Yellowstone Grand Prismatic Springs question
 

Myer, you there? In researching Grand Prismatic Springs, it's you that most often mentions an unmarked trail on a hill a mile from the Fairy Falls parking lot for the "overlook" of GPS. Is the mile walk the only way to access the hill? Is it distinctly separate from the boardwalk around GPS?

I need a map of the trails, geysers, springs, etc! This is all so confusing!

What you need to know about GPS: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/fi...tic/index.html
If I can get the coordinates for your GPSr, I will post them.

The GPS is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone. The coordinates are N44* 31.544 W110* 50.295. Turn west off the main highway at the first turnoff north of those coordinates. There is a trail with a footbridge that leads to GPS and a big pond crater hole.

Thanks for the effort in posting the site. Interesting biology, but not exactly helpful for finding this unmarked trail!

I've marked down the GPS coordinates for my GPS haha I just wonder if it's the same for the "hill" up as it is for the boardwalk around.

4sharie,

The unofficial GPS trail has nothing to do with GPS as most people see it.

We went to the official GPS viewing for a while.

Then we drove back a mile or so towards OF and parked in the lot for the Fairy Falls hike.

You actually do the first mile or so of the Fairy Falls hike until GPS is to your right. I don't even think you can really see GPS while you're walking but somehow we knew it was there.

There will be a hill on the left side of the wide trail you're on. You'll probably see tracks on the hill or some other people going up.

As you go up you begin to see GPS. It takes a little more than 5 minutes to climb. When we went there was a constant 10-12 people there. Some leave and others arrive.

If you look at the photos on my web site, you'll see a hill behind GPS on the photos taken at GPS. That's the hill you want from the Fairy Falls trail.

You can't get there from GPS as the viewing boardwalk is on the side closest to the GPS parking lot and not the side of the hill and Fairy Falls trail.

Thank you!! (can't we just swim across GPS to get to the hill?? :) ) Sooo, is there anything else to see along the mile of Fairy Falls? We won't go the 5 miles to the falls.

I'll look for the hill in your pics this evening. got to run now.

The Earth Cache at Grand Prismatic Springs is rated as a terrain 1 (wheelchair accessable). http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache...3-5afed77b0018
If you follow the road to the end you will find a trail at the south end of the parking which will take you to the footbridge across the Firehole River. Hot water from GPS flows into the river. I don't know how warm/hot it might be.
Check the picture of the boardwalk in the geocache page.
Don't drop anything into the mat.

4sharie,

I guess you could swim across GPS but it might be warm.

It's really aneasy hike as that part is more of a dirt road. There will probably be others on the hike who will be going to Fairy Falls and don't even know about the GPS view.

As you can see by the views, it's definitely worth the time.

The map you are looking for. http://www.geocaching.com/map/defaul...lng=-110.83825
There is a bridge of some type south of GPS on the Fountain Flat Road that goes to the Goose Lakes. This would be on the mountain you see in the background in the pictures taken at GPS.
Please don't get burned. Don't take a dog there.

Tom, awesome info on the geocache page! The zoom-able map is almost what I'm looking for. I just want a printable version with roads, trails, and sites named. The visitor center will probably have them, but I like to preplan! Maybe my library would have some books... hmmm

Myer, that's quite a "hill" behind GPS. I'm so afraid we're going to burn so much time looking for the right hill to go up and still somehow get lost!!

You won't get lost. Let's say the worst happens.

First, you miss the turn up the hill and never find it. If that happens eventually you'll realize it and turn back. You will have walked a bit for nothing.

Second, you find the turn up the hill and decide on the way that the hill is too steep (which it's not). You stop going up (the whole climb is about 5 minutes) and return and will have walked a bit for nothing.

The upside is that you will see a spectacular view which the whole trip is all about. The downside is that you walked out and back (less than an hour) for nothing.

I think the risk is worth it.

I don't know what your schedule or physical condition are like. It's for you to decide if it's worth it.

4sharie,

I did a search and found a bunch of links. Here's one.

http://forums.yellowstone.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13457

Excellent forum link, Myer. I never thought to look for forums dedicated to Yellowstone! Thoroughly enjoyed reading all the replies there and gleaning info.

