Witness the power of Old Faithful and explore the surrounding geyser basin with this self-guided walking tour! As one of the most densely-packed geyser regions in the park, there’s no shortage of explosive wonders on display here. Watch huge geysers like Old Faithful, Castle Geyser, and Grand Geyser erupt. Stroll past smaller, bubbling pools. Find out how geysers form and work, and uncover the hidden systems underlying the whole basin. This walking tour makes for the perfect addition to any Yellowstone visit! After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route. New, extra validity ‘ now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips! This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
- Escape the city and enjoy a relaxing trip on the Colorado River
- Float down the calm waters of the Fisher Towers section
- Learn all about the area’s history from your guide
- Hassle-free pickup from select hotels is included
What To Expect
Old Faithful – Observation Deck
We’re walking along the Old Faithful Observation Deck. But the benches and boardwalk here are just part of the 14 miles of boardwalk that snake through this part of Yellowstone.
Thousands of visitors trek through this park every year.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Observation Point Trailhead
You’ll see a sign for Observation Point Trail. If you’d like an elevated view of Old Faithful erupting, this path will take you to the perfect spot for it. It’s an uphill trek of about a mile out and back, and should take around 30 minutes.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Anemone Geysers
It gets its name from geologist Arnold Hague, who thought the vents looked like the petals of the anemone flower.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Beehive Geyser
It looks like a big innocuous beehive just sitting on the ground. That is, until it sends boiling water shooting 100 feet into the air!
The Beehive spews water for 5 minutes every 10 to 20 hours.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Marmot Cave Geyser
This area is called “Marmot Cave Geyser.” A yellow-bellied marmot used to live in that little cave, but it moved out years ago. I can only assume spewing water heated by magma isn’t ideal for marmot dens!
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Lion Geyser
Off to our left, do see a lion, a lioness, and two cubs. Okay you got me—they’re not real lions. They’re cone geysers! To make things more confusing, they’re not actually named because they look like lions at all!
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Sawmill Geyser
It looks a lot like a bluish hot spring, but it erupts! And when it does, it sounds like a whirring sawmill. It’s connected underground to a whole complex of thermal features, which makes its eruptions very hard to predict.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Grand Geyser
Off to your right is a geyser that puts on quite a show. It’s called “Grand Geyser,” and it’s the single most powerful predictable geyser in the world! It’s a fountain-type, so no cones to see—just a pool. And if you think Old Faithful has impressive eruptions, just wait until you see one of these.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Beauty Pool
On our right is a hydrothermal feature so beautiful people named it “Beauty Pool”! It’s that blue-green hot spring with a thick ring of orange heat-loving microbes—known as thermophiles—around it.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Chromatic Pool
This is Beauty Pool’s sister, Chromatic Pool. It’s a smaller hot spring at only 30 feet in diameter, but the colors are still so vivid! This pool is around 133.1 degrees—too hot for a shower, too cold for a cup of coffee.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Giant Geyser
Giant’s cone is geyserite or sinter, and it’s about 12-feet tall. Some say it even looks a bit like the Coliseum in Rome! This is one of the tallest geysers in Yellowstone, but it’s far from the only geyser in this cluster.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Grotto Geyser
Dead ahead is Grotto Geyser. This was almost the site of disaster during the 1870 expedition!
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Morning Glory Pool
The Morning Glory Pool gets its name thanks to the passing resemblance to morning glory flowers. Green ones like it hot. Yellow ones like it pretty hot. Orange like it warm. And red like it kinda warm.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Daisy Geyser
Daisy Geyser is one of Yellowstone’s most predictable geysers. It erupts every 2 to 4 hours for about 4 minutes. And this one is unique because its fountain streams out at an angle to the ground!
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Crested Pool
Crested Pool is 42 feet deep and has an average temperature of 191 degrees! That’s just about as hot as your hottest cup of coffee.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Castle Geyser
Castle Geyser stands out thanks to the massive calcified cone that surrounds it. This one erupts every 10 to 12 hours. Eruptions last about 20 minutes, and the spray can reach 90 feet high. After the main eruption ends, steam hisses out of Castle Geyser for around 35 minutes.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Old Faithful Inn
This is no ordinary inn. The building’s designer, Robert Reamer, wanted it to be part of the park. So he used rhyolite for the inn’s foundation. Rhyolite is formed in Yellowstone’s caldera! And for the inn’s walls, he used local lodgepole pine trees!
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Highlight
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: ‘ Download the separate app ‘ Enter the password ‘ Download the tour ‘ MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. ‘ If there is just one tour, launch it. ‘ If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. ‘ Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). ‘ The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. ‘ Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Walking Tours: couples can share one using headphones.
Flexibility and Convenience: ‘ Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. ‘ Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
Comprehensive Tour Experience: ‘The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. ‘ Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
Ease of Use and Accessibility: ‘ The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. ‘ There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
Memorable Keepsakes: ‘ Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
Preparation: ‘ After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. ‘ Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
Starting the Tour: ‘ Open the app upon arrival at your destination. ‘ Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. ‘ Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. ‘ Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. ‘ By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Max group – 15
