Pets allowed
Not Allowed
Elevation Gain
35.00 ft (10.67 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
0.60 mi (0.97 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Fountain Paint Pot Nature Trail in Yellowstone National Park's Lower Geyser Basin is an extremely popular spot with a very congested parking lot. The walk is worth taking as it shows off an amazing array of thermal features in a small area.

The namesake of this hike, the Fountain Paint Pot, is similar to the Artists Paint Pots: an acidic spring that dissolves the surrounding minerals into a multi-colored muddy goo that bubbles ominously. There is a large cluster of geysers along the path that erupt frequently, some almost continuously, so there is always a lot of action at the far end of this loop. There are two very beautiful hot springs along the path very close to the parking area—the Celestine Pool and the Silex Spring—and a cluster of dead lodgepole pines that make a stark picture on the white mineral-crusted ground.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

National Park Pass

Pros

Interesting and beautiful thermal features. Easy boardwalk trail.

Cons

Crowded parking. Busy trail.

Trailhead Elevation

7,288.00 ft (2,221.38 m)

Features

Hot springs
Big vistas
Wildflowers
Geologically significant

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.