features along the boardwalk will surprise you with a show.
