Upper Geyser Hill Trail, Wyoming
Total Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 285 feet
Trail Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
The Hike: The Upper Geyser Hill Trail gets away from the Old Faithful crowds, and gives hikers a different vantage point of the park’s most famous attraction, as well as a first hand look at the pools and smaller geysers that make up the basin. The trail is a wooden boardwalk for much of the hike as it brings visitor’s right on top of the boiling and colorful waters of the hot springs.
After viewing Old Faithful from this unique vantage point, continue down the boardwalk and get up close and personal with over a dozen geysers and hot pools. If you’re lucky, some of these geysers may just be erupting as you walk by. Honestly, pictures don’t do this trail justice – the area is insanely cool and makes hikers feel as though they stepped foot on a different planet.
Use caution as you traverse this trail as hikers have died from stepping off the boardwalk into the boiling waters.
The Details: Begin in the Old Faithful parking area, and follow signs for the trail past the Old Faithful viewing platform. Follow the boardwalk through the Geyser Basin, stopping at each one along the way. Walk on the boardwalk until you reach the Grotto Fountain Geyser. From there, turn right and follow the smooth and wide Biscuit Basin Trail for 1 mile back to the visitor’s center and parking area.
Gear: For this hike, we recommend bringing along either the Winter or Summer Day Hike Essentials, depending on the season. Micro-spikes or Snowshoes are strongly advised in the winter.
*The information in this article is for planning purposes only. Actual trail conditions may vary depending on environmental factors. It is always advised to get the latest trail information from a park office or ranger before you begin your hike.