Old Faithful is arguably one of Yellowstone’s most famous features, and it’s definitely worth seeing. But what do you do when Old Faithful’s several-minute eruption is over? A lot. What many people don’t realize is Old Faithful is surrounded by many geysers, gorgeous waterfalls, great hikes and historic attractions. Here are some tips on how to see the best of the Old Faithful area and lose the crowds at one of the park’s most popular attractions.
Timing is really everything when it comes to seeing Old Faithful erupt, especially if you have limited time to explore Yellowstone. Fortunately, Old Faithful consistently blows every 68 or 94 minutes, give or take 10 minutes. How do you ensure you’ll get to see this magnificent 106-184-foot geyser? Find out its predicted eruption schedule by following @GeyserNPS on Twitter, stopping in the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, which is a 30-second walk from Old Faithful, or by calling the park’s recorded prediction line at 307-344-2751.
If you want to see Old Faithful erupt without having to jostle your way through a pack of tourists, we’ve got two recommendations for you. For adventure seekers, hike to Observation Point, a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike that leads you through a forest and onto a hilltop. From here, you’ll be far above the crowds, and you’ll enjoy incredible views of Old Faithful and the upper Geyser Basin.
Otherwise, visit Old Faithful really early in the morning or later in the evening. You’ll get a sense of solitude you’d never get showing up at any other time during the day. If waking up at sunrise is a challenge, grab a cup of coffee from Old Faithful Inn Bear Paw Deli or Old Faithful Lodge Bake Shop, both of which open at 6:30 a.m. and are a two-minute stroll to Old Faithful.
After you watch Old Faithful erupt, stop in the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center to see when the other four geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin are predicted to erupt — Castle, Grand, Daisy and Riverside. Or go to the park prediction webpage here. Then, plan your route through the Upper Geyser Basin, a sprawling geyser basin surrounding Old Faithful, timing it so you can see at least one of the four erupt. This magical basin contains the park’s largest concentration of geysers. And you can see many of them on the Upper Geyser Basin’s fantastic, easy three-mile loop that’s made of pavement and boardwalk. The bonus? You may see some of Yellowstone’s revered wildlife like bison and elk along the way. Depending on how quickly you walk and how often you stop, this loop could take you a couple of hours.
Want to see a waterfall the easy way? Drive to the Kepler Cascades pull off and do a very short walk to the platform viewing area. It’s just about a mile-and-a-half drive from the Old Faithful Lodge. Upstream, you’ll see the Firehole River cascading down a series of waterfalls, with the biggest drop being 50 feet. Downstream, you can watch the river flow toward the Old Faithful area.
For those looking for a bit more adventure, opt for the family-friendly Mystic Falls hike where you’ll burn more calories and have more of a backcountry hiking experience. The trailhead starts at the Biscuit Basin trailhead about two miles north of Old Faithful on the Grand Loop Road. Park at a pull out and explore Biscuit Basin via the boardwalk before leaving the far end of the boardwalk and hiking along a dirt path to Mystic Falls. The 70-foot Mystic Falls is tucked in a narrow canyon and is formed by the Little Firehole River dropping into the canyon from above. Stop short of the falls, which can be dangerous, for a 2.4-mile out-and-back excursion.
If you’re looking for a longer hiking trail with fewer people, we recommend the 4.8-mile round-trip hike to Lone Star Geyser. Under the canopy of the forest, you’ll follow the Firehole River for just over two miles until you get to a clearing where Lone Star Geyser sits. Not only is it a beautiful hike, but Lone Star erupts every three hours, making it totally feasible to time your arrival with the eruption. Pack a picnic and eat lunch in the meadow a safe distance from the geyser. You’ll find the trailhead east of the Kepler Cascades pull-out off the Grand Loop Road just 1.5 miles from the Old Faithful parking areas.
There are a few must-see cultural stops that help you get to know Yellowstone with a deeper appreciation. Old Faithful Visitor Center is one of them. Its state-of-the-art exhibits on Old Faithful and the park tell so many stories that really bring Yellowstone to life. Plus, you can find out when Old Faithful is erupting next in here. And the rangers on hand can answer any questions you may have.
