In addition to Grand Prismatic, Old Faithful is one of the most iconic landmarks in Yellowstone. I knew I had something to look forward to, but was still surprised with the size and variety of Upper Geyser Basin where Old Faithful is located. We ended up spending the whole day here.
The best advice we got was to stop by the visitor center immediately upon arrival as they have the schedule for expected geyser eruptions posted on the wall. We used it as basis for planning the day to ensure we didn’t miss out on any eruptions.
Old Faithful
Everyone is here to see the famous Old Faithful Geyser erupt. You will understand when she is getting close to erupting by the large crowd gathering in the viewing area around the geyser. She will erupt approximately every 90 minutes so you’ll have several opportunities to the world’s most famous geyser blow water 40 meter (130 ft) into the air.
But there are so many other thermal features you shouldn’t miss while exploring the area. The Grand Geyser is one of the predictable geysers that you’d likely find on the timetable in the visitor center. It is also the tallest predictable geyser known.
Grand Geyser
Continuing along the pathway there are numerous geysers – one that looks a bit different is the Grotto Geyser. This is a fountain type geyser where the cone has some very interesting shapes. This geyser is known to have very long eruptions, with recorded eruptions lasting more than 26 hours.
Grotto Geyser
As you are getting to the northern part of Upper Geyser Basin you’ll find my personal favourite, the Morning Glory Pool. Its almost neon green colour leading into the core of the earth is out of this world.
Morning Glory Pool
The multi-story lobby and largest fireplace I have ever seen is also something I’d highly recommend not missing out on at Old Faithful Inn. It is the perfect place for a coffee break. Make sure you notice the Crow’s Nest high up under the ceiling – it was once used by musicians to entertain guest at this fashionable rustic lodge.
Old Faithful Inn
If you still have energy left after exploring the area you could do as we did. Take a small hike to the observation point and you’ll get an excellent birds eye view over Old Faithful erupting.
Old Faithful from Observation Point
After a long day of exploring my husband succeeded to bribe me with an ice cream to stay for one last Old Faithful eruption while the sun was setting behind the horizon.
And one last comment – please stick to the walkways if you are headed to Yellowstone. The safety signs are there for a reason. And bring you bear spray. Surprisingly, despite the large crowd, a grizzly passed through the Upper Geyser Basin the day we visited.
Quite impressive. I know Yellowstone just out of a comic strip from my distant childhood. Then I was already in love with Yellowstone. However, I do not think that I ever get there. That is why I am pleased with your nice report. Best regards!
Thank you so much for the lovely comment. I was not aware there are comic strips about Yellowstone:) That is a fun fact! It is quite a special place – so I hope you get to see it one day:)
Inger, nice photo of Old Faithful. Interesting place to visit. You might enjoy looking at Robert Howells photos, http://bobfotos.com/, he takes night photos of Yellowstone. Have a great day and keep taking and sharing photos. Jim
Thank you Jim! A very interesting place to visit indeed. Thanks for the link – I will definitely have to check it out.
The colours of the morning glory pool are just stunning. I love this kind of stuff.
Thanks a bunch! Meet too – I couldn’t get enough of Yellowstone. And now I want to go back and explore it during winter. Bison in harsh winter, that must be something!
These are amazing and excellent images, Inger.
Much appreciated Pete! Taking photos was secondary, as we were mainly there to experience and see the area for the first time. But I am quite happy with some of the photos despite som harsh light conditions. I am glad we had a UV filer on to protect our lens as it was completely destroyed after the Yellowstone trip:)
I appears you had a wonderful time there, and yes, it was a good job you protected your lens 🙂
i was visiting Yellowstone a few years ago.It was magnificent ans impressive and so wonderful.Well done great photo’s.
Thank you Marylou! Yellowstone is such a special place to visit – I am sure you’ll never forget the visit:) It is definitely as you say – magnificent!
There’s nothing at Yellowstone that’s not worth seeing. Enjoyed seeing your shots.
janet
I couldn’t agree more! Thanks Janet:)
When I was there as a child over 50 years ago, Morning Glory was an aqua blue color. People threw so many pennies (among other things) into it, the color changed. It is pretty, but not its natural color, unfortunately. 😞
I was not aware of that, thanks for enlightening me. After reading your note I had to google this to find more information and found that all the trash and pennies tourists have thrown into the hot spring has partially clogged it up leading to the temperature to get cooler. And the change in temperature has led to cooler water-loving bacterias to establish and create the green and orange colour. I do love the colour – but feel a bit sad know that I know the story behind it.
Great shot! This is very exciting to see. I simply love Yellowstone for its mystery, colors and just enough danger to keep you on your toes. 🙂
Thanks Jane! There definitely enough danger in Yellowstone to keep you awake – awesome comment:)
We visited here several years ago, I agree with your thoughts on exploring the whole area.
It seems like a lot of the visitors were happy after seeing Old Faithful – in my opinion they were missing out on some of the best parts! 🙂
I have to agree with you on that point, it seemed that way to me.
The colours of the morning glory pool are really out of the world. One time I have to visit Yellowstone. It’s a wonderful and stunning place!
Yes isn’t it? That green and yellow look magical doesn’t it, I was fascinated with it:) Hoping you’ll get to see it one day Simone.
Absolutely fantastic!Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks you so much – and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment:)
Brings back memories of long ago when I was there…walking stupidly right up to a bear! Dumb.
That’s a story I’d like to hear more about!
Thank you for making us discover this beautiful nature,
Old Faithful, must be impressive to see.
Very beautiful pictures.
Have a nice day!
