Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, USA

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Photo ofGrand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, USA

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mclivancouver

with 1 trail buddy

5,550 189 2155

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Trail stats

Distance: 0.59 mi
Elevation gain: 49 ft
Technical difficulty: Easy
Elevation loss: 0 ft
Max elevation: 7,233 ft
TrailRank: 59
Min elevation: 7,200 ft
Trail type: One Way

Moving time: 16 minutes
Time: 27 minutes
Coordinates: 167
Uploaded: June 14, 2019
Recorded: June 2019

This is a group of trails :

track to Grand Prismatic Spring Viewpoint

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near Riverside, Montana (United States)

Viewed 799 times, downloaded 18 times

Trail photos

Itinerary description

Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring are the main locations of thermal activity at this popular location.

The outstanding beauty can really be appreciated in satellite view. First we did a walk around in mid-afternoon. Then we returned and did the walk again in the early morning on a following day. This provided better light conditions for pictures and avoided large crowds and parking delays, particularly the bus groups moving through the narrow boardwalks.

the saved track combined two segments; the main boardwalk around the Geyser Basin, and a Southern forest walk to a lookout over the Grand Prismatic Spring. A short road segment links the two parking lots and is not part of the saved track.

The Track was recorded over two days in early June 2019 using the free Wikiloc off-line State map for Wyoming.

Waypoints

Photo ofParking and Bridge to Excelsior Geyser

Parking and Bridge to Excelsior Geyser

The track starts at the main bus and car parking area. Early arrival is a good idea; at that time the light is better for photography and there is no congestion on the bridge and boardwalks.

Excelsior Geyser outflow

"The geyser is currently dormant but discharges 4,000 gallons per minute of boiling water into the Firehole River".

Excelsior Geyser Crater

"In the 1880's Excelsior Geyser erupted in bursts 50 to 300 ft high. A 1988 eruption is shown in one of the attached photos. Violent eruptions caused the jagged crater. Eruptions ceased from 1890 to Sept 14, 1985 when 47 hours of major eruptions occurred."

Photo ofalong South edge of Excelsior Crater

along South edge of Excelsior Crater

Looking south from here there are great views of the steam cloud rising above Grand Prismatic Spring.

Grand Prismatic Spring 1

At 200 ft (61 m) across, Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest and one of the most colorful of Yellowstone's hot springs. It's water is 160 deg F (70 deg C). It discharges almost 500 gallons a minute into the Firehole River.

Western boardwalk

Opal Spring and other thermal activities in this area.

Southern parking lot

It is worthwhile to stop at the next parking lot to the south of Excelsior and climb a gently forest path to the Great Prismatic Spring viewpoint. This way-point is at the car park for this southern track segment.

Bridge over Firehole River

Antique single vehicle bridge.

Photo ofLookout over Grand Prismatic Spring

Lookout over Grand Prismatic Spring

This viewpoint is an easy climb from the bridge, and is well worth the effort, with a panoramic view of the Grand Prismatic Spring. Its a light gravel forest path with no boardwalks.