Hiking the Beautiful West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone

Looking for more to explore in Yellowstone National Park?
Check out more geysers (including Old Faithful) at the Upper Geyser Basin, or take a short hike to the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook.

CURRENT INFO

Check out the Yellowstone National Park website for more information on the West Thumb Geyser Basin. A map and reviews are available on the AllTrails website. For 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 the West Thumb Geyser Basin 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.
• A vault toilet is available at the trailhead.
• Always stay on the trail. Aside from protecting the delicate thermal features, stepping off the boardwalk or other trails can lead to serious injuries. Steam, scalding water, and thin ground that can break underfoot are real risks in West Thumb and other geyser basins in Yellowstone.
• Pets are not allowed on the West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail or most other trails in Yellowstone National Park.
• West Thumb Geyser Basin can attract crowds. Sure, it’s not nearly as popular as Old Faithful, but expect it to be busy during the peak summer season. We visited in early October, and while it wasn’t crowded, there were still many others on the trail.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

The West Thumb Geyser Basin is a great introduction to the thermal features of Yellowstone National Park. Visit on a sunny day if possible to see the full range of brilliant blues found in the depths of these shimmering pools — cerulean, sapphire, turquoise, teal, and, well, that’s just a start. Oh, and how about ochre, goldenrod, burnt orange… you get the picture! The boardwalk trail is short, but packed with wonders, and its location next to the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake is unique among the geyser basins.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

West Thumb Geyser Basin was the first thermal area we visited in Yellowstone National Park, so it was a real thrill for the kids. Over the next few days, the sight of geysers and hot springs became almost mundane, but West Thumb really captured their attention. They also loved getting some down time to run and play on the beach at the nearby Grant Visitor Center.

The easy boardwalk at West Thumb Geyser Basin is suitable for all ages, but please keep a close watch on younger children and make sure older children understand the dangers that lurk below. Always, always stay on the boardwalk, and no running or roughhousing.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Where to even begin? Yellowstone Park is massive, and, frankly, sometimes a tad overwhelming. If you want to stick close to the West Thumb Geyser Basin, head to the Grant Visitor Center. This beautiful visitor center showcases views across Yellowstone Lake. Our kids loved playing on the beach here, and we enjoyed a peaceful picnic with a view. Exhibits in the center highlight the role of fire in Yellowstone’s ecosystem. Restrooms with flush toilets, a gas station, store, restaurant, lodge, and campground (open only in summer) are also found at Grant Village.

You’ll find Yellowstone’s most famous geyser, Old Faithful, just a half hour drive west of West Thumb Geyser Basin. Located in the Upper Geyser Basin, Old Faithful is just one of many striking geysers and hot springs found here. Carve out a few hours to hike the extensive boardwalks and check out the visitor center. Don’t forget to peek inside the Old Faithful Inn. This incredible log structure is unlike any we’ve ever seen.

North of Old Faithful, take a short hike for iconic views over Grand Prismatic Spring. Madison Campground, where we stayed, is only a short drive further north, making it a great home base from which to explore Yellowstone’s many wonders.

We entered Yellowstone National Park from the south, overjoyed to find the smoky skies of Grand Teton brighten to a pure blue. After a leisurely stop at the Grant Visitor Center, including a picnic lunch with a view, we drove a few miles north to the West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Having never before visited Yellowstone, I was brimming with enthusiasm as we headed out on the trail. We chose to do a counterclockwise loop, and I could see Yellowstone Lake peeking through the pine trees as we tramped down the boardwalk.

Soon, I spotted pale blue pools of placid water through the openings between the trees. The geyser basin appeared, a large expanse of crumbling white soil punctuated by steaming pools of all shapes and sizes. Few trees managed to grow in this inhospitable ground, and even the scrubby grass was clinging on for dear life.

And did I mention the smell? Yes, Yellowstone’s thermal features are known to emit a rather sulfurous odor. Thankfully, the smells at West Thumb Geyser Basin were pretty mild. We’d get a taste (and smell) of the real deal in the days to come.

The boardwalk passes along the edge of Yellowstone Lake, and it was fascinating to see hot water bubbling up from the very lake itself. The Lakeshore Geyser was burbling away during our visit, frequently sending up sudden spurts of water a few feet into the air. Nearby, the famous Fishing Cone, where visitors were said to boil their fish in the late 1800s, lay inscrutably silent.

We continued on the loop, passing numerous hot spring pools. I peered into the inky blue depths, wondering what lay below the surface. Dig down far enough, and roiling magma would bubble up from below. Here we were in the caldera of a massive supervolcano, calmly strolling along, while beneath our feet the very earth seethed.

But for now, how pretty is this pool? It’s hard to be troubled by visions of cataclysmic, earth shattering eruptions when faced with such docile beauty. We finished our boardwalk loop and headed back to the car, where we would drive further into Yellowstone and the caldera. West Thumb Geyser Basin was the perfect introduction to the wonders to come.