West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail & Hayden Valley: How to Spend Your First Day in Yellowstone

Wondering how to spend your first day at Yellowstone National Park? Suppose you are following our 10-day Grand Teton/Yellowstone Itinerary. In that case, we recommend heading to the West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail in Yellowstone after visiting Mormon Row, which will be your last stop in Grand Teton National Park.

The West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail is located 1.5 hours north of Mormon Row and is a great first adventure after you enter Yellowstone at the South Entrance. Explore and then drive through Hayden Valley toward the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Keep reading below!

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Need to Know Info

• An entrance fee is required at Yellowstone National Park. We recommend getting an annual pass. The pass expires after one year, but it usually pays for itself if you visit enough parks in one year.
  • Visit our gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website.
• It’s best to visit Yellowstone during late June, July, or August. During these warmer months, you can hit the trails, and everything should be mostly snow-free along the trails in the higher elevations. Depending on the snowpack from the prior winter, you may still see snow!
• Parking areas in the popular areas of Yellowstone can get crowded! We recommend arriving at your destination as early as possible. Plus, you may have a better chance at spotting wildlife out and about in the early morning hours.

West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail

Like we mentioned above, head to the West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail after your morning visit to Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park. We arrived at West Thumb a bit later in the morning, but we were still able to find parking at this popular destination.

The West Thumb Geyser Basin contains many hydrothermal features such as the Abyss Pool, Fishing Cone, Bluebell Pool, Painted Pool, Thumb Geyser, and more. These are all located on the shores of scenic Yellowstone Lake.

Short & Sweet!

One of the best things about the West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail is that it’s short and sweet at about three-quarters (0.75) of a mile. It’s also handicap accessible, which is great for all.

After parking your car, head to the boardwalk and take the loops around the boardwalk. Remember to ALWAYS stay on the trails when hiking in Yellowstone National Park. The boardwalk trail has two loops. The outer loop is a half mile, and the inner loop is a quarter mile.

It really doesn’t matter which way you go; just be sure to hit up all the hydrothermal features. This is such a cool area!

⛰️ Did you miss our post on visiting Mormon Row? You can’t miss it, so check it out here!

Other Hikes Nearby

If you enjoyed the hydrothermal features here, but want to get out on some other trails, there are a few options nearby that don’t require reparking your car. Check them out below:

• West Thumb Overlook Loop Trail – 1.4 miles – This short trail leads to a nice overlook of the West Thumb Geyser basin and has a 200-foot gain. Travel through the forest and across the road before climbing toward the overlook. Be aware of bison in the area and keep your distance if you see them. At the top, you’ll find a nice bench and views of the area. From the summit, the trail continues southwest down through a meadow and into the trees. You’ll cross several bridges and meet up with the junction that leads back to the parking lot.
• Duck Lake Trail – 0.8 miles – Another short trail that begins just across the West Thumb to Fishing Bridge Road. It leads to a small pond and isn’t necessarily beautiful due to the power lines and other man-made disruptions that have occurred in the area. That being said, it’s a quick out-and-back if you need some more steps.

Visitor Center & Hayden Valley

After your morning stroll around the hydrothermal features at West Thumb, we recommend heading to the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and through Hayden Valley on your way to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

🌲After the West Thumb Geyser Basin, head to “The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone” for another fun hike. Get the details here!

Fishing Bridge Visitor Center

If you are into history, you must stop here! This location is actually the inspiration for most of the buildings that we see in the national parks today. According to the National Park Service: “The distinctive stone-and-log architecture of this old building—known as “parkitecture”—was one of several prototypes for park buildings around the country.”

“Today, the visitor center and museum highlight the ecology of Yellowstone Lake, focusing on birds. Also, stop by to visit with a ranger and find out when ranger programs are scheduled, buy a fishing permit, pick up a souvenir, or take in some truly stunning views of Yellowstone Lake and the surrounding mountains.”

