ExperienceYellowstone.com - Yellowstone National Park Attractions

6) West Thumb Geyser Basin

The West Thumb Geyser Basin, including Potts Basin to the north, is the largest geyser basin on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. The heat source of the thermal features in this location is thought to be relatively close to the surface, only 10,000 feet (3000 m) down. West Thumb is about the same size as another famous volcanic caldera, Crater Lake in Oregon, but much smaller than the great Yellowstone Caldera which last erupted about 640,000 years ago. It is interesting to note that West Thumb is a caldera within a caldera.

West Thumb was created approximately 162,000 years ago when a magma chamber bulged up under the surface of the earth and subsequently cracked it along ring fracture zones. This in turn released the enclosed magma as lava and caused the surface above the emptied magma chamber to collapse. Water later filled the collapsed area of the caldera, forming an extension of Yellowstone Lake. This created the source of heat and water that feed the West Thumb Geyser Basin today.

The thermal features at West Thumb are not only found on the lake shore, but extend under the surface of the lake as well. Several underwater hydrothermal features were discovered in the early 1990s and can be seen as slick spots or slight bulges in the summer. During the winter, the underwater thermal features are visible as melt holes in the icy surface of the lake. The surrounding ice can reach three feet (one meter) in thickness.

Fishing Cone in West Thumb Geyser Basin Perhaps the most famous hydrothermal feature at West Thumb is a geyser on the lakeshore known as Fishing Cone. Walter Trumbull of the 1870 Washburn Expedition described a unique event while a man was fishing adjacent to the cone: "...in swinging a trout ashore, it accidentally got off the hook and fell into the spring. For a moment it darted about with wonderful rapidity, as if seeking an outlet. Then it came to the top, dead, and literally boiled." Fishing Cone erupted frequently to the height of 40 feet (12 m) in 1919 and to lesser heights in 1939. One fisherman was badly burned in Fishing Cone in 1921. Fishing at the geyser is now prohibited.


Yellowstone National Park Attractions

There are far too many things to see in Yellowstone Park to be mentioned all one page, but we've provided ten major attractions that are must-sees for the Yellowstone visitor. Be sure to view the map at the bottom of this page to see the location of each attraction.

1) Mammoth Hot Springs Famous for its terraces, elk herds, and history, it's also the location of the Albright Visitor Center where you can view historic Moran paintings. This is the location of Yellowstone Park headquarters, and it radiates history, featuring some of the oldest buildings in the Park, including structures from the days when the U.S. Army was managing Yellowstone. Remember to drop by the Visitor's Center where you can watch a film, browse the history exhibit, and walk through the wildlife museum. In addition, Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace is quite magnificent, and the Terrace drive is a must.

2) Norris Geyser Basin One of Yellowstone's most popular geyser basins, Norris is home to Steamboat Geyser (the world's tallest geyser). In addition, there are several miles of boardwalks from which you can explore dozens of multi-colored thermal features. Elk and the occasional bison can sometimes be spotted in the area, so remember to bring your camera. An active geothermal area, the earth beneath Norris Geyser Basin is literally the hottest in Yellowstone.

3) Grand Prismatic Spring Yellowstone's largest hot spring, Grand Prismatic Spring boasts hypnotic colors with its trillions of heat-loving micro-organisms. The vivid colors in the spring are the result of pigmented bacteria in the microbial mats that grow around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The bacteria produce colors ranging from green to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids. In the summer, the mats tend to be orange and red, whereas in the winter the mats are usually dark green. The center of the pool is sterile due to extreme heat. The deep blue color of the water in the center of the pool results from a light-absorbing overtone of the hydroxy stretch of water. Though this effect is responsible for making all large bodies of water blue, it is particularly intense in Grand Prismatic Spring because of the high purity and depth of the water in the middle of the spring. The spring is approximately 250 by 300 feet (75 by 91 m) in size and is 160 feet (49 meters) deep. The spring discharges an estimated 560 gallons (2000 litres) of 160°F (71°C) water per minute.

4) Old Faithful Geyser Old Faithful Geyser is the symbol of Yellowstone, the premier attraction of the park and the world's most photographed geyser. Everyone who visits for the first time should watch this famous geyser erupt. Although neither the highest nor the most regular geyser in the Park, it is spectacular. Also, take an hour or two to walk around the boardwalks and visit some of the many other geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin, such as Castle, Grotto, Riverside and Daisy. In addition, visitors are encouraged to make the 1.4 mile walk to Morning Glory Pool, one of the most colorful thermal features in all of Yellowstone. Finally, be sure to visit the Old Faithful Inn, which is the single most impressive human structure in Yellowstone. A variety of wildlife including bison and elk can sometimes be spotted grazing in the area.

