Observation Point Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
| Address: | Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA |
| GPS: |
44°27'34.4"N 110°49'40.2"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Wyoming |
| Trails/Routes: | 1.5 mi |
Hike
Observation 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 a spectacular view of Old Faithful herself.
This trail, despite beginning in a very popular area of Yellowstone, has very little foot traffic. Because of this, Observation Point Trail is the ideal way to visit Old Faithful. Hikers on this trail will be able to see a sweeping view of Old Faithful from above while avoiding the crowds that typically gather for this popular geyser. The trail ends with a view Solitary Geyser and the Upper Geyser Basin.
The trailhead can be found to the right on the boardwalk of Old Yellowstone across the Firehole River Bridge. This trail is open year round. Because of thermal activity it is imperative that hikers stay on the established paths and boardwalks.
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
- Head east on Old Faithful Rd (0.5 mi)
- Continue straight onto Old Faithful Lodge Rd (161 ft)
- Turn left (381 ft)
Trails
Distance ?
1.5 milesReal Ascent ?
223 feetReal Descent ?
255 feetGrade (-18° to 15°)
-33% to 27%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Old Faithful Geyser
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
0.1 miles NOld 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 3.1 mi
Mallard Lake
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
0.3 miles EThe 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 mi
Howard Eaton Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
0.4 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 0.3-0.5 mi
Mystic Falls
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
2.1 miles NWMystic 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....
Hike 2.6 mi
Lone Star Geyser Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
3.0 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 2.0 mi
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
3.8 miles NThe 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...
Hike 0.3-5.0 mi
Fairy Falls
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
3.9 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 mi
Grand Prismatic Spring
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
4.8 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 14.8 mi
Biscuit Basin to Fairy Falls and Firehole Meadows
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
5.3 miles WFreight 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 6.1 mi
Shoshone Lake (via DeLacy Creek)
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
6.3 miles EIf 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
Sentinel Meadows & Queen's Laundry
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
7.4 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...
Hike 0.4 mi
Duck Lake
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
12.8 miles EDuck 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...
Hike
Lake Overlook
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
12.8 miles EThis 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 0.8 mi
Harlequin Lake Trail
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
12.8 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 1.4 mi
Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
12.9 miles EYellowstone 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 0.4 mi
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Grant Visitor's Center, Yellowstone National Park
12.9 miles EWest 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 6.1 mi
Purple Mountain Trail
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
13.0 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...
Hike 4.8 mi
Riddle Lake Hike
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
14.0 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 2.1-11.5 mi
Lewis River Channel / Dogshead Loop
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
14.8 miles SEAnyone who doesn't want to backpack through Yellowstone but is looking to experience the real beauty of Yellowstone will truly love this hike. Walking along the Lewis Channel is one of the...
Canoe, Hike, Kayak 6.9 mi
Heart Lake Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
15.0 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 SpringsNearby Campsites
Biscuit Basin to Fairy Falls and Firehole Meadows
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
5.3 miles WFreight 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
Madison Campground
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
12.9 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...
Camp
Grant Village
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
13.9 miles EGrant 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, Kayak 6.9 mi
Heart Lake Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
15.0 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 mi
Lewis Lake Campground
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
15.7 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, Kayak
Bridge Bay
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
19.9 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...
Camp 1.5-3.8 mi
Little Gibbon Falls
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
20.1 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
Norris Campground
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
20.3 miles NNorris 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
Big Springs
Island Park, Idaho
21.3 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, Hike 17.5 mi
Tear Drop Lake
Ashton, Idaho
22.0 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, Swim
Cave Falls of Yellowstone
Ashton, Idaho
23.5 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, Hike
Fishing Bridge RV Campground
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
23.7 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
Horseshoe Lake
Ashton, Idaho
24.7 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, Swim
Loon Lake
Ashton, Idaho
24.7 miles SCamp, Kayak, and Swim near Ashton, Idaho
Camp, Kayak, Swim
Canyon Campground
Canyon Junction, Yellowstone National Park
25.3 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...
Camp 0.9 mi
Buffalo River Campground
Island Park, Idaho
26.5 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, Swim
Upper Coffee Pot Campground
Island Park, Idaho
26.6 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
Sheep Falls on Fall River
Ashton, Idaho
29.3 miles SWThe lesser known Sheep Falls on Fall River is a local treasure off of Cave Falls road. There are primitive campsites and beautiful views for a great picnic spot. The water splits and comes down in...
Camp
Indian Creek Campground Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
29.5 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...
Camp 0.3-0.6 mi
Bear Gulch
Ashton, Idaho
31.2 miles SWBear Gulch is an abandoned ski hill out of operation since 1969. While the vegetation is beginning to take over, there's still some great sledding to be had. It's just far enough into the...
Camp, Cross-country Ski, Hike, Sled
