The Midway Geyser Basin Trail is a fantastic hike to the Grand Prismatic Spring with a few other thermal features along the way.
Midway Geyser Basin Trail to Grand Prismatic Spring Basics
Under 1 Hour
0.7 Miles Round Trip
Loop
56 Feet
Duration: Under 1 Hour
Walking along the Midway Geyser Basin Trail takes about 30-45 minutes, depending on how crowded the path is and how long you take at each of the features.
Distance: 0.7 Miles Roundtrip
The Midway Geyser Basin Trail is about three-quarters of a mile total.
Type: Loop Trail
The trail starts in the parking lot in a straight line until you get to the loop junction. From here, you can go left or right as the trail loops around the geyser basin.
Elevation Change: 56 Feet
Overall, there is very little elevation change on the Midway Geyser Basin Trail making it very accessible.
Season: Any
While the Midway Geyser Basin is open year-round, the best time to visit is late May through early September when the colors are the most vivid.
Time of Day: Any
Just as the colors are brightest during the summer months, they are also best during the middle of a clear, sunny day. However, at that time, the area tends to get crowded.
Amount of Shade: None
There is no shade along the Midway Geyser Basin Trail.
Difficulty: Easy
This short boardwalk loop is a very easy trail. Parents, just make sure to keep a close eye on kids as it’s unsafe and illegal to step off of the trail.
What Makes Midway Geyser Basin Trail to Grand Prismatic Spring a Great Hike?
Grand Prismatic Springs is one of the most iconic sights in Yellowstone National Park. If you’ve seen a photo of the park, it’s either Old Faithful or Grand Prismatic. We missed the Midway Geyser Basin Trail and Grand Prismatic Spring on our first trip, so it was a must-do on our second trip.
Grand Prismatic Spring is one of Yellowstone’s largest hot springs and is the third largest in the world. It’s called prismatic because the colors follow the same pattern as a rainbow. It is astounding to see the size of the hot spring and the vivid colors that don’t seem real.
While Grand Prismatic Spring is the highlight of the trail, there are a few other geothermal features to see along the path such as Excelsior Geyser, Turquoise Pool, and Opal Pool.
Scenery on the Midway Geyser Basin Trail to Grand Prismatic Spring
Start of the Trail
As soon as you leave the parking lot, there’s a small wooden bridge over the Firehole River. Keep walking until the path comes to a split between Excelsior Geyser Crater and Turquoise Pool.
(you can see thermal features flowing into the river)
On the Trail
If you head to the right, you will walk with Turquoise Pool to your right and then reach Opal Pool, also on the outside of the boardwalk loop.
End of the Trail
At the furthest point on the trail, you will be walking along the Grand Prismatic Spring before coming back around to Excelsior Geyser Crater.
Notable Places on the Hike
Along the trail, there are many spots where the trail has been expanded with a small viewing area so those who want to stop and take in the view can step to the side and let others walk by.
The colors in the pool are mesmerizing
Midway Geyser Basin Trailhead Information
Park Name: Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming with a small percentage of the park in Idaho and Montana. Since there are five entrance stations, there are multiple ways to get to the park. Our favorite way is to go through Grand Teton National Park into the South Entrance, flying into Jackson Hole Airport.
Finding the Trailhead
The trailhead for Midway Geyser Basin Trail is at the south end of the parking lot along the Firehole River.
Markers Along the Trail
As you walk on the boardwalk trail, there are signs for each of the hydrothermal features as you get to them as well as some explaining the science behind the features.
Nearest Restrooms
There are vault toilets in the parking area for the Midway Geyser Basin.
Parking Area
This is one of the most popular destinations in the park, and there's always a huge crowd and backed-up traffic going into the parking area. Actually, when we came to the trailhead, the only reason we were able to get into the area was because of my in-law's disabled veteran plate. They were only letting one car in as one car came out.
The parking area is just over 5 miles north of Old Faithful on Grand Loop Road. It is part of the Midway Geyser Basin, between the Lower Geyser Basin and Upper Geyser Basin, the area with the most geysers in the world.
Other Trails at this Trailhead
The Fairy Falls Trail runs behind the Grand Prismatic Spring and is the best way to get an overhead view of the spring. The trailhead is not in the same parking lot, though, but can be found just south of this parking area on Grand Loop Road.
Tips for Midway Geyser Basin Trail to Grand Prismatic Spring
- The parking area is called the Grand Prismatic Spring Parking Lot and Midway Geyser Basin Parking Lot.
- It is illegal to step off the boardwalk, throw things into the center of the pool, or fly drones in the park. Please be courteous and careful here and throughout Yellowstone National Park.
Accessibility Information for Midway Geyser Basin Trail to Grand Prismatic Spring
Boardwalk
Paved
Trail Type: Boardwalk
The entirety of the Midway Geyser Basin Trail is a boardwalk that takes you over the hot water features and out to the Grand Prismatic Spring.
Parking: Paved
The parking area is a paved lot with 4 designated handicap-accessible parking spots.