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Old Faithful Area | Introduction
The Old Faithful Area (Old Faithful Area) is located in the southwestern part of Yellowstone National Park and is a must-visit stop for tourists from all over the world. Undoubtedly, the most famous attraction here is the iconic Old Faithful Geyser, known for its regular and spectacular eruptions. It is the most famous geyser in the world and a representative landmark of Yellowstone. Besides Old Faithful, the area boasts many other notable geological features, such as the vibrant Grand Prismatic Spring, countless geysers, and bubbling mud pots, all of which are awe-inspiring. If you only have one day in Yellowstone, spending all your time in the Old Faithful Area is a great choice.
Old Faithful Area | Itinerary Planning
The Old Faithful Area is rich in attractions, so to fully experience it, at least a full day should be allocated. For a one-day trip, it's recommended to follow a highlights itinerary. Start your morning at the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest and most famous hot spring in Yellowstone. Essential trails include the Midway Geyser Basin and Fairy Falls Trail, which offer views of this incredible feature. Next, head to Old Faithful Geyser to witness its iconic eruption, a natural wonder no visitor should miss. While waiting for the geyser, you can explore the Old Faithful Visitor Center to learn more about geysers. After watching the geyser, enjoy lunch nearby at the Old Faithful Inn.
In the afternoon, take a leisurely walk along the Upper Geyser Basin Trail. This area is home to over 150 geothermal features, including the famous Castle Geyser and Morning Glory Pool, which showcase the marvels of nature. If you have enough energy and time afterward, don’t miss the Fountain Paint Pots.
If time allows, consider spending two days in the area. Other geyser trails, such as Blacksand Basin or Biscuit Basin and Firehole Lake Drive, are also well worth visiting. To see everything at a comfortable pace, two days are recommended.
Be aware that the Old Faithful Area is very popular, so if you are driving, it's best to arrive early to avoid parking difficulties. If you want to avoid the hassle of finding parking and have limited time, you can consider joining a guided tour.
Old Faithful Area | Accommodation
Yellowstone is vast, and traveling from other lodging areas can take a long time. If you're coming from Yellowstone Lake or Canyon Village, it’s about a 1.5- to 2-hour drive. So, if you’re planning more than a day in the Old Faithful Area, it’s highly recommended to stay overnight in the area.
Old Faithful Inn
Old Faithful Inn is one of the oldest lodges in Yellowstone, built in 1904. Its massive log structure and stone fireplace in the lobby evoke a sense of history and classic American charm. Rooms offer spectacular views of the geyser’s eruptions. Although it’s on the pricier side, it remains popular with visitors, so it’s advisable to book several months in advance.
Old Faithful Lodge Cabins
Old Faithful Lodge Cabins are a more budget-friendly option. Located within walking distance of Old Faithful, the facilities are simpler, but you can still enjoy Yellowstone’s natural atmosphere at a more affordable price.
Recommended Accommodation: Old faithful lodge Comparison?
Old Faithful Area | Attractions & Trails
Must See | Old Faithful Geyser
Old Faithful Geyser is Yellowstone’s most famous attraction. It is called “Old Faithful” because of its remarkably punctual eruptions, which occur approximately every 90 minutes. The geyser’s eruptions can reach heights of 30 to 50 meters, and each eruption lasts for 2 to 5 minutes. Its regularity and magnificence make it a favorite among tourists, allowing easy planning to witness this natural wonder. Eruption schedules can be checked at the Old Faithful Visitor Center or on the Yellowstone National Park website.
The geyser is located right in front of the visitor center, so while waiting for an eruption, it’s a good opportunity to explore the center and learn about the park’s geothermal features.
Must See | Upper Geyser Basin
The Upper Geyser Basin is the most densely packed geyser region in Yellowstone, starting just a short distance from Old Faithful. It features over 150 active geysers and hot springs. This trail is ideal for families and first-time visitors as it is low in difficulty with many sights along the way. The wooden boardwalk trail stretches about 4.8 kilometers, making it easy to explore. Along the way, there are numerous viewpoints where you can get up close to the unique geothermal features not seen elsewhere. It’s recommended to set aside 1–2 hours for this trail.
As you walk through the Upper Geyser Basin, you’ll pass by over a hundred geysers. Here are some notable ones to keep an eye on.
Grand Geyser
The Grand Geyser is one of the tallest geysers in the Old Faithful area, with water jets reaching 60 to 90 meters high. Its eruption schedule is irregular, sometimes taking days or weeks, but when it erupts, it’s a truly spectacular sight. If you’re lucky enough to witness this eruption, it will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your Yellowstone trip.
