Looking for more to explore near Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park?
Check out more geysers (including Old Faithful) at the Upper Geyser Basin, or hike the boardwalks at Norris Geyser Basin.
LOCATION
Grand Prismatic Spring is located in the Midway Geyser Basin along Highway 191 (Grand Loop Road) in Yellowstone National Park. The overlook trail begins at the Fairy Falls trailhead, which is located about 1.5 miles south of the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot.
LENGTH
1.5 miles out and back to the overlook; 0.7 miles to hike the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk trail below Grand Prismatic Spring
WE HIKED IT
October, 2024, about 1.5 hours total to hike to the overlook and walk the boardwalk at the base of Grand Prismatic Spring
DIFFICULTY
Easy — The overlook trail is wide and well-maintained, with an elevation gain of 200 feet and some steps to reach the overlook. The Midway Geyser Basin Trail follows a wide boardwalk with 55 feet of elevation gain.
CURRENT INFO
Check out the Yellowstone National Park website for more information about Grand Prismatic Spring. The AllTrails website includes a map and reviews for hiking both the Overlook Trail and the Midway Geyser Basin Trail.
When planning a trip to Yellowstone, I recommend the guidebooks Moon Yellowstone & Grand Teton and Moon Best of Yellowstone & Grand Teton, both by Becky Lomax. The former has the most in-depth coverage of these two national parks, while the latter is ideal for a shorter trip.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Since Grand Prismatic Spring is located within Yellowstone National Park, you must either pay an entrance fee of up to $35 (valid for up to seven days) or use the America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass) to enter. You can purchase an annual American the Beautiful pass ahead of time online, or in person at any entrance station to Yellowstone National Park.
- Check ahead of time to see if you qualify for a free or reduced price pass — seniors, fourth graders and active military do! Fourth graders must print a voucher ahead of time to qualify.
- Grand Prismatic Spring is incredibly popular. During peak season, parking lots fill up fast, and parked cars line the road. Fortunately, it was far less crowded when we visited in October. To avoid peak summer season crowds, arrive very early or very late. The colors are usually at their best during the middle of the day, but you can still get dramatic views at other times. Cold mornings mean more steam, so try to visit after the temperature warms up on chilly days.
- Vault toilets are available at the trailheads for both the Overlook Trail and the Midway Geyser Basin Trail.
- Always stay on the trail. Aside from protecting the delicate thermal features, stepping off the boardwalk or other trails can lead to serious injuries. The risks of going off trail include hot steam, scalding water, and thin ground that can break unexpectedly underfoot.
- Pets are not allowed on the Overlook or Midway Geyser Basin Trails, or most other trails in Yellowstone National Park.
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles.
HIGHLIGHTS
As the largest hot spring in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Prismatic Spring commands your attention. To fully appreciate this beauty, hike the Overlook Trail for a bird’s eye view. Seen from the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk, Grand Prismatic Spring is so massive it can be hard to make out amidst the steam and vapor. Here, it’s the delicate mineral formations and fantastical colors that steal the show.
THE KIDS’ TAKE
By the time we arrived at Grand Prismatic Spring, our family had already spent a very full morning at the Upper Geyser Basin. The kids were eager to return to Madison Campground, but agreed we could make one final stop (OK, technically two stops) for Grand Prismatic Spring. Fortunately, the trail to the overlook is easy, and the boardwalk through the Midway Geyser Basin has a lot to offer. Both options are great for families traveling through Yellowstone, and can easily be combined with a visit to Old Faithful and other nearby geyser basins.
As elsewhere in Yellowstone, keep a close watch on younger children. Make sure kids of all ages understand the importance of staying on the trail or boardwalk. And of course, no running or roughhousing allowed!
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
Grand Prismatic Spring and the Midway Geyser Basin are located just 6.5 miles north of Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. You can easily visit both geyser basins in one day and still have ample time to take in all the thermal delights. When visiting the Upper Geyser Basin, be sure to pop in the visitor center as well as the awe-inspiring Old Faithful Inn. This area also includes restrooms with flush toilets, a general store, restaurants, and gift shops.
