The hike to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook is amazing and totally worth it! It's not too difficult -- mostly a mix of flat surfaces with some slightly elevated areas, making it manageable for most people. Once you reach the viewpoint, the spot can get a little crowded, but the view is absolutely stunning and unforgettable. One small request to fellow visitors: please respect others and let everyone take pictures peacefully so everyone can enjoy the experience. Definitely a must-do hike if you're visiting Yellowstone! read more

The flagship of the Midway Geyser Basin! Ofc Yellowstone's must-see, the other being the OF geyser. + This boardwalk is the closest you can get to GPS, - but the view is too parallel; can't enjoy the spread of colors as in the photos' bird's eye view. Better view on Fairy Falls lookout though. -- Sooo crowded. Had to do 1-2 loops around the parking lot fighting for parking. And it's early morning in the middle of the week on a non-holiday! Don't even wanna imagine holiday/weekend traffic. - Few restrooms. ++ The fog from the Excelsior Geyser is mystifying. It covers your entire ambience as you walk along the boardwalk. *ominous* read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Strava: Grand Prismatic Spring boardwalk. 1mi walk takes 20min. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

One of my favorite spots at YNP! I recommend you visit mid day to experience the full colors of grand prismatic. You can also hike the fairy falls hike to the overlook. It's about 1.5 miles round trip. It's not difficult, however there's a small area that is a little steep. We experienced the springs in cloudy/ gloomy day and the next day, very sunny and warm weather. Both experiences were amazing and unique. read more

See all

This is a beautiful sight to see and one of the most iconic at Yellowstone. Few Things to note: Boardwalk gets crowded I went on a cold day in the summer (it was snowing) could barely see the colors of the spring due to vents. From my understanding, the view from overhead trial is much better than then the boardwalk itself. read more

See all

We parked at the Fairy Falls trailhead, and hiked our way up to the overlook. It was a super hot day, and there isn't much shade on the hike, so be prepared for that. But once we got up top, the view was incredible. It was definitely worth the hike! If you've been to Old Faithful, this must be the next step on your list! read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - View from overlook - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is truly one of the most breathtaking natural wonders you'll ever see. Located in the Midway Geyser Basin, this geothermal giant is the largest hot spring in the United States, measuring about 370 feet across and over 120 feet deep. Standing at the edge of the boardwalk, you're met with an explosion of color that almost looks too perfect to be real--deep blues at the center, shifting to greens, yellows, oranges, and fiery reds around the edges. The colors come from thermophiles, heat-loving microorganisms that thrive in the varying temperatures of the spring. The hottest part in the middle is a stunning blue because it's nearly sterile, while the cooler edges create the rainbow-like spectrum. On top of the beauty, the spring pumps out more than 560 gallons of hot water every minute, making it a powerful reminder of Yellowstone's geothermal activity. For the best view, hike up to the overlook on Fairy Falls Trail. From above, you can capture the full scale and see why it's the park's most photographed feature. If you're planning a trip to Yellowstone, skipping Grand Prismatic Spring would be a huge mistake--it's a bucket list experience. https://linktr.ee/reessroots read more

See all

A beautiful sight to see from the boardwalk area and from above. You'll most likely see cars parked alongside the road as you near the parking lot. We visited on June 12th at around noon, and cars were parked about .5 miles from the entrance. We continued past the row of cars and saw that plenty of spots were available alongside the road closer up. The entrance to the parking lot had a line waiting to get in. You'll have a pretty scenic walk to the boardwalk. The boardwalk started with the Excelsior Geyser Crater and continued to a steamy and super windy walk, which led to the main attraction. Amazing to see, but crowded at the hour we arrived. *My tip, arrive later in the day. We passed this spot in the evening around 7 pm, and it was super mellow. The less crowded and most amazing view is from the top. To access the view from the top, drive approximately one mile to the Fairy Falls parking lot. Take the trail until you reach a point where you can go up. This trail will be on your left. It's a bit of a climb to the top and 1.7 miles round trip. If you continue straight on the trail, you'll access Fairy Falls, which is approximately 1.5 miles one way from this point. The walk from the parking lot to the view point had Bison along the trail, which was amazing to see! read more

See all

A pretty incredible sight to see in person! I was just in awe of how vibrant the colors were. This area gets quite crowded so make sure you get your pic fast! The steaming and fumes give a strong odor so be warned too. Very walkable with boardwalks and please respect the space as always. We really enjoyed seeing this wonder! read more