Morning Glory Pool
Morning Glory Pool is a rainbow-colored hot spring that showcases a range of colors including blue, green, yellow, and orange. The vibrant colors are due to minerals in the water interacting with microorganisms. The pool’s colors shift depending on the angle of sunlight.
Castle Geyser
Castle Geyser is one of the oldest geysers in the Old Faithful area, estimated to be several hundred thousand years old, and its structure resembles a castle. Although it doesn’t erupt as frequently as Old Faithful, it’s still fairly easy to catch an eruption. When it does, water can reach up to 27 meters, accompanied by a large amount of steam.
Observation Point Trail
For panoramic views of the Upper Geyser Basin, head to the Observation Point Trail, located not far from the Upper Geyser Basin starting point. It’s a great spot for avoiding crowds and finding a quiet viewpoint. The trail is short but requires some uphill climbing, totaling about 1.6 kilometers. At the top, you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of Old Faithful and the surrounding basin.
Must See | Fairy Falls Trail
The Fairy Falls Trail is a longer trail, with a round trip of about 8 kilometers. The actual endpoint is Fairy Falls, one of Yellowstone’s tallest waterfalls with a 61-meter drop. To complete the entire trail, plan for 3–4 hours. The scenery along the way is stunning.
However, what makes this trail particularly popular is the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook along the way, which takes about 30-40 minutes to reach and return. While the climb is somewhat challenging, it’s not overly difficult. Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest and most famous hot spring in Yellowstone, with a diameter of 113 meters and a depth of 50 meters, making it the third-largest in the world. Its vibrant colors—deep blue in the center, surrounded by green, yellow, orange, and red rings—resemble a natural rainbow painting. These colors are caused by minerals and microorganisms in the water, with the colors being especially vivid during the summer months.
Must Visit | Midway Geyser Basin Trail
Midway Geyser Basin Trail leads directly to Grand Prismatic Spring and is a relatively short trail, with a round trip of about 1 kilometer, making it suitable for families. It’s one of the most popular trails in Yellowstone.
In addition to Grand Prismatic Spring, the trail also features other well-known geothermal sights. Excelsior Geyser, once an active geyser, has now become a massive hot spring, with steam rising all around, creating an impressive sight.
Other hot springs like Opal Pool and Turquoise Pool are also incredibly beautiful.
Walking along the wooden boardwalk, you can get close to the edge of Grand Prismatic Spring and see the steam rising from the colorful waters. Although you won’t see the full ring structure from this close, you can definitely feel the massive scale of the spring.
Black Sand Basin Trail
The Black Sand Basin Trail is a relatively short trail, about 1 kilometer long, and can be completed in about 30 minutes. It’s near Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. The geothermal activity here is also very active, with several vividly colored hot springs and bubbling mud pots. The short route makes it a great option for those with limited time, who can combine it with a visit to the Upper Geyser Basin.
Fountain Paint Pots Trail
Fountain Paint Pots Trail is located in the Lower Geyser Basin and features numerous geothermal attractions along the way. The trail is less crowded, offering a more relaxed experience.
The highlight of this trail is the concentration of four different geothermal features: geysers, hot springs, steam vents, and mud pots. The mud pots, in particular, resemble an artist’s palette, with bubbles continuously rising and creating colors of pink, gray, and brown due to the mixture of minerals and water.
As you continue along the trail, you’ll encounter several geysers, including Fountain Geyser.
Firehole Lake Drive
Firehole Lake Drive is also located in the Lower Geyser Basin and is a one-way scenic road, about 3.2 kilometers long, offering plenty of geothermal sights along the way. Driving through here allows you to easily admire many spectacular geysers and hot springs.
Great Fountain Geyser
The most famous attraction here is Great Fountain Geyser, one of the most spectacular geysers in Yellowstone, with eruptions reaching up to 45 meters high. Each eruption can last about an hour, but its schedule is not very regular, with prediction errors of up to two hours. We visited during its predicted eruption time, waited for over half an hour, but didn’t see it erupt.
White Dome Geyser
White Dome Geyser, located not far from Great Fountain Geyser, features a tall, white volcanic dome about 4.5 meters high. Although we missed the eruption of Great Fountain Geyser, we happened to see White Dome Geyser erupt from the viewpoint for Great Fountain Geyser.
Firehole Lake
Firehole Lake is the final stop along this scenic road, and it also has a short trail. This is a large hot spring lake, with extremely high water temperatures, often causing white steam to rise from the lake's surface. There are also many small geysers around the lake.
Old Faithful Area | Dining
There are several dining options in the Old Faithful Area. For a nicer meal, you can have lunch at the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room. Even if you’re not staying there, you can still enjoy the warm, rustic charm of the lodge’s classic wood décor. The restaurant offers a variety of American dishes, including burgers, salads, and steaks.
Further reading
- More Yellowstone National Park posts
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