A three-minute walk down the path is the historic Old Faithful Inn, an iconic Yellowstone landmark that takes you back in time 120 years when the park was in its early days. When it was built in 1903-04, Old Faithful became the largest log cabin structure in the world. Step into the lobby to admire the exposed intricate woodwork and beams of this gorgeous iconic hotel. Around you, you’ll hear languages from all over the world spoken. For a special dinner, make reservations in advance to eat in the Old Faithful Dining Room where 50 percent of the food is sustainably sourced.
For more of Yellowstone’s fascinating behind-the scenes stories, local tips and directions that play automatically in your car based on your GPS location, download the GyPSy Guide Yellowstone and Grand Teton Audio Tour app.
Don’t look too long, you might fall in. Abyss Pool is one of Yellowstone’s deepest, a sapphire sinkhole with a haunting beauty. Still on the surface, but beneath? It hides serious power. Once, it even erupted 100 feet high. Quiet now, but always watching.
Yes, people once cooked fish while they were still on the line. This lakeside geyser cone was the original absurd Yellowstone party trick- dip, boil, and serve. That’s banned now (thankfully), but the cone remains a weird, wonderful icon of Yellowstone’s wild days.
An electric-blue eye in the earth. This bubbling hot spring looks almost unreal—thanks to heat-loving microbes and crazy-clear water. It’s the color of a tropical sea, with the temperature of a kettle. Hypnotic, otherworldly, and a total stunner.
Where boiling water meets lake water! This lakeside geyser shoots up dramatic bursts of steam just inches from Yellowstone Lake. It’s a rare clash of hot and cold that’s as steamy as it sounds. Nature’s chemistry experiment, right at your feet.
Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park Tour is a fascinating complex of colorful terraces and hot springs that’s constantly changing.
See them up close on the boardwalks, or drive the short loop.
Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park Tour is often considered the world’s most famous geyser and its eruption schedule is highly predictable. The time between eruptions varies but since the year 2000, recorded intervals have ranged between 44 minutes and two hours.
Rather than watch Old Faithful from the crowded boardwalk, consider hiking the Observation Point Trail and watch it erupt from a viewpoint high above the entire geyser basin.
Start your tour with one of Yellowstone’s most iconic views: Grand Prismatic Spring from the overlook trail. From this higher spot, you’ll see the spring’s full rainbow of colors, deep blue in the center, with bright rings of orange, yellow, and green. It’s an easy hike through the forest to reach this viewpoint, and the photos you’ll take here are unforgettable.
The Firehole River runs through a steaming, active stretch of Yellowstone, where hot springs feed into the water. On cool mornings, you’ll see mist rising from the river’s surface. The warm water attracts wildlife, too. Keep an eye out for bison along the banks. It’s a beautiful and unique mix of flowing river and geothermal energy.
Lamar Valley is one of best places in Yellowstone National Park Tour for wildlife spotting, including bison, elk, bears and wolves.
Spring is an exciting time with bears emerging from hibernation and newborn animals appearing – especially the adorable ‘red devil’ bison calves.
The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park Tour is arguably its most fantastic natural feature. It’s the third-largest hot spring in the world and deeper than a 10-story building. It’s also one of the most photographed, so arrive early or late to avoid the crowds.
Heading to Yellowstone National Park in 2021? It’s your Gypsy Guide traveling buddy here to tell you about a major road construction project happening all this summer. Doing a little trip planning for Yellowstone now could save us the surprise of hours of extra driving later. The closure is on this section of the Grand Loop Drive that connects the Tower Fall area to Canyon Village. That just means we’ll be doing a little detouring via Norris Canyon Road, or backtracking on the Upper Loop. So for example, let’s say we’re at Fishing Bridge and planning to head to the beautiful Lamar Valley to see some wildlife. We’ll head across Norris Canyon and up the west side of the Grand Loop Drive. That Sure, in tourist season traffic, that adds a couple hours to get to Lamar Valley, so maybe you want to but if we plan it right, we can just take in Mammoth Hot Springs and everything else on that side of the park on the same day. Or if we’re staying in West Yellowstone and wanted to drive the Upper Loop, this year you can drive as far as Tower Fall and then will need to backtrack. One suggestion is to combine the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone into your Lower Loop Drive instead. Download the all new Gypsy Guide app today, and I’ll be there with you with some great stories, tips and information, right from the park gates, so you don’t miss a thing! Alright. Start your planning. And happy travels!