See all

I highly recommend skipping this boardwalk area and hiking to the overlook. Grand Prismatic is much more beautiful to look at from the overlook. It takes a bit more work to get to the overlook on Fairy Falls Trail, but the view is much better than it is from the boardwalk. The parking lot for the Grand Prismatic area was absolute insanity (even in October). The parking area for Fairy Falls Trailhead had plenty of parking spaces. read more

See all

UNBELIEVABLE! I saw pictures of Grand Prismatic Spring on Instagram and TikTok and I'd have to say that it did not do justice. It's so beautiful, we spent a good 1.5 hours here. The hike wasn't bad, around a 10-minute walk that loops around. It's a MUST SEE while visiting Yellowstone National Park. The parking lot was full but there's plenty of parking along the road. The spot you want to go to is the Midway Geyser Basin for this. It was so amazing to see the mist, haze and all of the colors. The boardwalk makes it easy to walk through and view close. Very impressive, I highly highlyyyyy recommend not skipping this. read more

See all

This is the most obviously pretty spring in Yellowstone. It's size is incredible meaning photos don't do it justice. There are two ways to see it. Parking at the spring itself gives you an up close view of it on the boardwalks. Seeing it from above is possible by parking at the Fairy Falls trailhead and walking about fifteen minutes to a viewing platform. It's a flat dirt trail walk until the final few minutes of walking. That's where my photos are taken from. read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

See all

Absolutely stunning. It is like nothing I have ever experienced before! A must see while visiting Yellowstone National Park. We parked at the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot. There were no spots available when we went so we had to wait for someone to leave. I suggest coming earlier in the morning if you can. Next time I would really like to see if from the fairy Falls trail too. This is how people are able to see it from above. read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

See all

The view is mostly from the top view. It didn't look like the photoshopped pics. The geysers were steaming. A nice walk around the multiple geysers. A one way board walk around. read more

See all

4-26-22 One of the highlights of Yellowstone. Thanks to Doc doing research before our road trip this was a turn in not to be missed. Unfortunately pets are not allowed here. Several areas of the park have steam vents and bodies of water but this truly was a spectacle to be seen or you'll end up regretting later. We didn't realize til we got there that you had to walk up to view this marvel. The post cards, greeting cards and magnets show this place as a rich teal multi colored phenomena. Probably it depends on the time of year when it reveals this color. Nevertheless the cool dreariness of the landscape was beautiful with rushing water laden with mineral deposit edges. As I stayed on the first catwalk up a couple asked me to take their photo. Lots of couples were heading up. I intended to go back to the car to wait for Doc and hubs but glad there was a concrete bench strategically placed for me to take a seat, watch their progress uphill til they disappeared from sight and enjoy the solitude in such a remote yet stunning spot. I enjoyed taking photos with my iPhone and liked the contrast of people against the steam. A true photographer would have a field day capturing the geothermal activity going on in this one spot. read more

See all

Steaming!! This place is one of the grandest natural phenomena that make Yellowstone National Park the icon it is. Built with wooden walkways and bridges, this place is very accessible. Be careful with your items as the winds may blow them away. We've seen some items such as hats that were unfortunately blown away off the path and cannot be retrieved. The geysers are hot so do not try to attempt to get off the wooden pathway. The geysers may not be as colorful as it seems in pictures, but they are still quite a spectacle to view. There are some areas where you can get a view from a higher level which makes your experience a bit better. The place can be very crowded, so take extra precautions when taking pictures as some pathways do not have borders and you may easily get shoved and fall into the geyser. read more

See all

Worth a stop, you might as well see this gorgeous spring while you're in Yellowstone! My friends and I accidentally went to the trailhead instead of the parking for this spring, so we did have to hike about a mile to see it. But if you are smarter than us, there is a parking lot you can go to and pull up right next to the spring. The hike was beautiful though, we saw lots of bison and the overlook that the trail brought us to gave us a great view of the spring. read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