Time-wise, we'll be spending that day driving/sightseeing from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful, so I'm assuming we'd have the hour to take this walk.

(wish I could put you in my back pocket in case I needed on-the-spot help! haha Looks like you know your way around the Tetons too.)

I only know things from research and reading forums.

After a while you get to identify with certain posters.

A lot of us have been to the same places and even though we may have different styles and physical issues, we know how to interpret the responses.

Then of course you go and know what you should have done differently.

For instance, the only hike I've ever been on that was unpleasant due to the number of people was that hike on the other side of Jenny Lake in GTNP.

We went on a Sunday. If we had gone the next day, and we could have, I'll bet there were a lot less people there on a Monday.

And if you're concerned about climbing that hill. I did that a little more than a year after having a hip replacement.

The good thing about hikes that are up first then back down is that you can stop anytime you want.

One of the hikes we did was down first and then 900 feet back up on a trail that wasn't smooth and shared with horses. It was near Tower. We had no choice we had to climb back out. When we finished we were hanging over the car catching our breath.

Speaking of crowded Sunday hikes, we're a bit worried about that. We'll be in Yellowstone on a Saturday and Sunday. Monday we'll leave Old Faithful Lodge and go to the Tetons, so hopefully not too crowded there. But a weekend in Yellowstone... little worried.

Not worried about the walk/scramble up the hill. We all should do fine with that. I just hope we go up the right hill. Looks like there are a couple, one higher with better views.

I'm sure you'll get the right hill. Only one or two choices.

The only hikes I've been on with quite a few people were that Jenny Lake hike and Mt Washburn in Yellowstone. Mt Wasburn was fine as it spreads out quickly.

I read something very true. Once you're 50 yards from the parking lot you lose 80% of the people. That's almost but not quite true in the geyser basin but it's big enough with many choices.

If you're at all into photography look up two places along the outside road in GTNP; Schwabacher Landing and Mormon Row.

Most people stop at the viewpoints and then back in the car. SL is a half mile down a dirt road. Right on the Snake River with the mountains reflecting.

Mormon row is also a half mile off the main road (different spot though very close). Two old barns with the mountains in the background.

Yes, yes, yes! Definitely trying to get in some photography and definitely have plans for both SL and Mormon Row. I can't convince DH to get to Mormon Row for sunrise, so Oxbow Bend might have to do since it's near Signal Mtn where we're staying (though he's really hoping to just go out on our balcony with a cup of coffee!).

Just started looking into the ferry across Jenny Lake and a bit of a walk.

Oxbow Bend is very nice for both early AM and late afternoon/evening. Right where the inside and outside roads meet at the top.

For SL and Mormon Row you really don't have to get there before sunrise. Just early before the sun is high. Definitely not in the afternoon as the sun will be in your face.

Of course, to get that soft glow you'll have to be there early.

Be careful about driving in the dark in any park area. You don't want to hit anything.

Your husband reminds me of my friend. Before our Yellowstone trip his wife told me he needs his breafast and coffee. I said no problem. I'll go out early and swing back for him.

The first morning when I picked him up for breakfast and showed him photos of a large deer with massive antlers he said nothing. That evening I asked him what time he wanted breakfast in the morning. He asked me what time I was going out. His priorities won over his habits.

Wait until he finds out that next summer in Glacier he'll have breakfast on the fly several times. His choice.

The hill is impossible to miss, so don't worry about that.

I'd recommend continuing the hike all the way to Fairy Falls, if you can. It's an easy hike, and the falls are spectacular. And if your feet are up to it, a quarter-mile away from Fairy Falls there's a small lake surrounded by several geysers (Imperial and Spray Geysers) which is worth a look as well. Viewing thermal features in the backcountry is special: no boardwalks, and no warning signs every 10 feet. You do have to use some common sense, though.

Ohh thanks for the location of Oxbow Bend. Hadn't quite figured out exactly where that was. Is there a pull off? Overlook?

