West Thumb Geyser Basin — Attraction in West Yellowstone

West Thumb Geyser Basin at Yellowstone is an amazing spot that blends two of the park’s most iconic features—geothermal activity and lake views—into one unforgettable place. Walking the boardwalk through this area gives you incredible views of Yellowstone Lake, especially looking out across the west thumb section of the lake. The combination of steam rising from the ground with the shimmering blue water in the background is something you really have to see in person.

The geothermal features here are super interesting. You’ll see hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, and painted pools right along the shoreline. A few of the geysers are actually under the lake itself, which is wild to think about. The colors in the pools are beautiful, and the whole place has this quiet, surreal feel to it.

I also appreciated that the boardwalk is easy to walk and doesn’t take too long, making it great for a short stop that still delivers incredible scenery. It’s not as crowded as some other parts of the park, so it felt peaceful even with a steady flow of visitors.

If you want great photo opportunities and a chance to see how Yellowstone’s geothermal activity interacts with one of its most famous lakes, West Thumb is a must-visit. It’s not as massive as some of the other geyser basins, but the views of the lake and the variety of features make it a really special part of the park. Highly...

The West Thumb Geyser Basin was our first geothermal stop in Yellowstone after entering through the South Entrance from the Tetons. The colors were amazing, especially on a sunny day - so I would certainly try to see the thermal pools in direct sunshine. There were certainly more geysers, springs, and pools to see up near Old Faithful, but these were an amazing blue color and had the added benefit of being right next to the lake. The boardwalk was pretty short and very easy to walk on. It was also wide enough for people to stop and take pictures without jamming up the works. I would highly recommend stopping here even if you've already seen some other thermal features...

While the West Thumb Geyser Basin doesn't have any of the glamorous and dramatic geysers found elsewhere in the park, it does have several deep and colorful hot pools. The relatively short boardwalk around the basin drops downhill to the shore of Lake Yellowstone and provides wonderful views across the lake. In the Spring when snowmelt water is abundant, several paint pots can be active and enjoyable to watch. Later in summer these simply dry into fumerals. As all of the park is now, crowds can be found here, especially in midday. I have always enjoyed the basin and make it a point to...