Jaw-dropping views... it is H-U-G-E!! The Grand Prismatic Spring is located inside the Midway Geyser Basin. It is one of the Main attractions in Yellowstone NP so be prepared for traffic. We came to see this on our last day at the park but we weren't prepared for the long line of cars that were heading there. Either get there early or late afternoon! We turned around and came back after 5:00p. There is a medium-size parking lot that was still full when we got there so we parked outside of the lot and walked in. Parking is very limited. We walked across the bridge built over the Firehole River and followed the short boardwalk that snakes through the thermal area. In this attraction we were able to view other hot springs including the Excelsior Geyser (enormous geyser crater), the Turquoise Pool and Opal Pool... then there's the largest natural hot spring in the U.S. (third largest in the planet) -- the Grand Prismatic Spring, a stunning show of natural color. It has colorful edges (like a light prism) with orange, blue, red, yellow, and green color rings. You won't be able to view the whole thing at over 300-ft long and 200-ft wide (100-ft deep) unless you get a birds-eye view. It is 160°F hot! The other geysers are pretty too... This trail usually opens in late May. Our visit was in July. As always, be careful and stay on the boardwalk. Review #2333 read more

See all

This was one of the highlights of my trip to Yellowstone. Grand Prismatic Spring is just stunning. It is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. It is 370 feet in diameter which is bigger than a football field. Grand Prismatic is located in Yellowstone's Midway Geyser Basin which is not too far from Old faithful. What draws people to it are its beautiful colors. Its deep blue water is surrounded by bright orange, red, yellow, and green bands. The colors come from different species of heat-loving bacteria living in the cooler water around the spring. There are two ways to see the Grand Prismatic Spring. You can drive and park at the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot and see it up close (be prepared for a lot of traffic). You will pass by the Excelsior Geyser, Turquoise Pool, and the Opal Pool as you walk on the boardwalk to Grand Prismatic. Another option is to walk the Fairy Falls trail to a overlook spot that will give you a full view of the spring. This was my favorite way to see it. The parking area is down the road and less packed. The trail itself is only about half a mile one way and not difficult to walk. Plus there are pretty wildflowers and small critters on the way that you can enjoy looking at. At the overlook, you can get some amazing photos of the spring's vibrant colors and can see how large it is. If you have never been to Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring is a must-see and worth dealing with the crowds to see it. read more

See all

The spring is of course beautiful & amazing. The bathrooms are beyond disgusting. There was feces everywhere! Running down the garbage cans, all over the floors, all over the toilet. I tried taking my little girl to the bathroom and ended up puking from how repulsive the bathrooms are. Yellowstone do better! read more

The Grand Prismatic Spring was my absolute favorite place to visit in Yellowstone. There are two different views: one at the bottom, up close, which was fascinating to see, and the other is a short hike to get an aerial view from above, and that is a must-see. It's absolutely stunning to witness the colors from above. The colors are truly vibrant and breathtaking in person. Keep in mind that witnessing the springs from below is just as beautiful, but the colors are not as vibrant. read more

See all

I came here three times because the first time when I arrived it started pouring rain and the second time was early in the morning and it was still cloudy, foggy, and you couldn't see any of the clear colors of the spring. Then right before I left the park I made one more trip in the middle of the day when the weather cleared up. Beware that because this is one of the iconic attractions at Yellowstone there will be tons of people, especially on the weekends in the summer. Cars will be parked along the road half a mile out or more. Be prepared to be shoulder to shoulder with people as you walk around the geysers taking pictures. You'll see other geysers and pools like excelsior geyser crater, turquoise pool, and opal pool, but the main attraction is this one and for good reason. I would recommend going to the Grand Prismatic Overlook which has an overview of the spring instead of being right in front of it. To go here you'll have to go to the Fairy Falls parking lot (which will also be packed) and then walk about a mile to the overlook. It gives you the clear and iconic view of what makes this so stunning. Regardless of where you go see this, it's a must-see in Yellowstone! read more

See all

This thermal feature is absolutely beautiful. There are no words to describe this site - you'd just have to see it for yourself. The colors and vastness of this place is serene. The walk itself is pretty easy as well. You'll run into two other places when visiting the Grand Prismatic Spring - all just as beautiful. I'd like to first off applaud YNPS for creating a pathway to make this accessible for folks like myself to get up close and personal to the spring. They've created a pathway so that you can see this beauty up close. Shame on those people that disrespect the rules and think it's funny to walk outside of the pathway. This is mother nature, and you should respect it. And also, I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this isn't Disneyland. This is mother nature. There's a reason why these pathways were created, so people can safely view these sites. There's been stories where people have walked outside of the pathways and have sunken to their death. Again, be safe! read more