If you can’t get enough of steaming alien landscapes and and gurgling geysers, check out the Norris Geyser Basin to the north of Grand Prismatic Spring. Or head the opposite direction to Yellowstone Lake, where the West Thumb Geyser Basin is sure to please.
For an overnight stay within Yellowstone National Park, try Madison Campground. It’s only a short drive from the Midway Geyser Basin, and was our home base for four nights.
Our Experience: The Overlook Trail
Grand Prismatic Spring is one of those “can’t miss” attractions at Yellowstone National Park. Wait, did I say “attraction”? It’s not a word I usually use to describe a natural phenomena, but in a park as popular as Yellowstone, sometimes it just seems to fit.
Fortunately, in October, there was plenty of parking available in the early afternoon at the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook/Fairy Falls trailhead. We ambled slowly along the wide, flat gravel path. To our right, the cobalt blue Firehole River shimmered as it wound through the valley. Sky blue hot spring pools reminded us that we were still within the massive caldera of the Yellowstone super volcano.
Before long, we reached a fork in the trail. A sign indicated that the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook was up the hill to our left. At this point, the trail grew steeper. It you’re not used to hiking uphill, take it slowly. There’s plenty of space to stop and rest along the wide trail.
As we neared the overlook, the trail turned right and a few steps led to the large viewing platform. On our visit in October, it wasn’t too crowded, which made it easy to find a spot at the rail to capture the view. In summer, I expect there is often a wait to snag the perfect spot.
We spent several minutes at the overlook taking in the brilliant colors and sheer enormity of Grand Prismatic Spring. No other hot springs in Yellowstone compare with Grand Prismatic’s size and magnificence, and nothing beats the Overlook Trail for the best view possible.
Our Experience: Midway Geyser Basin
After our trip to the overlook, we drove a few minutes north to the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot. This lot tends to overflow during the summer months, but in October we had our pick of open parking spots. From the lot, we headed out on the boardwalk, eager to see how Grand Prismatic would appear from another angle.
The boardwalk crosses the Firehole River on a beautiful wooden bridge. Overflow from the hot springs pours into the river, sending up clouds of steam. My glasses fogged up as we approached Excelsior Geyser and a gust of wind sent steam billowing in our direction. Excelsior Geyser stopped erupting many decades ago, so has technically been downgraded to a hot spring, but the name Excelsior Geyser still sticks. Today, translucent turquoise waters ripple across giant pit that once housed a great geyser. It’s not as awe-inspiring as Grand Prismatic, but is nonetheless impressive.
After passing Excelsior Geyser, a sign directed us to stay to the left and follow the boardwalk loop. Making this a one-way trail is doubtlessly a necessary form of traffic control during the busy season. On our visit, we could easily go at our own pace and enjoy the strange sights around us.
The Midway Geyser Basin is largely covered in water as you approach Grand Prismatic Spring. Below these shallow pools, a network of scalloped ridges stretch in all directions like the veins of a giant living organism. It’s easy to imagine the Yellowstone caldera as a giant slumbering beast, it’s heated breath escaping through hidden vents and fissures, waiting until the day some underground disturbance awakens it with a deafening roar.
For now, the beast sleeps while heat seeking bacteria gather on the surface, their vibrant colors spreading across the liquid landscape. In the midst of all this, providing these thermophiles with life-giving heat, lies Grand Pristmatic Spring. But… you kind of have to know it’s there to believe it. That’s it in the photo above, coyly hiding behind the cloud of steam. Without the view from the overlook, we wouldn’t have even known what we were missing.
As you can see, Grand Prismatic Spring is not so grand when seen from the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk. Still, I highly recommend this short trail for the close up views it offers of this amazing landscape. Plus, the bridge across the Firehole River really is a beauty. Ultimately, if you have time for both, do the overlook and the Midway Geyser Basin trails. Both are quintessential Yellowstone experiences not to be missed!
