West Thumb Geyser Basin

Word from curator

Roman

Yellowstone expert

30+ destinations visited

18 curated trips

West Thumb Geyser Basin is a small geyser basin that offers a diverse range of hydrothermal features, including geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles. You can explore it along a boardwalk trail that is approximately 1/4 mile long.

This basin is quite unique because many of the thermal features are located underwater in Yellowstone Lake and you can observe them through the clear water at the edge of the lake. The colors of the hot springs and geysers are particularly vivid and striking, ranging from brilliant blues to deep greens and oranges.

Some of the major features at the basin include Abyss Pool, Black Pool, Fishing Cone, and Thumb Paint Pots. Fishing Cone is particularly notable because it was once used by early visitors for cooking fish caught in the lake. While visitors are no longer permitted to use the cone for cooking, it remains a popular attraction at the geyser basin.