Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
Address: | Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA |
GPS: |
44°30'54.2"N 110°49'56.8"W Maps | Directions |
State: | Wyoming |
Trails/Routes: | 2.0 mi |
Streams Trails Ponds National Park Pet Friendly
Hike
The Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail gives hikers an opportunity to see the famous aerial view of the Grand Prismatic Spring. The vibrant rainbow waters of the Grand Prismatic Spring are best viewed from above.
The forested trail provides for a invigorating, short hike up to the overlook. From the overlook hikers have a sweeping view of the entire Midway Geyser Basin. Seeing this active geothermal area from above provides a unique perspective that you don't want to miss. This geyser basin is famous for the variety of color that can be seen here.
The Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail is a 1.2 mile out and back hike that can be completed in less than 2 hours. The trail has some steep incline to get to the viewing point, but most hikers can tackle the hike. This trail is open in the winter, summer and fall, and closed in the spring. This hike is one of the more popular hikes in Yellowstone, so hikers will not be hiking alone.
The trailhead is located in the Fairy Falls Parking Lot, one mile south of the Midway Geyser Basin.
The Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail is the best trail to take for view of the Grand Prismatic Spring and Midway Geyser Basin.
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read MoreDirections
From Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
- Head east on Pyramid Rd (0.2 mi)
- Turn left onto Geyser View Ave (0.2 mi)
- Geyser View Ave turns left and becomes Old Faithful Rd (0.6 mi)
- Take the ramp to US-191 N/US-287 N/US-89 N/Hwy 20 W (0.4 mi)
- Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Madison and merge onto US-191 N/US-287 N/US-89 N/Hwy 20 WPartial toll roadParts of this road may be closed at certain times or days(4.4 mi)
- Turn leftMay be closed at certain times or daysDestination will be on the right(374 ft)
Trails
Distance ?
2.0 miles Round TripElevation Gain ?
10 feetReal Ascent ?
54 feetReal Descent ?
44 feetAvg Grade (0°)
0%Grade (-2° to 2°)
-3% to 3%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Fairy Falls
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
0.0 miles NFairy Falls is something out of a fantasy novel. Fairy Falls is a wonderful portion of Yellowstone. It has stolen the hearts of many who have had a little pixie dust sprinkled on them...
Hike 0.7 miGrand Prismatic Spring
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
1.0 miles NThe Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world, after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake...
Hike 0.3-0.5 miMystic Falls
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
2.3 miles SWMystic Falls is a 70-foot cascading waterfall on Little Firehole River. The area around the falls is quiet and beautifully forested. Mystic Falls is a lesser known spot in Yellowstone National Park....
HikeSentinel Meadows & Queen's Laundry
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
3.6 miles NThe hike to Sentinel Meadows and Queens Laundry gives you a level trail with wide open meadows, hot springs, ponds, birds, and a little bit of Yellowstone National Park history. The trail can be done...
HikeOld Faithful Geyser
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
3.8 miles SOld Faithful is a cone geyser located in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States. It was named in 1870 during the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition and was the first geyser in the park...
Hike 1.5 miObservation Point Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
3.8 miles SObservation Point Trail is an just over 2 mile loop that passes several geysers along the way to Solitary Geyser. Observation Point Trail provides up close views of several geysers as well as...
Hike 3.1 miMallard Lake
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
4.0 miles SThe Mallard Lake trail is majestically lined with trees both old an new. This is a 5 mile leading to the beautiful Mallard lake, making it a 10 mile round trip. The trail is...
Hike 6.2 miHoward Eaton Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
4.2 miles SThe Howard Eaton Trail in the Old Faithful Area is a hike with incredible geothermic features and other natural views. This hike is a moderately difficult 6.5 mile there and back trail, that...
Hike 14.8 miBiscuit Basin to Fairy Falls and Firehole Meadows
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
5.2 miles SWFreight Road trail is a almost 15 mile hike that leaves from Biscuit Basin or Fountain Flats Drive. This hike is a beautiful remote hike that passes several unique landmarks, breaking up this hike...
