2014-21 Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Hello All,
We have been fortunate to have visited Yellowstone National Park many times. However, when Dave saw photos of Grand Prismatic Spring in a magazine article he was amazed that we had never come across it when visiting the park. The vivid colors and unique patterns around the spring really tweaked his interest. Research revealed that the spring was located within the Midway Geyser Basin of the park. Checking out the basin became his main focus for this visit to the park.
When we arrived at the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot it was a zoo of humanity! Finding a parking place required patience and a bit of luck. This is probably why we had passed it by on previous visits—we really don’t like fighting crowds. With the car parked we started our trek into the geyser basin. From the parking lot, we took a bridge that crosses the Firehole River. Several streams of steaming water pour from the terrace above into the river.
We have been fortunate to have visited Yellowstone National Park many times. However, when Dave saw photos of Grand Prismatic Spring in a magazine article he was amazed that we had never come across it when visiting the park. The vivid colors and unique patterns around the spring really tweaked his interest. Research revealed that the spring was located within the Midway Geyser Basin of the park. Checking out the basin became his main focus for this visit to the park.
When we arrived at the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot it was a zoo of humanity! Finding a parking place required patience and a bit of luck. This is probably why we had passed it by on previous visits—we really don’t like fighting crowds. With the car parked we started our trek into the geyser basin. From the parking lot, we took a bridge that crosses the Firehole River. Several streams of steaming water pour from the terrace above into the river.
After crossing the river you climb a switchback trail that takes you to the top of the terrace. Once on top, you can see up close one of the streams flowing from the basin.
There is a boardwalk that circles through the features of the basin. Midway Geyser Basin is much smaller than the other basins found alongside the Firehole River. However, despite its small size it contains two awesome attractions among its different features--Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring. We went to the right on the boardwalk and one of the first features we came upon was Turquoise Pool. The temperature of the pool is between 142 and 160 degrees and the dimensions are 100 x 110 feet.
Next we came upon Opal Pool. It usually has a temperature of approximately 132 degrees. Though thought of as a hot spring, Opal Pool is a fountain-type geyser. The first recorded eruption was in 1947. Eruptions continued till 1953 and then stopped. Eruptions resumed in 1979 with at least one in most of the following years. Eruptions consist of one, huge burst that throws water 20 to 80 feet high. Sometime in 2005 Opal Pool completely drained, but it refilled as the beautiful pool seen today in 2008. Isn’t Mother Nature awesome!
Next is one of the most awesome places in the world in Dave’s eyes—Grand Prismatic Spring. It has the distinction of being the park’s largest hot spring measuring approximately 250 x 380 feet in diameter and is over 121 feet deep. A description of this spring by fur trapper Osborne Russell in 1839 also makes it the earliest described thermal feature in Yellowstone. But, what sets it apart from any other spot in the world are its amazing colors. The colors begin with a deep blue center followed by pale blue. Green algae forms beyond the shallow edge. Outside the scalloped rim a band of yellow fades into orange. The orange fades into rusty reds, browns, and tans creating some amazing artistically sculpted patterns.
Water in the spring is between 147 and 188 degrees which creates a lot of steam. Wind whips the steam around making it difficult to photograph. One minute you have a shot and then all of a sudden you are in a cloud of mist that fogs up the camera lens. It is truly an awesome place!
Shrouds of steam often reflect the brilliant colors making it even more magical. Grand Prismatic discharges an estimated 560 gallons of caustic water per minute.
A gust of wind blew Miss Barb’s visor off into the water near the boardwalk. A kind young man used his “selfie stick” to retrieve it for her. Since it was wet she didn’t want to put it back on her head, so without thinking she put it on her wrist for safe keeping. Unfortunately, the caustic water reacted to the metal of her watchband and burned her wrist which took months to heal completely.
The vivid rings of color that encircle Grand Prismatic Spring are caused by colonies of pigmented thermophiles--microbes that live within specific extreme temperature ranges at hot springs. The bands of color correspond to the microbes’ grades of tolerance. Where one kind of colony reaches its temperature threshold, another type immediately takes over.
The 0.8 of a mile boardwalk gives you many angles to view the wonders of Midway Geyser Basin. Photographing Grand Prismatic Spring requires changing locations often to accommodate for the squirrely wind.
Minerals dissolved in the hot water are deposited and gradually build the gracefully terraced shoulders around the spring creating their own beauty.
Minerals dissolved in the hot water are deposited and gradually build the gracefully terraced shoulders around the spring creating their own beauty.
Between the varying colors of the bacterial mats combined with the sculptured terraces it makes for some awe-inspiring photo opportunities.
Next on the boardwalk we came to the jagged crater of Excelsior Geyser. With a temperature of 199°F and a dimension of 276 x 328 feet it is an awesome feature. It was once considered the largest geyser in the world.
Numerous major eruptions occurred during the 1880s reaching heights of 300 feet. These violent eruptions may have caused damage to the siliceous sinter lining, allowing gas leakage and the loss of thermal energy.
Excelsior is now considered a productive thermal spring, presently discharging 4050 gallons per minute. Numerous vents boil and churn the water within the crater and cover it in a dense layer of steam. However, on September 14, 1985, it roared back to life with 47 hours of major eruptions. It is impossible to predict when this dormant but powerful geyser’s next eruption might occur.
Numerous major eruptions occurred during the 1880s reaching heights of 300 feet. These violent eruptions may have caused damage to the siliceous sinter lining, allowing gas leakage and the loss of thermal energy.
Excelsior is now considered a productive thermal spring, presently discharging 4050 gallons per minute. Numerous vents boil and churn the water within the crater and cover it in a dense layer of steam. However, on September 14, 1985, it roared back to life with 47 hours of major eruptions. It is impossible to predict when this dormant but powerful geyser’s next eruption might occur.
We found the clear blue water of the geyser to be quite striking. However, we had to wait for an instant when the steam was not hiding it to snap a photo.
Even though it was late in the afternoon when we departed Midway Geyser Basin we drove about a mile and half down the road and stopped at the Fairy Falls trailhead. Our plan was to hike in less than a mile and then work our way up a hillside to see if we could get photos of Grand Prismatic Spring from above.
Hiking in was easy. But, working our way up the steep hillside through, under, and over numerous fallen lodgepole pines was challenging. Through perseverance we won out and were able to achieve our goal. From this viewpoint it really delineates the various colors of the spring.
Hiking in was easy. But, working our way up the steep hillside through, under, and over numerous fallen lodgepole pines was challenging. Through perseverance we won out and were able to achieve our goal. From this viewpoint it really delineates the various colors of the spring.
Wind blowing the steam would change the brilliance and color. It was an amazing phenomenon.
Without a doubt Midway Geyser Basin is a place we would highly recommend checking out when visiting Yellowstone National Park. There is no other place that we know of quite like it. There are two springs larger than Grand Prismatic in the world--one in New Zealand and the other on the Isle of Dominica in the Caribbean. However, neither have the brilliant colors. It is a treasure of Mother Nature for the world to enjoy.
Our next adventure will take us into Grand Teton National Park. We hope you will jump onboard and ride along with us.
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns