It’s All About the Geysers!

I only spent two days in Yellowstone National Park, but I visited a lot of sights worth mentioning. If you’re strapped for time, there are plenty of must-sees to target; however, it is worth spending at least one week exploring the park. At 3,472 square miles, Yellowstone National Park is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. With limited time on our itinerary, my travel partners and I made the most of our first day in the park.

The morning light greeted us as we rolled out of Bozeman, Montana, full of excitement and anticipation. My friends and I planned for months, and finally, the moment had arrived—Yellowstone National Park. We entered through the west entrance, the gateway to an otherworldly adventure. The park’s entrance felt like stepping into a painting, with the towering lodgepole pines framing a landscape that was both familiar and alien, serene yet teeming with the raw energy of nature.

Before we could fully grasp our surroundings, an osprey swooped into view, landing in its nest with a fresh catch from the Madison River. The sight stopped us in our tracks—a welcome from Yellowstone itself. The birds of prey presence was powerful and poised, reflecting the untamed spirit of this land. Though my camera was within reach, I didn’t rush to capture the moment. Sometimes, nature demands to be experienced first-hand, not through a lens. The scene was almost overwhelming, the symphony of the gushing waterfall nearby blending with the rustle of leaves and distant calls of wildlife. The landscape beckoned us deeper into the park, promising more wonders ahead. It didn’t take us long to pull over to gaze at the first of many waterfalls on our route. At the end of the 2-mile, one-way road off the Grand Loop south of Madison, Firehole Falls stands 40 feet tall amidst ancient canyon walls.

One of my friends had been wise enough to download the GuideAlong app, which came highly recommended for our trip. The app, featuring an audible guide, offers narrated tours of popular destinations around the world, and Yellowstone was no exception. The downloaded tour tracks your location in real-time, offering insights and stories as you navigate the park. It felt like having a knowledgeable friend in the car with us, pointing out features we might otherwise miss. From the park’s history to geological marvels, the guide enriched our experience, adding layers of understanding to the breathtaking sights. Typically, I’ll dig deeper into the places that struck my interest the most or the landscapes I photographed to learn more about these facts, but GuideAlong was a great starting point to learn at the moment and act as a kickstart to further research.

Our campsite was nestled beneath the southern entrance of the park at Headwaters Campground at Flagg Ranch, an ideal base for exploring both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The southwest region of Yellowstone is home to some of the park’s most iconic geysers, and with them scattered throughout our direct route, we set off to explore these geothermal wonders as we made our way toward our campsite.

Our first stop was the Lower Geyser Basin, where we followed the Paint Pot Nature Trail. This trail, an easy boardwalk loop, is accessible to all, a thoughtful accommodation given Yellowstone’s volatile terrain. The boardwalk isn’t just for convenience—it’s a necessity. Beneath the surface lies a thin crust, fragile and treacherous, with scalding water just inches below. Walking the trail, I was reminded that Yellowstone is a living volcano, a massive caldera still very active, with every geyser and mud pot a reminder of the immense power below.

The Fountain Paint Pot, a trail highlight, offered a vivid display of nature’s artistry. Named for the colorful mud that bubbles and pops, the Paint Pot is a fascinating blend of reds, pinks, and browns, created by the oxidation of iron in the soil.

Just before the Fountain Paint Pot, the Silex Spring made its presence known by the jetting steam escaping from the bottom of the pool. The sapphire color looks inviting but remains at 174 degrees year-round.

Silex Spring.

Along this trail, we encountered nine geysers, each with a unique personality—Celestine Pool, Fountain Paint Pot, Red Spouter, Leather Pool, Twig Geyser, Fountain Geyser, Morning Geyser, Spasm Geyser, and Clepsydra Geyser. The Red Spouter formed after a significant earthquake in 1959—measured at a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale, this was the most powerful earthquake to strike the area recorded in history. Before Earth’s split, this area was just a grassy knoll.

