West Thumb Geyser Basin is a thermal area modest in size and does not have the largest hot springs or geysers in Yellowstone National Park. But don’t let that talk against it, with its idyllic location on the shore of Yellowstone Lake it is well worth a visit. So much that we went twice, but more about that later.
West Thumb is, as the name indicates, located on the west side of Yellowstone Lake and is actually a caldera within the larger Yellowstone Lake caldera. The two most prominent features in my opinion is Black Pool and The Fishing Cone.
The name might be deceiving as Black Pool is clear blue and by many considered the most beautiful hot spring in Yellowstone. It used to be much darker, but with time the temperature has increased killing the bacteria that created the darker colour. I think I am ok with that as I love the clear blue, turquoise colour is it currently possessing. With the lake and mountains in the background is makes quite a view.
There is also a high change of seeing elk in this area, especially in fall. We heard many of them bugling in the forest, and a couple of them were walking around on the basin not taking any notice of the warning signs!
The Fishing Cone I would highly recommend visiting in the morning at sunrise, as that is a spectacular view. I will cover the early moring visit to Fishing Cone later as that deserves a separate post.
As always, you’ll find us on Facebook for more photos and adventures.
Good series with great color.
Much appreciated Dan! Colourful is a description that suits Yellowstone very well:)
Inger it looks so peaceful and the hot springs look amazing. Look forward to more snaps soon.
Kath
Thank you Kath! It was even more peaceful during our morning visit at sunrise before the crowds started showing up:)
Astounding!
Thank you! 🙂
overwhelming!
The colours, numbers and size of thermal features in Yellowstone is nothing less then overwhelming:)
I enjoyed many days exploring the geothermals in Yellowstone, but I never stopped at this area. So I thoroughly enjoyed seeing your beautiful photos, Inger. It is so very huge, this park, impossible to fit it all in. Funny comment about the elk who didn’t read the warning signs.
It is a large area for sure Jet! We had 3 weeks set of for touring Yellowstone and Grand Tetons so we had time to see a lot. But there are still places we had to leave out so I wouldn’t mind going back again. And then there are some places I would love to visit again to get some better photos, like during sunset etc. But on the other side there are also so many other beautiful national parks we haven’t been to yet.
Sorry about my dry sense of humour, but happy you got the one about the elk;)
It’s a very beautiful park.I have only good memories of my visit there
It is such a lovely place Marylou. I will always remember my visit there with great memories as well:)
What a beautiful place!
It was a beautiful national park! Thank you so much for your visit and for taking the time to leave a comment:)
Incredible place. Thanks for sharing. It’s very high on my list as well.
Much appreciated Gabi! You won’t regret a visit here, but I would recommend trying to avoid peak visitor season. We went the first weeks of September and it was just perfect:)
Wonderful photos, you made us discover a beautiful nature.
I like your photos. I wish you a nice weekend.
Hervé
Thank you so much the the lovely comment Hervé! 🙂
This blue color is striking, Inger. What a beautiful part of the world! Hope I go there some day, but for now thank you for your beautiful photography!
Thank you very much for your generous comment Inese. Yellowstone is truly a colourful beauty. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back again:)
Hope you will go back again 🙂
Me too. I’m dreaming about Yellowstone winter, bison in a snow storm. How amazing wouldn’t that be?
Yes, it would be wonderful to visit in different seasons. I have seen a bison herd in the snowstorm – it didn’t seem to bother them 🙂 Magnificent animals in magnificent surroundings, something to never forget.
Oh my the colors are astonishing! To capture the elk as well is fantastic. Definitely inspiring a road trip here.
Thanks Sue! I am only half way through processing all my Yellowstone photos so after I am done with all I am sure I have convinced you to put it on the plan;) Where else can you see elk walking on a hot spring?
Lovely place! And that turquoise water is amazing.
Thank you so much Emilie! The turquoise water was striking wasn’t it? 🙂
Vilken underbar och vacker plats på jorden. Fantastiska färger och bilder! Ha det gott!
Takk så mye! Den turkise fargen på Black Pool mot de røde algene/bakteriene var virkelig slående vakker så glad jeg klarte å fange dette med kameraet også:)
Beautiful!
Thank you! 🙂
Great post with beautiful photos.
Much appreciated Jan!
Hej Inger!
Roligt att du hittade mig…och nu har jag hittat dig/er.
Fin blogg, fina bilder och intressant text.
Norge, USA och Canada är tre av mina favoritländer och jag njuter av dina bilder och berättelser därifrån.
69 grader norr…och jodå…jag är född ännu längre norrut:)
Ha det!