I wanted to ask low long Mormon Row might be okay to shoot before the light is harsh but wasn't quite sure how to word it? Something like.... when is the sun too far overhead? ...sounds goofy. I'm hoping mid-morning will still be okay by the time we check out of Signal Mtn Lodge and drive the 30ish minutes to Mormon Row.

Priorities. Yes. We all have them. Part of our problem with getting up for sunrises is my husband has worked night shift for 17 years and we're all natural night owls anyway. He's just being realistic that we are going to be m.i.s.e.r.a.b.l.e. if we try to get all of us up for sunrise after sunrise after sunrise. Ideally we would go to bed early since we'd be so tired, but still no guarantees of good sleep in strange environments.

And of course his other issue with the GTNP sunrise is that we are paying an insane $295 to stay in a lakeside room at Signal Mtn so we can be there for the sunrise, so to him, rolling out of bed and having coffee on the deck at sunrise is perfect. Sort of good bragging material too for his buddies at work. haha For me, the photographer, I'm seriously doubting that will be a decent shot. We're both comprising. He's willing to pay that much to at least get me in the park for sunrise, so I've got to compromise and be content with our view. We'll see....

There's a sign at Oxbow Bend and a parking lot. Aslo, sometimes there's some wildlife hanging around there early evening.

it's quite close to Signal Mtn.

To get the really warm sun you want to be there as the sun comes up. I guess the first couple of hours will still be nice but not that warm glow.

I didn't have a lakeside view at Signal Mtn. But I was 30 yards from it and just walked over. I got some great shots from there and partway up Signal Mtn road. The turnoff for Signal Mtn road is about 1/4 mile south of the Lodge.

We saw a black bear near the road partway up the mountain.

The sun was just starting to shine on the mountain and there were some clouds sitting horizontally cutting the mountain in half.

I also got some great mid-morning shots on the way to the airport. We kept stopping for more on the way.

Vacation is for all. You have to compromise.

When I vacation with my wife I'm usually out early every morning taking photos.

Moongoddess, thanks for the encouragement on the "can't miss hill" and to continue on to Fairy Falls. We'll see how our time is going, but you bring up some really good points about getting away from boardwalks and such.

WE DID IT!!!! So spectacular. Details later. We have Tetons to see...

Great!!! We knew you could.

Now a report and photos.

I almost had to force the situation here. DH seemed to be sort of dreading it for some reason. I think it was the time factor (it was getting late in the afternoon and he wanted to get to Old Faithful before sunset) and the "back-country" look of the hill when I pointed it out to him from the GPS boardwalk. "THAT'S the hill we need to go up."

But he knows when I'm on a mission, armed with hours of research, we better do it. Turned out to be one of his favorite memories!

We spotted a bison in the area as we parked, and had lots of warnings from people coming off the trail. We cautiously walked the trail (dirt road) behind him, and wouldn't you know it... he stayed on the trail. There was no getting around him. When he stopped, we stopped. When he went, we went. Was pretty cool, but it did slow us down.

We scrambled up and over a smallish hill hoping to get by him but all we did was meet him on the other side. A couple guys were walking at the same time and I overheard them talking about the video they watched in the visitor center about buffalo. They were VERY cautious!

He finally veered off the trail and walked right through the geyser basin. We said our goodbyes (figuratively!) and picked up the pace. I kept an eye on the other guys as they picked out which hill to go up, then we followed.

It was a fairly easy climb and scramble over downed trees. The kids flew up it. And ahhh, the view! It was breathtaking to see it so much better up there. We took lots of pictures. DS tried to go a little further but it was just more woodsy. There was a downed log that a couple was sitting on chatting with a guy, but other than that, no one else came. Come to think of it, I don't know what happened to the 2 guys we followed up! Maybe they didn't stay long.

We had a joyous walk back to the van. Mission complete, and with a twist!

Still sorting through pictures, but I'll link to some as soon as I can! Thanks for all the advice!

Glad you managed after all the prep work.

I guess you should put this all together as a report instead of pieces in a few places.

Can't wait to see the photos.

HA! You noticed I was piecing it? I'm a little worried if I launch into a 17 day trip report it might take me 17 years to finish and surely I'd lose my audience long before then.

We're used to reading report. Disjointed, disconnected pieces maybe not so much.