Red Spouter. In late summer, the snowmelt within the pool dries, spitting and splattering thick mud.

Clepsydra Geyser also captured my attention. Its Greek name, "water clock," was given for its faithful eruptions every three minutes before reaching a “wild phase” once the 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake occurred. Watching it was like witnessing Earth’s heartbeat, a rhythmic pulse that spoke of the deep, hidden forces at work. The steam rising from Clepsydra, mingling with the cool air, created a mystical atmosphere, as if we had stepped into a place where time moved differently.

Clepsydra Geyser.

Next on our itinerary was the Midway Geyser Basin, home to the awe-inspiring Grand Prismatic Spring. But before we reached the spring, we were treated to a trio of other hydrothermal wonders along another fully accessible boardwalk. The Turquoise Pool, Opal Pool, and Excelsior Geyser Crater, each shimmering with sapphire hues, set the stage for what was to come. The contrast of colors against the stark landscape was mesmerizing. Then, there it was—the Grand Prismatic Spring. Yellowstone’s largest hot spring, and perhaps its most famous, the Grand Prismatic is a vivid rainbow of colors, from deep blues to fiery oranges and yellows, spreading out like a painter’s palette. The vibrant colors result from pigmented bacteria thriving in the mineral-rich waters, creating a stunning natural masterpiece. A trail leading up a neighboring hill offers an aerial view of the spring, but we chose to stay at eye level, letting the colors and steam envelop us in their surreal beauty.

Grand Prismatic Spring.

As midday approached, we ate a quick lunch before making our way to the Upper Geyser Basin with a final stop at Biscuit Basin. Once again, we found ourselves on a boardwalk, the only safe passage through this delicate and dangerous terrain. Biscuit Basin was named for the biscuit-shaped geyserite formations that once surrounded Sapphire Pool. Though many of these formations were destroyed in the major eruption in 1959, the name remains a charming nod to the basin’s history. We marveled at the Sapphire Pool, with its crystal-clear blue waters, and paused at Shell Spring and Mustard Spring, each offering a unique glimpse into Yellowstone’s geothermal diversity.

No trip to this region would be complete without a stop at Old Faithful, the park’s most famous geyser. Though we didn’t have time to wait for the next eruption, the sight of it, even in repose, was a fitting end to our day of geyser-hopping. On our way back to camp, I felt a deep sense of awe and gratitude for the wonders we had witnessed.

Headwaters Campground, situated along the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, was a welcome sight after a day of exploration. The parkway is a testament to the Rockefeller family’s dedication to preserving America’s natural treasures, a story we learned from the GuideAlong app on our drive out of the park. The area was established by Congress in 1972, honoring the late conservationist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr’s many contributions to the national parks, including donating thousands of acres of land and millions of dollars in support. To highlight one of his contributions: In the 1920s, Rockefeller Jr. provided over $1 million to save 15,000 acres of forest from commercial loggers near Yosemite. The parkway also protects the northern end of the Teton Range, the Snake River, and habitats for wildlife like moose and grizzly bears. The campground’s location, between Yellowstone and Grand Teton, makes it an ideal base for exploring both parks, a middle ground that I highly recommend for any adventurer.

Setting up camp was a breeze, the perfect end to a perfect day—until I managed to slice open my thumb while preparing dinner. It was a small mishap, easily remedied by a quick trip to the campground store for first aid supplies. The incident served as a good reminder: Overpacking first aid supplies is always a good idea, especially when venturing into the wild.

As the stars emerged, blanketing the sky above, I reflected on the day’s adventures. Yellowstone had already exceeded my wildest expectations, and this was only the beginning. The geysers, with their unpredictable eruptions and otherworldly beauty, were a reminder of Earth’s power and mystery. As I drifted off to sleep, I knew the next day would bring even more wonders in this land where the earth breathes, bubbles, and bursts forth in a spectacular dance of nature’s forces.