The Upper Geyser Basin

The Upper Geyser basin includes the most significant area where Old Faithful holds court, Black Sand Basin, and Biscuit Basin.

In the one square mile that comprises the Upper Geyser Basin, you will experience to things that will make you shake your head in awe. That square mile holds those 150+ geysers and:

• A vital river, the Firehole River
• 5 of 6 predicted Geysers: Old Faithful, Castle, Grand, Daisy, and Riverside Geysers
• The tallest predicted geyser in the world, Grand Geyser
• The historic Old Faithful Inn
• And Beehive Geyser

Physically, the UGB is 2 miles long by a 1/2 mile wide.

The UGB is sit at about 7,365 feet in elevation. Why is this important? Well, first off, it is just neat to know. But it has several other ramifications. Many flatlanders will find they quickly become short of breath. The risk of altitude sickness is real. Sunburns can sneak up on you because of the thinner atmosphere.

The Old Faithful area has three miles of boardwalk trails. You can add another 2.1 miles if you take the more strenuous Old Faithful Observation Point trail. Visitors can break up the trails depending on their time, health status, and children. The trail sections include:

• The Old Faithful loop, about 3/4 of a mile, has two low-grade hills. You will be walking around Old Faithful. You get a good view of the Beehive Geyser across the Firehole River. See Chinese Spring, East Chinese Spring, and Blue Star Pool. You will also see the lovely runoff areas from Geyser Hill.
• Geyser Hill is 1.3 miles round-trip from the Visitor Center. There you find 50+ of the UGB 150+ geysers. Home to Beehive Geyser, Lion Group, Doublet Pool, Anemone Geyser, and many more. It has some ups and downs, but none that are bad. From my perspective as a senior citizen, the challenging section is the hill down to the river and back up on the other side at Geyser Hill. Take it slow. Don't hesitate to take rest breaks; take the hills at your own speed.
• The back section contains four of the five predictable geysers. At the far end, you will see the Morning Glory Pool. You will walk by Giant Geyser, which is the second-tallest and most voluminous geyser in the world.
• The Observation Point walk is considered strenuous. It is a 1/2-mile hike to Observation Point from the Old Faithful bridge over the Firehole River. Plan to start up so you have enough time to be up at the Point when Old Faithful erupts. You will also get a great view of the inn and the southern part of the basin. You can return the way you came up or continue through the woods, pass Solitary Geyser, and come out on Geyser Hill.

Many people arrive at the Old Faithful viewing area just minutes after an eruption. So what can you do? You could walk up to Geyser Hill, and you will be able to see Old Faithful from almost everywhere while on the Hill. There is an exhibit hall and a bookstore in the Visitor Center. You should absolutely visit the Old Faithful Inn. It is a jaw-dropping experience. Food is available in all buildings but the Visitor Center and the Heritage Center.

As you walk around, do several things to keep you and your family safe:

• Be observant and stay away from the animals. No feeding, turning your back on them, or harassing them. Be sure to move out of their way if they come your way.
• Carry enough water for everyone in your party and drink it. It gets hotter than you think.
• Be aware that boardwalks and asphalt can reach up to 160°F (71°C), and sometimes higher, especially in July and August.
• Stay on the boardwalks regardless of what is going on. You can fall into 200°F water or break through fragile ground.