Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Upper Geyser Basin is just one of the basins visitors might wish to tour at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Upper Geyser Basin is between Madison and West Thumb on the main park road. The area includes Old Faithful Lodge, Old Faithful Geyser, and numerous other geysers. Boardwalks and paved trails have been built by National Park rangers to ensure their visitors a safe and easy walk around the various spectacular sites. The hike around all of the geysers and especially to see Old Faithful will require at least 2 hours, although visitors should allow for three to four hours.

Upper Geyser Basin is split into two sections: the south and north. Old Faithful Geyser is found in the south section of this basin along with Giantess Geyser, Doublet Pool, Solitary Geyser, Plume Geyser, Beehive Geyser, Heart Spring, Lion Group of Geysers, Sawmill Geyser, Grand Geyser, Crested Pool, and Castle Geyser. Old Faithful is the most well known geyser, which can be discussed in its own article. Instead, concentration will be on other geysers in Upper Geyser Basin.

North Upper Geyser Basin has Beauty Pool, Chromatic Spring, Comet Geyser, Splendid Geyser, Punch Bowl Spring, Daisy Geyser, Grotto Geyser, Riverside Geyser, Fan and Mortar Geysers, Morning Glory Pool, and Biscuit Basin Sapphire Pool.

Starting in North Upper Geyser Basin visitors can see the Beauty Pool, which has blue water in the center and then micro bacteria along the edge causing a rainbow of colors. Chromatic Spring lends some of its plumbing to the pool, which is the next stop on the walking tour. This spring is one of the earlier springs which will catch overflow of water from the rest of the system.

Giant Geyser is worth a stop along the walkway. It was dormant until 1955 when an energy shift occurred underground. It has been active since and in 1997 to the present it tends to erupt every 3 to 10 days. The cone on this geyser is not only large, but it also hits heights of 180 to 250 feet when it erupts.

Comet Geyser compared to the other stops on the tour is relatively small, erupting about 6 feet. It is part of the Splendid Geyser system. Splendid Geyser will hit heights of 200 feet, and is considered one of the tallest in the entire park. It is however, unfaithful in its eruptions. Punch Bowl Spring is another wonder of nature in Upper Geyser Basin. It has a sinter lip which gives its appearance of a punch bowl. Steam will rise off the water and microorganisms grow on the rocks offering a delightful array of colors.

Just to give an idea of the southern section of Upper Geyser Basin, Beehive Geyser and a few others will be described. On the tour tourists can see Beehive Geyser which will erupt a couple times a day for four to five minutes. There is a narrow cone making the erupted water look like that in a fire hose or spout. Heights can reach 130 to 190 feet for the water. If visitors are lucky they can see a rainbow.