Hikes nearby, located on the shore of Yellowstone Lake near the visitor center, include:

• Pelican Creek Nature Trail – 0.6 miles – You can take a ranger-led interpretive hike on this trail or complete it yourself. Along the trail, you’ll likely spot many types of waterfowl as you approach the lake.
• Storm Point – 2.4 miles – This is another great loop hike that is perfect for an easy stroll or with kids! Be on the lookout for bison and grizzly bears here. As you hike along the shore, listen for the distinct chirping calls of marmots. During thunderstorms in the afternoons, the southwest wind blows across the lake and builds large waves that crash against the rocks – hence the name “Storm Point”.

Hayden Valley

Next up, head through Hayden Valley! Hayden Valley has plenty of great picnic spots where you can stop and enjoy a relaxing lunch. These include the LeHardy, Cascade, and Nez Perce Picnic Areas, to name a few.

The real reason for traveling through the lush, green Hayden Valley is to look for wildlife. Bison have lived in the valley since prehistoric times, and they are still present today. You may also spot grizzly bears, wolves, coyotes, otters, pelicans, ducks, and more. We only really saw bison here, which was still super fun.

Note that this is a prime area for bison jams! Think of these like traffic jams, but caused by bison that are standing on the road as well as cars that are holding up traffic to take photos. It has been noted that sometimes bison jams can last multiple hours, so pack your patience if you get caught in one.

A short hike near Hayden Valley is the Mud Volcano Trail – 0.8 miles. This trail is at the midpoint between Yellowstone Lake and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It features mud pots and fumaroles, which look like boiling chocolate milk. Here, you will see the Dragon’s Mouth and Mud Volcano. Other interesting spots along this loop trail include Sour Lake and Black Dragon’s Caldron.

As you travel through Hayden Valley, the next stop on your tour is a visit to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which we discuss here.

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 lower 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!

Safety and Weather in Yellowstone National Park

• Yellowstone may have some areas with limited cell service.
• 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: Still using one-time-use plastic bottles? Let’s get more sustainable and carry a water bladder instead! It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking.
• Food: There are limited food options in Yellowstone. If you are looking for food here, your best bet is to travel 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.
• Don’t forget to bring your bug spray. Get our favorite here!

Where to Stay While Visiting Yellowstone National Park

We recommend staying outside the park while exploring Yellowstone National Park, unless you are camping, of course. Check out some of the options that we recommend based on location below:

• Gardiner (North) – Yellowstone Village Inn: Clean, comfortable, and super convenient to the northern section of Yellowstone. Free coffee anytime and a chance to see wildlife on the huge front lawn. Indoor pool open seasonally with multiple room types available. Book a stay on Expedia or Booking.com.
• Cooke City/Silver Gate, MT (East) – High Country Motel & Cabins: We stayed here in a cabin for one night so we would be super close to Lamar Valley in the morning for the best chance of spotting Yellowstone’s wildlife. Super rustic and limited cell service. However, it is located in town and close to restaurants. We loved it! Check it out here on Booking.com.
• West Yellowstone, MT (West) – Alpine Motel: #1 in West Yellowstone and one of our favorite stays with super-friendly owners and competitive rates. Free parking and air conditioning. It might be a little dated, but it’s immaculately clean! Visit their website and give Brian and Patty a call!

Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed all of the colorful hydrothermal features at the West Thumb Geyser Basin, and this is one spot you definitely can’t miss, so put it on your Yellowstone bucket list.

The short hikes around each of the areas we stopped were great as well. As we traveled north through Hayden Valley, we lucked out with no bison jams. However, we actually didn’t really see much wildlife except for some bison and a bear grazing off in the distance that we couldn’t really see.

We continued our tour of Central and Eastern Yellowstone with a visit to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, so be sure to check out our recommendation for the best hike to see Artist’s Point and Lower & Upper Falls!

🛏️ Don’t forget to book your stay in Cooke City/Silver Gate, MT! This will put you in a great spot for wildlife viewing in Lamar Valley in the morning.