Backpack, Camp, Hike 2.6 miLone Star Geyser Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
6.8 miles SLone Geyser Star Trail is a hiking and mountain biking trail that leads through the forest to the colorful Lone Star Geyser. The Geyser here has beautiful white, yellow and orange colors in the...
Hike, Mountain Bike 6.1 miShoshone Lake (via DeLacy Creek)
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
8.0 miles SEIf you are just coming from Old Faithful and want a break from the crowds, this hike is a perfect leg-stretching, moderate 6.1 mile hike. This hike takes you through the forest and grassy trail. As...
Hike 0.8 miHarlequin Lake Trail
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
9.1 miles NHarlequin Lake Trail is a beautiful short hike that can be taken in under an hour. This scenic hike is easy and family friendly, making it the perfect activity to add to any Yellowstone visit....
Hike 6.1 miPurple Mountain Trail
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
9.2 miles NPurple Mountain Trail is a 6 mile out and back trail to the peak of purple mountain. This is a beautifully forested trail with little foot traffic is a quiet respite from the crowds of...
HikeBeryl Spring / Emerald Spring
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
12.0 miles NThis spring is located right off the Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone National Park. The spring is a very quick walk, with a parking lot located right off the road.The trail seems to be a boardwalk,...
Hike 0.4 miDuck Lake
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
14.4 miles SEDuck Lake Trail is located near Grant Village and West Thumb. This is a simple 0.8 miles hike that takes you through the Lodgepole pine forest. This hike is special because the surrounding...
HikeLake Overlook
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
14.4 miles SEThis trail is located in the southern part of the park, with the trailhead in the West Thumb Geyser Basin parking lot. This is about a 1.7 mile hike, roundtrip, that starts and ends at the...
Hike 0.4 miWest Thumb Geyser Basin
Grant Visitor's Center, Yellowstone National Park
14.5 miles SEWest Thumb Geyser Basin is one of the smaller geyser basins in Yellowstone, yet its location along the shore of Yellowstone Lake and is ranked as the most scenic. This area was formed by volcanic...
Hike 1.4 miYellowstone Lake Overlook Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
14.5 miles SEYellowstone Lake Overlook Trail is a 1.7 mile loop trail that is easy and great for beginner hikers. The trail begins near the West Thumb Geyser Basin Parking Lot and is open in the summer and fall.
Hike 4.8 miRiddle Lake Hike
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
16.4 miles SERiddle Lake hike is a 5 mile roundtrip hike. Riddle Lake is an alluring body of water with a sandy beach. The hiker gets the best of both worlds on this hike. Impressive pine and mountain views,...
Hike 1.5-3.8 miLittle Gibbon Falls
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
17.0 miles NEIce Lake and Little Gibbon Falls Loop is a 4.5 mile loop trail located near Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The trail is good for all skill levels and primarily used for hiking, but there are...
Camp, Canoe, HikeNearby Campsites
Biscuit Basin to Fairy Falls and Firehole Meadows
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
5.2 miles SWFreight Road trail is a almost 15 mile hike that leaves from Biscuit Basin or Fountain Flats Drive. This hike is a beautiful remote hike that passes several unique landmarks, breaking up this hike...
Backpack, Camp, HikeMadison Campground
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
9.1 miles NMadison Campground is named for its proximity to the Madison River, which runs through the area in a lush mountain setting rich in wildlife. Madison Campground is at an elevation of 6,800’ and...
CampGrant Village
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
15.7 miles SEGrant Village was built in 1984 and named after Ulysses S. Grant, president when Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872. Located near the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake,...
Camp, Canoe, KayakNorris Campground
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
16.8 miles NENorris campground is centrally located in Yellowstone National Park and offers a good spot for those planning to visit many of the most famous features in Yellowstone. Norris is a relatively short...
