I recently visited Yellowstone for what was my first extended trip to the park. It did not disappoint. We had four full days to explore and used every waking minute to travel the Grand Loop (1.5x!), hike all the hot spots, and enjoy some truly stunning wildlife viewing. One of my favorite highlights in the park was the Grand Prismatic. Did you know it’s the largest hot spring in the USA (and third largest in the world) at over 300 feet in diameter? It’s probably the most beautiful too. Its prism of color matches the colors of the rainbow, hence the name the Grand Prismatic.
Our first stop was at the main boardwalk which takes you around the Grand Prismatic. The spring sends some of its nearly boiling water into the adjacent Firehole River, which makes for quite an initial impression as you approach the boardwalk. The smell of sulfuric acid and other elements bubbling up from mother earth waft through the air as you make your way to the hot spring. The boardwalk takes you right up to the edge of the Grand Prismatic for some steam-filled, colorful photos.
The next day we returned to hike the Grand Prismatic Overlook, which can be accessed from the Fairy Falls trailhead just down the road from the spring. It’s only about 2 miles round trip and gives you a stunning elevated view of the Grand Prismatic Spring and the surrounding area. You’re also likely to run into some friendly Bison roaming the field next to the trailhead. If you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone, this is a do-not-miss hike.