5) Old Faithful Inn A national historic landmark located next to Old Faithful Geyser, Old Faithful Inn is the most famous and most requested lodging facility in the park. Old Faithful Inn is a massive building within a short viewing distance of Old Faithful Geyser, the most famous geyser in the United States. The building is an exposed log and wood-frame structure of rustic design and gigantic proportions: nearly 700 feet in length and a central core seven stories high. The building was constructed in three major phases: the 1903 original section (known as the Old House) with the imposing gable roof, dining room and kitchen wings to the south, and small guest-room wings to the east and west; the 1913-14 east wing; and the 1927 west wing. The building faces north, oriented toward the old "circuit road" rather that toward the geyser. The building was designed by architect Robert Reamer. Old Faithful Inn is one of the few remaining log hotels in the United States. The Inn is a masterpiece of rustic architecture in its stylized design and fine craftsmanship. Its influence on American architecture, particularly park architecture, was immeasurable in its uses of natural materials to create a feeling of high-style rusticity. In a broad sense the design of the Inn parallels architectural ideas being used in hotel construction today with its enormous multi-story lobby surrounded by levels of galleries. Old Faithful Inn undoubtedly is the queen of rustic hotels in the national parks. Its use of natural materials, allusions to pioneer building techniques, and strong ties with its site through the use of onsite materials are three key principles of rustic design with which National Park Service architects worked through World War II. The log walls, gnarled log brackets and balustrades, and natural finishes on the warm wood on the interior no doubt relate back to the work of William West Durant in his Adirondack buildings of the 1870s. The sheer scale of the building and the extreme exaggeration of many of its architectural features leave the building with a western frontier sense of size, space, and grandeur. Certain anglo-colonial features such as the second-story overhang and the diamond-mullioned windows cannot be overlooked, but they are subdued by the overall rustic character of the building.

6) West Thumb Geyser Basin The West Thumb Geyser Basin, including Potts Basin to the north, is the largest geyser basin on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. The heat source of the thermal features in this location is thought to be relatively close to the surface, only 10,000 feet (3000 m) down. West Thumb is about the same size as another famous volcanic caldera, Crater Lake in Oregon, but much smaller than the great Yellowstone Caldera which last erupted about 640,000 years ago. It is interesting to note that West Thumb is a caldera within a caldera. West Thumb was created approximately 162,000 years ago when a magma chamber bulged up under the surface of the earth and subsequently cracked it along ring fracture zones. This in turn released the enclosed magma as lava and caused the surface above the emptied magma chamber to collapse. Water later filled the collapsed area of the caldera, forming an extension of Yellowstone Lake. This created the source of heat and water that feed the West Thumb Geyser Basin today. The thermal features at West Thumb are not only found on the lake shore, but extend under the surface of the lake as well. Several underwater hydrothermal features were discovered in the early 1990s and can be seen as slick spots or slight bulges in the summer. During the winter, the underwater thermal features are visible as melt holes in the icy surface of the lake. The surrounding ice can reach three feet (one meter) in thickness. Perhaps the most famous hydrothermal feature at West Thumb is a geyser on the lakeshore known as Fishing Cone. Walter Trumbull of the 1870 Washburn Expedition described a unique event while a man was fishing adjacent to the cone: "...in swinging a trout ashore, it accidentally got off the hook and fell into the spring. For a moment it darted about with wonderful rapidity, as if seeking an outlet. Then it came to the top, dead, and literally boiled." Fishing Cone erupted frequently to the height of 40 feet (12 m) in 1919 and to lesser heights in 1939. One fisherman was badly burned in Fishing Cone in 1921. Fishing at the geyser is now prohibited.

7) Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Quite possibly the most spectacular 20 miles in the park, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone includes breathtaking waterfalls, sheer dropp-offs, and a spectrum of canyon colors. Yellowstone's Grand Canyon may not be as big as the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but it is nonetheless spectacular. The Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon, at 308 feet high, is one of the most photographed features in all of Yellowstone. There are numerous vantage points on both the north and south sides of the canyon. Also, be certain to take the 3/8 mile (one way) hike down to the edge of the Lower Falls. The experience at the edge of the falls is breathtaking.

8) Lamar Valley This wide, expansive valley is home to bison, elk, coyotes, grizzly bears, and wolves, and is must-visit area for serious wildlife watchers. It's one of the best spots in the park to see the famous wolf packs and even a grizzly bear. In fact, Lamar Valley is the top destination inside Yellowstone Park for viewing wolves. There are also abundant fishing opportunities in the Lamar Valley.

9) Tower Falls / Roosevelt Junction Along this four-mile stretch of road, you can find a petrified tree, a towering waterfall, and some of the most unusual geology in Yellowstone Park. Tower Falls is the most popular waterfall in Yellowstone other than the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon. The waterfall is located behind the General Store. A short walk will take you to an overlook, but we also recommend you take the short-but-steep hike down to the base of the waterfall. Tower Falls is also a popular winter destination. It is accessible via cross-country skies or snowshoes by following the Roosevelt Junction to Tower Falls road.

10) Hayden Valley Centrally located in Yellowstone National Park, Hayden Valley is the place to see bison and more bison. As you drive along this beautiful, broad valley you are likely to see herds of bison, scattered elk (and the occasional herd), and the occasional grizzly bear. You are also likely to see waterfowl, including ducks, Canadian geese and pelicans, swimming in or lounging near the Yellowstone River. There are a number or roadside turnouts along the Hayden Valley, offering views on both sides of the road. The Yellowstone river is positioned on the east side of the roadway. Several turnouts are scenic overlooks that allow panoramic views of the Valley floor below.