Hike to Artist's Paint Pots
1.1 Miles
Photography, Hiking
Beginner
Year Round
Loop
Artist's Paint Pots is a mellow hike in Yellowstone National Park that leads to multi-colored geothermal hot springs.
From the parking lot, follow the boardwalk pathway until you reach the springs. The hike itself is pretty self explanatory. It is a very easy hike and very short. We did this hike to break up some of the driving through Yellowstone. The hike loops around the springs and comes back to the parking lot. The milky blue pools are caused by the silica that is suspended in the water and gives this place its name.
Note: These hot springs are for viewing only.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
Nearby Lodging
Reviews
Overall rating:
Other worldly
Artist Paint Pots includes a variety of geothermal features along its boardwalk trail, including small hot springs, steam vents, and of course the paint pots themselves, which are essentially boiling mud (a warning sign on the boardwalk reads "Caution: hot flying mud!"). I'd recommend making this stop for a quick hike when driving the main loop through the park.
Great spot - don't skip it on your park trip
I love this area and its easy access. I have actually been there in both summer and winter and it is gorgeous both times of year. I always recommend going early in the day or later in the evening to any trails and viewing areas with parking lots. The amount of visitors drops tremendously and it makes for a much more enjoyable venture out.
Nice short hike.
We stopped in here as we were driving south, quick stop. It was a nice short hike through some new forest towards the Paint Pots. They were very colorful and interesting to look at. A one-time visit for sure.