Takk for at du kom innom bloggen min Gertie! Artig at du er fødd ennå lenger nord enn 69 grader, ikke så ofte jeg treffer på noen som er det:) Gleder meg til å følge bloggen din også. Ha en flott helg!
Inger
West Thumb Geyser Basin holds my favorite thermal features in the park. Great photos!
Thank you so much Lu Ann! The turquoise colours of Black Pool is striking. And the location on the shores of Yellowstone Lake made this a beautiful spot for photography:)
It’s an awesome place! I especially love the last picture! 🙂
Thank you so much! We had so many photos after this visit so it was hard to only pick out a few not to overwhelm you. I really like how the last photo tells a little something about all the amazing colours of Yellowstone:)
Shared the post with my 9-yr-old. =)
Thank you! Are you planning for a Yellowstone visit? 🙂
Our homeschool group might go to Yosemite next yr. It was the Grand Canyon this past May. =)
I haven’t been to Yosemite, but have read about it. They sure have something to look forward to:)
Riveting colors!
Thank you, the blue and turquoise was pretty striking:)
Awesome, lovely Place. Seems to be worth for a visit.
Thank you very much. I can highly recommend a visit to Yellowstone. Seeing this abundance of thermal features and geysers is a pretty amazing experience.
Your Yellowstone posts and photographs have made me want to visit the place again (it’s been 20 years).
Thank you so much Steve. Yellowstone is one of those places I wouldn’t hesitate visiting over and over again. I have a winter visit on my wish list. Can you imagine getting some photos of the bison in a snow storm. That would be pretty amazing:) What was you favourite thing about Yellowstone?
The colors of the pools and mineral deposits. I want to photograph them with the good camera and lenses I have now.
GREAT photos and post … love the blue colors. When I go to Yellowstone I will surely visit this area!
Thank you so much for the encouraging comment Denise. The blue colour was striking, it make quite a sight:) You should definitely stop by Black Pool when you go to Yellowstone. I would also recommend an early morning visit to catch the sunrise at West Thumb.
so colorful 🙂
Much appreciated Joshi!
Yellowstone is one of the most outstanding National Parks in the US. Your exceptional photos illustrates this very well. Great Post
Much appreciated! So happy to have been able to experience this exceptional park with so many thermal features unique to this park.
Another set of fascinating waterscapes with wonderful turquoise waters Inger!Thank you for your informative note concerning the deceiving Black Pool name.One could never expect to see those crystal blue waters bearing such a contradictory name.Climate change has tremendously change so many things in nature and our lives.Oh,that poor “illegible elk,it gave you the chance to take a fabulous photo.Superb post as always!
It should be called Blue Pool instead of Black Pool, right? Thank you so much for your generous comment Doda. We didn’t stay long enough to see if the elk made if safely out of the hot spring area, but it looked like it had been there before so I assume it all ended well:)
xoxo Inger
I am sure it did,their insticts are never wrong … Enjoy your holidays Inger 🙂
Nice pictures!!
Much appreciated! 🙂
Flotte og spesielle bilder av et veldig spesielt landskap. Og fargene, da, helt utrolig.
Takk så mye Otto! Yellowstone var litt en en opplevelse – ikke likt noe annet sted jeg har besøkt. Og fargene ja – helt fantastisk hva bakterier og varme kan danne.
Gorgeous place and pics! Yellowstone clearly has a lot to offer 🙂
Thank you so much! Yellowstone was a highlight for sure – would love to go back and explore it during winter as well:) Have you been?
No,not yet but…its on the list 😉
I was in America last year, but didn’t manage the Yellowstone. Surely for my next visit. And thanks a lot for all your likes and following my blog.
Thank you so much for the visit Awa! America is huge so I can see that you would have to prioritise what to see during one visit:) What was your favourite experience there during your visit?
I mostly focused on vast and limitless American spaces and nature. I loved the mountains, rivers, canyons, waterfalls. We certainly have it all in Europe as well, but not in such dimensions. You can see all my American adventures here: https://awawdrodze.wordpress.com/category/america/.
I would have to agree – it seems so limitless there. The country is just so enormous and has so many gorgeous natural parks. I hope I get to travel there more in the future. So much to see!
Wow! 😀
Thanks Rob!
Inger, I am amazed with all the sights and colors in Yellowstone. Thanks for the follow. We haven’t been to Norway yet, my daughter and her husband did. Your photos would give us ideas of our travel plan – go see beautiful nature! 🙂
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Miriam! Yellowstone was special, it amazed me as well:)
Yes, I’m glad I went when my relative came to visit us.