Thank you Hervé! Old Faithful and Morning Glory Pool – both very truly beautiful and fascinating. Thanks for stopping by:)
Hi , Inger!
This is more than a post ….I would call this a geographical guide…
Impressive photos, too!
Thank you so much for the lovely comment, much appreciated:)
Looks like a great place to explore. I absoltely love nature adventures like this!
Much appreciated Piia! Nature adventures like this one is the best:)
I remember our visit to Old Faithful a few years ago and we had much enjoyed walking the various path around the very famous geyser. It was fun to suddenly find yourself almost alone on the paths as most people just came in & out to view the main geyser. They didn’t stick around for the rest of the visit and didn’t know they were missing the main show. Thanks for the reminder. (Suzanne)
I had the same feeling Suzanne! We met people on the path around the area, but not nearly as many as we saw gathering around Old Faithful so I suspect many were happy with seeing Old Faithful. But there was so much more too see! We spent the whole day – and we even had to do some prioritising as we didn’t have time for it all.
Thanks for your comment!
Fantastic images Inger. We definitely need to get to Yellowstone.
Much appreciated Sue! You won’t regret it:)
Imponerande och fantastiska bilder, igen! Tror det måste man har sett “live” för att förstå hur storartat det är.
Takk så mye for hyggelig kommentar. Ja, man må nesten oppleve det. Det er vanskelig å klare og formidle hvor spennende dette området er gjennom bilder alene. Ting som lukter, lyder og størrelse forsvinner jo på bilder:) Lukten av svovel, lyden av vann som koker. Det var veldig spesielt.
I remember waiting for its explosion 🙂 It quite impressive
I waited several time for the geyser to go off….my husband wanted photos of it from every angle! 🙂
What an amazing place that even a bear decided to join in to see what the excitement was about. Did you bring along your bear spray? 🙂
Yes! Good luck we did actually bring the bear spray. What happened is that we hiked to the observation point. While we were waiting for Old Faithful geyser to erupt one of the park rangers came hiking up to the observation point. She asked us if we had bear spray and make noise. Then she explained a grizzly has passed through the Upper Geyser Basin and was heading up the hill (where we were standing!). Thankfully we didn’t see the grizzly but I was pretty shaky:)
What an unexpected moment – exciting and scary at the same time. Good thing you brought along your bear spray! We here have started to bring Mosquito Spray and insect repellent to keep out the Zika virus spread by the Aedes mosquito! Ha! Ha!
The Zika virus is almost more scary to me that bears! At least the bears try to stay away from people, contrary to the mosquito:)
🙂 🙂 🙂
You give such a great look at Yellowstone and Old Faithful ~ this is one of my favorite parks, and you capture its glory so well. Cheers to a great day Inger ~ wonderful shots.
Much appreciated Randall! It is difficult to convey the grandness of the area through photos only, you almost have to experience it, as you have. Wish you a wonderful day as well!
Oh, Inger, such a beautiful area. This has been on my list for so very long. Time to quit postponing! I will try to get there next year. Thanks for the nudge.
Yes – you should not postpone any longer Emilie! It was such a rewarding experience to see all the landmarks and thermal features of Yellowstone. I am sure you’ll appreciate as much as I did:)
Fascinating place to explore.
Thanks! So much so see, I am sure you could stay in Yellowstone for a year and still find new things to explore:)
Nice pictures, remembers me to our trip on Iceland this summer! I like to vised Yellowstone once!
Thank you so much! If you liked Iceland I am sure you’d love Yellowstone as well:) I haven’t been to Iceland yet, but it is just a matter of time. It is most definitely on my travel list!
Wow, Old faithful inn looks cool. These pictures are wonderful. We haven’t gone to any National Parks yet. We are hoping to go to Yosemite in winter to see it in the snow.
Thank you so much for the lovely comment! Old Faithful was really awesome, just sitting there in the old wooden chairs, enjoying a coffee and studying the interior:) Yosemite in winter sounds pretty cool!
Never got to see Old Faithful. The one time we were up there, we were at the west entrance, which was closed in late November. But we’ll be back. Thanks for the preview! 🙂
Yes I guess they close pretty early in some of the parts of the park. I think the north entrance is open year round if I remember correctly. You should try again in September, that is when we went – perfect time of year. Not to hot and not to crowded. Are you going to try camping again? 😉
Hi Inger, nice meeting you. Your photos of Yellowstone are stunning. Thank you for sharing. I post one photo Old Faithful in October with the Weekly Photo challenge. You saw my photo of the Hot Spring a few days ago. I have tons of Yellowstone photos. We love to travel and I love taking photos. Since my blog also has poems, I just post a few travel photos at a time. I’ll follow you to see more of your posts. If you want, you could follow me and see some of the photos along with my poem.
https://theshowersofblessing.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/eagles-nest-germany/
Very happy to meet you to Miriam! And thank you much for the lovely comment on my photos:) Much appreciated. Yellowstone has so much to offer, especially for those of us who loves taking photos:) I am definitely checking out yours.
Yes, I’ll be back to check out some more of your also. I think I follow you, so your posts will come to my email. 🙂
Much appreciated Miriam, I have added you to my reading list as well:)
Let’s hope it never fails! Great set!
Yes, let’s hope it never fails. I did learn however that it used to erupt more frequently and that it seems like it is trending towards visitors having to wait longer between every time it erupts.
I don’t think I will ever get a chance to visit, so I appreciate this post a lot. Glorious captures!
Much appreciated Paula! I guess we cannot reach across the entire globe, but at least we can share experiences:)