Winter Hike Through Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin

Starting at the Old Faithful Visitor Center, you can follow a flat, meandering path along the Firehole River to view several different geysers and geothermal features.

The trail begins on an accessible, paved path but then changes to well-maintained gravel. Depending on the time and energy you have, destinations in the basin include: Castle Geyser 0.2 miles, one way, Daisy/Grotto geysers 0.9 miles, one way, and Morning Glory Pool 1.1 miles, one way. You can choose to loop by either taking the Northern or Southern trail, crossing over the Firehole River on the boardwalk. Each step along the way presents you with new photo and video opportunities. If you are lucky, you can see some spectacular eruptions, such as the Grotto Geyser (part of Geyser Hill) and, of course, Old Faithful. Plan to take your time to watch the numerous types of geothermal activity as well as catch your breath (elevation is above 7,300 feet).

Visiting in the winter requires a little more coordination (due to restricted road access inside the park), however, it is a special time to see the steamy geothermal activity and avoid the crowds. Depending on the amount of snow, you can either hike, snowshoe, or ski tour. Several additional hikes can be accessed from the Lower Geyser Basin trail, you can assess the level of difficulty and conditions at the Visitor Center.