Create an account

Start your adventure today.

    0

    Already a member? Login

    Midway Geyser Basin Trail

    Difficulty
    This reflects the 10Adventures difficulty rating for each route. We aim to keep ratings consistent across regions.
    Very Easy
    Duration
    This reflects the estimated time the majority of users will take on this trail. If you are slower, add time to the top-end figure. If you are fast, then you may complete this route faster than this time range.
    0.5h
    Distance
    This reflects the return distance of this route as measured by the GPS file.
    1.1 km
    Elevation
    This reflects the total elevation gained throughout this route as measured by the GPS file. This includes all ascents and descents, and is higher than what is quoted in most route guides, which simply measure the distance between the starting-point and high-point of the route.
    17 m
    User Ratings
    These ratings are completed by users who have completed this trail and not subject to reviews by 10Adventures.
    Be the first to add a review!
    Directions to Trailhead

    The Midway Geyser Basin Trail is a fantastic hike in Yellowstone National Park. This trail is family-friendly and appropriate for hikers of all ages and abilities.

    Download the 10Adventures App

    View Midway Geyser Basin Trail on Map

    View Map

    Join our newsletter

    Get a weekly dose of discounts and inspiration for adventure lovers

    Route Description for Midway Geyser Basin Trail

    The Midway Geyser Basin Trail is one of the most popular trails in Yellowstone National Park. This trail is very busy, especially in the summertime, so it's best to start your hike early in the morning to beat the crowds. In the late season, the boardwalk gets icy. If you are hiking in late October, we suggest bringing along a set of traction devices such as microspikes for some extra grip.

    On the Midway Geyser Basin Trail, you will pass by a series of spectacular thermal features, including the Grand Prismatic Spring, The Excelsior Geyser, Turquoise Pool, and Opal Pool. With so much to see in less than a mile of trail, the Midway Geyser Trail is a great bang for your buck.

    Beginning at the Midway Geyser Trailhead, follow the boardwalk clockwise past the Excelsior Geyser, the Grand Prismatic Spring, the Opal Spring and the Turquoise Spring. Just after the Turquoise Spring, you will find yourself back at the trailhead where you began.

    If you are looking for more to explore in the area, check out the Fairy Falls Trail just down the road.

    Trail Highlights

    Excelsior Geyser

    The Excelsior Geyser is a dormant fountain-type geyser. Though now inactive, this geyser used to erupt dramatically, shooting water between 30 m-91 m in the air. This dramatic eruption was captured in 1886 by F. Jay Haynes whose photograph of the Excelsior Geyser now lives at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

    Opal Pool

    The Opal Pool is an active hotspring and a fountain-type geyser. The Opal Pool rarely erupts and the eruptions are unpredictable but when they go, this geyser shoots hot water 6 m-21 m in the air.

    Turquoise Pool

    The Turquoise Pool is a hot spring that was named by the Hayden Expedition in 1878. The temperature of this pool sits between 142-160 degrees Fahrenheit (61-71 degrees Celsius).

    The Grand Prismatic Spring

    The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest natural hot spring in the United States of America and the third largest hot spring in the World. With a diameter of approximately 113 m and a depth of approximately 49 m, this spring is well known for its vivid, prismatic colors. The spectacular rainbow of color that gives this spring its name is caused by microbial mats: multi-layered sheets of microorganisms, largely bacteria, on the edges of the water.

    These microorganisms make the shoreline of the spring bright red, orange, yellow, and green. In the summertime, these mats are usually shades of red and orange, and in the winter, they shift to the cooler greens and blues. With an average temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (70 C), you cannot enter or go near the spring; the high acidity of the water combined with the scalding temperature would be instantly fatal to anyone who tried. The Grand Prismatic Spring is truly an otherworldly sight and well worth a stop on your visit to Yellowstone National Park.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What entrance is the Midway Geyser Basin?

    The Midway Geyser Basin is best accessed through Yellowstone National Park’s West Entrance.

    Insider Hints for Midway Geyser Basin Trail

    • Don’t forget the camera! This trail is otherworldly.

    Getting to the Midway Geyser Basin Trail Trailhead

    This hike begins at the Midway Geyser Basin Trailhead on the west side of Grand Loop Road, approximately 9.2 km northwest of the Old Faithful Visitors Center

    Route Information

    • Backcountry Campground

      No

    • When to do

      April to October

    • Pets allowed

      No

    • Family friendly

      Yes

    • Route Signage

      Average

    • Crowd Levels

      High

    • Route Type

      Lollipop

    Midway Geyser Basin Trail Elevation Graph

    Weather Forecast

    Check Area Weather

    Midway Geyser Basin Trail Reviews

    Add a comment

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Nearby Trails

    Nearby Regions

    Get travel inspiration and discounts

    Join our weekly travel newsletter