This is a low key trail, with a short, flat, walk through sand and forest to a small loop. The loop is essentially a walk up (and back down) to a view point over the Blood Geyser. There’s also some cool bubbly mud at the top – the Artists Paintpots.
This stop pairs well with stops at Norris Geyser Basin and Gibbon Falls as they are all located on the road north of the West Yellowstone Park entrance.
If you have a limited amount of time in Yellowstone, and are looking for a stop that includes views of mud hydrothermal features, you might consider instead checking out the Mud Volcano or Fountain Paint Pot trails, which are also both short and include more features.
But if you’re looking for an additional activity while on the northwest side of the park, this is a great little hike, and one that seems to attract fewer visitors. We hit this around 3pm and had no trouble finding parking and found only a few others on the trail.
Hike Details
- Distance: 1.0 miles*
- Type: “Lollipop” Loop
- Elevation Gain: 101 ft*
- Restrooms: Yes – Outhouse Style
- Parking: Yes
- Water Source: No
- Distance From Park Entrance: 23.3 miles from the West Yellowstone Park entrance
*Source: AllTrails
What To Bring
This is a very short hike but I always recommend bringing water in hot, sunny weather – it can’t hurt, right? Most hikers probably won’t need trekking poles, but it is a relatively steep climb up to the top of the loop so those with knee/ankle issues may want them for that part of the hike.
- Water
- Hat and/or sunglasses
- Camera
- Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range to capture views from the top of the loop
- Zoom lens in the 50-100mm range for photographing the geyers and other ground details
- Sunscreen
- Trekking Poles (if desired)
Photos
Coming Soon!