Camp 1.5-3.8 miLittle Gibbon Falls
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
17.0 miles NEIce Lake and Little Gibbon Falls Loop is a 4.5 mile loop trail located near Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The trail is good for all skill levels and primarily used for hiking, but there are...
Camp, Canoe, Hike 6.9 miHeart Lake Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
17.9 miles SEThe trail is very clear and leads to a moderate eight mile hike to Heart Lake. This hike has many possibilities. Day hikers need to push their time to make sure they are on the trail early to allow...
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Hot Springs 0.1 miLewis Lake Campground
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
19.0 miles SELewis Lake is located in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. It is 4 miles southeast of Shoshone Lake. Lewis Lake offers a plethora great water activities. This lake offers...
Camp, Canoe, KayakBridge Bay
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
19.5 miles EBridge Bay Campground was named for its proximity to Bridge Bay Marina on Yellowstone Lake. The area is quite scenic, with wooded areas, open meadows and some limited views of the lake. Because of...
CampBig Springs
Island Park, Idaho
20.9 miles WThere's also a great little walking trail along the river with placards that tell about the ecosystem and history of the area. There's about a 1/2 mile that's paved and then a 1/2 mile...
Camp, HikeCanyon Campground
Canyon Junction, Yellowstone National Park
22.7 miles NECanyon Campground is a popular choice for visitors to Yellowstone National Park, and it's easy to see why. Located in the heart of the park, the campground offers easy access to some of the...
CampFishing Bridge RV Campground
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
23.0 miles EThe Fishing Bridge Recreational Vehicle Park is located near the mouth of the Yellowstone River as it leaves Yellowstone Lake. The RV park is named after the Fishing Bridge, a wooden vehicle bridge...
Camp 17.5 miTear Drop Lake
Ashton, Idaho
24.9 miles SWNestled in the Targhee National Forest just off of Ashton's Fish Creek Road, this tear drop shaped lake is a family adventure waiting to happen. The lake isn't very big but it is teeming with...
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, SwimIndian Creek Campground Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
25.7 miles NIndian Creek Campground is a quiet and secluded wooded campground within Yellowstone National Park, ideal for tent campers. It’s close to lots of hiking and fishing, and only a few miles to...
CampUpper Coffee Pot Campground
Island Park, Idaho
26.4 miles WUpper Coffeepot Campground stretches along a floatable section of Henry's Fork of the Snake River. A mixed growth lodgepole pine forest provides partial shade and summer wildflowers are...
Camp, Canoe 0.9 miBuffalo River Campground
Island Park, Idaho
26.9 miles WThe float here is nice and easy. It's a great early season float. Later in the season the shallow spots will force you to walk a good chunk of the float. The water is super clear and often pretty...
Camp, Canoe, Kayak, SwimCave Falls of Yellowstone
Ashton, Idaho
27.0 miles SThis campgrond is situated on the banks of Fall River in Wyoming along the south border of Yellowstone National Park. Cave Falls Campground has 23 single site units and a terrific area for...
Camp, HikeHorseshoe Lake
Ashton, Idaho
27.8 miles SWHorseshoe Lake is hidden back in the Targhee National Forest. It's a beautiful lake with plenty of lily pads. The road to get there is well maintained and there are many options for pull-outs...
Camp, Canoe, Dive, SwimLoon Lake
Ashton, Idaho
28.4 miles SCamp, Kayak, and Swim near Ashton, Idaho
Camp, Kayak, Swim 0.1-5.2 miMammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park
32.3 miles NMammoth Hot Springs is a unique sight in Yellowstone National Park. The soft limestone in this area allowed the water to form colorful terraces. The extremely hot running water is clear and smooth,...
Camp, HikeMammoth Hot Springs Campground
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
32.6 miles NMammoth Hot Springs Campground is the only campground in Yellowstone that is open to campers year-round. Campsites cannot be reserved and are available on a first come first served basis. It is...
Camp