Norris Geyser Basin Trails: Your Ultimate Guide Here

One of the hottest areas (literally!) in Yellowstone is the Norris Geyser Basin Trail area. The highest temperature recorded here in a scientific drill hole was 459°F! That’s hot. The only way to explore this area is via the Norris Geyser Basin Trails along the raised boardwalks.

This was one of our favorite areas in Yellowstone National Park, so be sure to spend a morning or afternoon here. Want to hear the best thing about it? Super easy trails! There are two loops to complete here: the Porcelain Basin and the Back Basin.

Go ahead – read on for all the details you need to explore the Norris Geyser Basin!

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Need to Know Info

• Make sure to carry bear spray while hiking in Yellowstone, though, along the Norris Geyser Basin Trails, it’s probably unlikely that you’ll encounter a bear due to the area’s popularity. Better to be safe than sorry.
• During the summer, the parking lot at Norris Geyser Basin often reaches full capacity, and rangers may be present to direct traffic at the intersection or within the lot. Please follow their guidance, use overflow parking when available, and if that is also full, plan to return at another time. Restrooms are located in the parking lots.
• Yellowstone National Park requires an entrance fee. If you plan to visit multiple national parks within a year, consider purchasing an annual pass. It often pays for itself after just a few visits.
  • Visit our gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. Bonus: Some parks offer faster entry lanes for pass holders.
• The ideal time to visit Yellowstone is in late June through August, when the weather is warm, and most trails are clear of snow even at higher elevations. However, depending on the previous winter’s snowfall, you might still encounter lingering snow in some areas.

Norris Geyser Basin Trails

After your morning hike to Bunsen Peak, we recommend heading to the Norris Geyser Basin. Here, you will find two easy loop trails with some otherworldly views! Head to the Porcelain Basin first and then conquer the Back Basin trail.

When we visited, the weather was perfect, and we had the opportunity to spot some crazy cloud formations, which made our visit here extra surreal! The lenticular-looking clouds you’ll see in our photos made for an epic visit, and we thought we were on another planet.

Most importantly, stay on the boardwalk here at all times!

Porcelain Basin

The trail begins just past the Norris Geyser Basin Museum and Information Station. After parking, head here to learn more about the area and Yellowstone before hitting the trails. This location was built in the 1930s as a trailside museum.

After exiting the museum, pass the Campground Trail & Back Basin Trail. Walk down the hill and go straight at the next junction. This is a quick 0.5-mile loop where you’ll get to see many fumaroles and multiple geysers.

If you are lucky, you may get to see Ledge Geyser erupt. It is capable of shooting water 125 feet into the air! Continue along the trail to see Sunday Geyser, Whirligig, and Pinwheel Geysers. This area contains many of the hottest parts of Yellowstone, and different bacteria, algae, and minerals contribute to the water’s vibrant colors.

Finally, walk past Whale’s Mouth and Crackling Lake before continuing up the hill to reach the museum where you started. This is a great intro hike to the area before continuing to the longer Back Basin Trail.

Back Basin

The Back Basin trail begins to the left of the museum. This is another loop trail that is 1.6 miles long. If you don’t want to hike the entire trail (you really should!), there is a connector trail about halfway through, cutting the loop short.

First up is beautiful blue/green Emerald Spring. Stop at the informational sign to learn more about it before making your way to Steamboat Geyser. This is one of the popular geysers in Yellowstone because it’s one of the world’s tallest, shooting water more than 300 feet!!

According to the National Park Service, “Steamboat Geyser’s major eruptions (more than 300 feet high) are unpredictable and often many years apart”, so don’t get too excited. Just after this point is the option to cut the loop short, but we recommend completing the entire trail.

Along this hike, you’ll see tons of other geothermal features, including Echinus Geyser, Mystic Spring, Puff & Stuff Geyser, Black Hermit Cauldron, Green Dragon Spring, Cistern Spring, Porkchop Geyser, and Fearless Geyser, to name a few.

Finally, the Back Basin Trail climbs through the trees back to the museum where you started.

⛰️ Looking for a harder hike up into the mountains? Check out the Cascade Canyon Trail to Lake Solitude!

Safety and Weather in Yellowstone National Park

• Don’t forget to bring your bug spray. Get our favorite here!
• Plan on letting a family member or friend who isn’t on the trip with you know where you’ll be each day while exploring. If you get lost, this will aid in your rescue.
• Water: It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. Ditch those annoying one-time-use plastic bottles and carry a water bladder instead!
• Food: There are limited food options in Yellowstone. If you are looking for food here, your best bet is to travel back to West Yellowstone, Gardiner, or Cooke City.
• Weather conditions can differ based on where you are in the park. Temperatures tend to be cooler at higher elevations, particularly in forested or shaded areas. In fact, snow may still be present at higher altitudes during the summer. From July to August, keep an eye out for afternoon thunderstorms and the risk of lightning. Check out the current conditions on the national park website.

Animal Safety in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park has a diverse range of animals living in the park. Grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, bison, and mountain goats are just a few. Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the 48 states!

Always carry bear spray while hiking in Yellowstone. Purchase your bear spray before entering the park, or rent it from somewhere if you don’t plan on keeping it. Bear spray is NOT allowed on aircraft in checked or carry-on luggage. Make sure to review the steps to take if you encounter a bear during your adventure.

Before hiking, learn how to spot the difference between grizzly and black bears and what to do if you see one. That being said, it’s unlikely that you will have an aggressive animal encounter, but always be prepared. Do NOT leave food in your car!

🌲 Want someone else to do the driving in Yellowstone? Check out the fun options from Viator!

🌲 Looking for more hikes? Check out the Bunsen Peak Trail.

Final Thoughts

The Norris Geyser Basin might be up on our list of 1st or 2nd top things to do in Yellowstone National Park. The geothermal features, easy hikes, and surreal colors make this area such a cool gem. The clouds when we visited made it extra special.

This is one of the more popular areas in Yellowstone, so expect crowds here. This makes it a little bit less peaceful than some of the mountain trails, but we still had a great time. Pack your patience for the parking lot and slower hikers, and you’ll have a great time here.

🛏️ A great home base for this leg of your trip is in West Yellowstone, MT. Check out the options and compare rates now!