Yellowstone - Grand Loop Road
Grand Loop Road
The 142 mi. long Grand Loop Road runs round the park in a figure of eight, taking in the most striking of the natural features. The round tour described below starts and finishes at Mammoth Hot Springs, where the National Park offices are located.
Before entering the geyser area you should enquire in the Old Faithful Inn or the Visitor Center at the National Park offices about the times of eruption of the various geysers and should check that the paths are safe to use. You must keep exclusively to the marked paths.
The 142 mi. long Grand Loop Road runs round the park in a figure of eight, taking in the most striking of the natural features. The round tour described below starts and finishes at Mammoth Hot Springs, where the National Park offices are located.
Before entering the geyser area you should enquire in the Old Faithful Inn or the Visitor Center at the National Park offices about the times of eruption of the various geysers and should check that the paths are safe to use. You must keep exclusively to the marked paths.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Related Attractions
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Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth Hot Springs, on Terrace Mountain, are comprised of terraced sinter basins. Sixty hot springs, which range in color from white to orange or red, vary from 64 to 165 Fahrenheit.
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Old Faithful
Yellowstone's Old Faithful geyser shoots up a spray of water rising up to 165 ft in the air. It regularly performs this event every 30 minutes to two hours.
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Upper Geyser Basin
Upper Geyser Basin is where a number of Yellowstone's geysers are located, including the most famous, Old Faithful. A boardwalk allows access to the area, with the complete walk taking about 2 hours.
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Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River meanders through meadows until it reaches Upper Falls where it drops off dramatically, falling over 100 ft, and further on it falls another 310 ft. An interesting walk follows the river.
Lower Geyser Basin
To the south-west is the Lower Geyser Basin, with the Paint Pot Fountain, in which hot reddish mud simmers. A little way south of this, on the Firehole Lake Drive, is the Great Fountain Geyser, which is a magnificent spectacle every 11 hours or so. On the lush green of Fountain Flat bison and deer can be seen grazing, particularly in the early morning and the evening.
Norris Geyser Basin
The Norris Geyser Basin is very impressive. The hottest place in this area is the Porcelain Basin (with boardwalk). The Echinus Geyser spouts approximately every hour. Here too is the Steamboat Geyser, the largest in the world, which erupts only very irregularly. It can shoot water up to a height of 425 ft. In the Norris Museum the operation of geysers is explained.
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Yellowstone Lake
The scenic Yellowstone Lake is located at an altitude of 7,737 ft. and attracts a variety of rare waterfowl.
Midway Geyser Basin
The most striking feature in the Midway Geyser Basin (boardwalk) is the mighty crater of the Excelsior Geyser, with a flow of 55 gallons of hot water per second. Nearby is the Grand Prismatic Spring (diameter 360 ft), one of the finest hot springs in the Yellowstone National Park.