See all

Insanely beautiful colors can be seen in the Grand Prismatic Spring. We walked down on the boardwalk as well as viewed it from the upper overlook via the Fairy Falls Trail. It was so cool to feel the warmth from the steam blowing over. The smell is a little different but not overwhelming. It's best to go when it's sunny so the blue and orange are vibrant. Make sure if you're wearing a hat you buckle it down tight. It was so windy, we saw at least 8 hats on and around the spring area and it's too dangerous to retrieve them! read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

See all

This was one of my top three site in Yellowstone. It's definitely a must see. Most people see it from the Midway Geyser Basin. That's how you see it up close. It's so close though that you can't see all of the colors and really appreciate it. It's worth a stop to see it and everything else at Midway Geyser Basin, but don't stop there. Drive about a mile up the road to the Fairy Falls parking area. From there, it's a 1.6 mile round trip hike to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. I also recommend continuing on to Fairy Falls which is about a 5 mile round trip hike (easy). The view from the overlook is stunning. You can see the whole spring and all of its vibrant colors. Make sure it's not cold out when you're there otherwise it will be covered by steam. Like all things in Yellowstone, it's crowded and parking is crazy. This stop is definitely worth it though. read more

See all

Maybe my favorite thermal feature in all of Yellowstone. The colors are just amazing. Be prepared for lots of people. The boardwalk gets pretty crowded. Parking is rough. If there is a line of cars to get in just park on the side of the road and walk the extra half mile. read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Grand Prismatic Spring, Aug 2020 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

This is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone. The spectrum of colors seen here, are the result of heat loving Cyanobacteria, Synechococcus producing the shades carotenoids to manifest the various shades of yellow orange and reds. This hot spring is veritably the Jewel of Yellowstone. Don't forget to take the Fairy Falls Trail to see the spring from a higher point. You might see more steam on an early morning hike. In the afternoons the colors are more vivid but have less steam visible. read more

See all

At 6:20 pm my son and I took the 1.51 mile round trip hike at Fairy Falls to enjoy the best view of the Grand Prismatic Spring. The trail is soft pack and has a elevation gain of 135 feet maxing at 7,077 above sea level. I know most people say it's a easy hike but I'm a big guy and after walking/hiking all around Yellowstone all day it can cause a sweat. Bring water. Also, it's a mad house for the spring parking and fairy falls between noon and 6pm in peak season. I've read that it is covered with steam in the mornings and that you should view it on a clear day with the temp over 70 degrees for the best color. Definitely a sight to see. Enjoy. read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Grand Prismatic Spring. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

See all

The absolute best spot in the park. You would be insane to miss this part of Yellowstone. The wait can be a little long to get in and park but it is well worth it. The first spring you pass is beautiful and amazing...then you get to the Grand Primatic and all of a sudden the first one is nothing! We were lucky to have a day when there was not a lot of steam covering it so we got to see all the colors. It is very windy and lots of people lost hats so beware! People on the boardwalk congregate at the beginning of the loop, don't spend a ton of time there, go to the less crowded end, the view is actually better and you can see all the colors more! Some people were parking on the road, the walk in is not that far if you park on the road! This was the highlight of our trip and so glad we spent the time to see it. If you do park inside, take the time to drive down the road and park and watch the effect of the steam coming off of it, it is blue and pink! Super fascinating! read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

See all

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world. There are a couple of ways to visit this area ..[1] just walk on the boardwalk and observe the geysers [2] hike the grand prismatic spring trail, which gradually climbs 105 feet over 0.6 miles from the Fairy Falls Trailhead to a view looking down on Grand Prismatic Spring and the Midway Geyser Basin. I'd absolutely recommend doing #2 as that's the only way in which you'd get to get a panoramic view of the geysers thereby being able to observe the different "colors" within the hot spring. The hot spring has bright bands of orange, yellow, and green ring the deep blue waters in the spring. The multicolored layers get their hues from different species of thermophile (heat-loving) bacteria living in the progressively cooler water around the spring As a tourist, I'd recommend the "grand prismatic spring" within the top "must 5 things to do" when visiting Yellowstone park. read more

See all

Wild colors! This hot spring has incredibly hot water, and a lot of surface area, which makes for perfect breeding ground for various varieties of bacteria, which give the water different colors, based on the temperature. When I went, it took quite some time for the traffic to clear up enough to be able to see this spring. There's not a very big parking area, and the boardwalk can sure seem to get crowded. I went just before dusk, and was able to get a good view of it. It's wild walking across the boardwalk, seeing where all these giant geysers went off not so long ago, the smell of the volcanic activity, and how there's no plants- just colored waters, and all this steam. It's like standing on a boardwalk on another planet. The better option to see this place is really Fairy Falls Trail, just a bit down the road. It lets you get in a bird's eye view of the place, so you can really take in the shift in color of the spring. It's a short hike that's not wheelchair accessible. read more

Such pretty colors. Take a short walk along the boardwalk to see these up close. If you want a view from up top, there is a hike you can do, but I personally thought just being down at the bottom was good enough. Up top can get crowded and unless you have a professional camera, it might be hard to capture the so far away. read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

See all

This is probably my favorite geothermal feature in Yellowstone National Park. It is nothing like any spring I have ever seen. It doesn't look like it's from this world! read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

Hands down, this is one of the most unique things you will ever see in your life. There's more than one colorful bubbling spring on the trail around here and they're all pretty big. The biggest one has every color of the rainbow. There are two different ways to see Grand Prismatic Spring: 1) There's an overlook that gives you a view from above to get the best look at all the colors. 2) There's a handicap accessible walkway that gets you up close and personal. I recommend doing both, if you have the time. The parking lots for Grand Prismatic Spring are a lot smaller than some of the other attractions at Yellowstone, so be mindful of that if you come here on a busy day. You could get stuck either having to park farther down the road and walk or sit in a long line of cars waiting for parking spots to open up. It's still very much worth the time and effort to see this place. read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Grand Prismatic Spring - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

Gorgeous! Everything is well planned with wooden walkways to the various springs. We had to park pretty far away and walk, but it was well worth it. It is truly majestic. read more

Truly celestial. You can walk around it on the flats or take a hike up fairly falls and view it from a height. We didn't do fairy falls because we did not have time. But the walk along the pathway around it was fantastic. The excelsior geyser crater is also worth a stop. It's huge and try as you may, you won't see the whole thing because of the steam :) fantastic experience!! read more

See all

Trapper Osborne Russell came across what he called Boiling Lake in July 1839. He described it having shades of white, red and blue. "Whether it was something peculiar in the state of the atmosphere, the day being cloudy or whether it was some chemical properties contained in the water which produced this phenomenon, I am unable to say and shall leave the explanation to some scientific tourist who may have the curiosity to visit this place at some future period. The water was of deep indigo blue boiling like an immense cauldron running over the white rock which had formed (round) the edges to the height of 4 or 5 feet from the earth sloping gradually for 60 or 70 feet," Russell wrote in his journal. The spring is best viewed from above, but the park is reconstructing trails south of the Grand Prismatic so that area was off-limits when I visited. Still, the boardwalk that surrounds the spring and other attractions in the Midway Geyser Basin provided nice views. Be aware that the parking lot is small and you may have to wait for an opening during most parts of the day. I saw there were no openings and left the parking lot and parked on the southbound side of the loop road, north of the spring parking lot. It was only a short walk back. For a good explanation on the science behind the bacteria that cause the different colors, go here: http://bit.ly/2cIAk6D. read more

See all

Super famous stop in YSNP. A must see and make sure you go to the look out (1 mile round trip) from Fairy Trailhead. read more

See all

This is the best sight in Yellowstone and perhaps one of the most awe inspiring and majestic sights and attraction in the world. It's indescribably except to say that it's unique and marvelous. read more

ATTENTION: Don't go to the Yellowstone park this year 2019. It's overcrowded, there's a full scale dusty construction from the western fork upto Norris, waiting line for 20 at the restrooms, food is HORRIBLE everywhere except the Yellowstone lake dinning room. Parking is scarce. SUGGESTION from a tour guide: bring your own food. Have a big wide open neck bottle for men and boys. Buy patience and keep it up. Don't drive fast at night - you can crash into a bison. They are everywhere. Love other drivers :) read more

Grand Prismatic Spring - Situation with the restrooms - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

So beyond gorgeous! Be sure to park a mile down the road and take another route up the back side and you can get even better views of it rather than the main parking lot. The colors are so vibrant and breathtaking! read more