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Fountain Paint Pot Trail

Easy Easy
 4.5 (33)
  1. Areas
  2. WY
  3. …Northwestern Wyoming
  4. …Yellowstone National Park
  5. Old Faithful
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“One of the best thermal area boardwalks in Yellowstone! ”

Tom Carter
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Map Key

0.6

Miles

1.0

KM

Point to Point

7,315' 2,230 m

High

7,288' 2,221 m

Low

35' 11 m

Up

27' 8 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

6%

Max Grade (3°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Geological Significance · Hot Spring · Views

Family Friendly A short, easy boardwalk with lots to see. A great spot to get the kids out of the car and stretch their legs. But keep them close, and on the boardwalks - these hot springs are dangerously HOT.

Stay on the boardwalks, these hot springs are dangerously HOT. A man died after entering 202-degree Celestine Spring in 1981.

Description

As you begin your trip, beautiful Celestine Spring is the first spring you see on the left. In July 1981, a 24-year old man jumped head-first into this 202-degree pool in an ill-fated attempt to rescue his dog. He sustained 3rd degree burns over 100 percent of his body and died the next morning. This is an important reminder to stay on the boardwalks for your safety.

Continue straight at the junction and soon you'll see Silex Spring. This clear pool reveals it’s beautiful hard rock bottom, made of silicon dioxide, or silica. “Silex” is Latin for silica. Just up the hill is the star of the show – the Fountain Paint Pot. It is one of the largest and most colorful mudpots in the park. In early summer it is watery from abundant rain and snow. By late summer, it’s “bloops” and “bloups” are quite thick. The mud is composed of clay minerals and fine particles of silica.

Just beyond the mudpot, you’ll find a fumarole, or steam vent. The hiss and roar of a fumarole comes from gases - steam, carbon dioxide, and a little hydrogen sulfide - rushing from the earth through the vent. Take the boardwalk to the right to view Leather Pool. This spring underwent dramatic changes after the Hebgen Lake earthquake of 1959. Prior to the earthquake, it was a warm pool that supported leather-like brown bacteria. After the earthquake, water temperatures rose to boiling and killed the microorganisms. Since that time, Leather Pool has cooled and once again supports the brown bacteria.

Next up is Red Spouter, which was born during the Hebgen earthquake. In the spring and early summer its pools splash muddy water that often has a red tone. Later in the summer, when the water table is lower, Red Spouter becomes a hissing fumarole.

Down the hill you'll find Clepsydra geyser in almost constant eruption from several vents. Its name is Greek for water clock, because the geyser used to erupt regularly every three minutes. Since the 1959 Hebgen earthquake, however, Clepsydra erupts almost without pause. Nearby Jet Geyser, during its active period, erupts every few minutes up to 20 feet.

From Clepsydra, the trail loops back to the left and continues to the parking area.

Thanks to guidebook author, Tom Carter, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about visiting Yellowstone, check out his book, Day Hiking Yellowstone.

Contacts

Local Club: Yellowstone Forever

Dec 10, 2024: Yellowstone National Park’s winter season begins Dec. 15, 2024

Dec 7, 2024: Naturalist Notes: The Color of Winter

Nov 16, 2024: Yellowstone Summit | February 20-23, 2025

Land Manager: National Park Service - Yellowstone National Park

Shared By:

Tom Carter
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 33 votes

#3

in Old Faithful

#115

Overall
  4.5 from 33 votes
5 Star
64%
4 Star
27%
3 Star
9%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#3

in Old Faithful

#7

in Wyoming

#115

Overall
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1,436 Since Sep 9, 2015
Easy Easy
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Photos

Watch out for Bison!
Sep 9, 2015 near Old Fai…, WY
Trip video of Fountain Paint Pots Trail
Apr 24, 2016 near Old Fai…, WY
Overlooking Clepsydra geyser and the Fountain Flats.
Apr 23, 2016 near Old Fai…, WY
Fountain Paint Pots Trail
Sep 9, 2015 near Old Fai…, WY
Clepsydra geyser is in almost constant eruption from several vents. Its name is Greek for water clock, because the geyser used to erupt regularly every three minutes. Since the 1959 Hebgen earthquake, however, Clepsydra erupts almost without pause.
Apr 23, 2016 near Old Fai…, WY
The Fountain Paint Pot is one of the best mudpots in the park. The mud is composed of clay minerals and fine particles of silica.
Apr 23, 2016 near Old Fai…, WY

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Check-Ins

Sep 19, 2024
Caitlin Poore
Jul 9, 2024
Anonymous
Dec 30, 2023
Emily Jennings
Sep 7, 2023
Hannah Frick
Jul 29, 2023
Jordan Ciaramitaro
Jun 28, 2023
Tracy Hsiao
May 2, 2023
Sandra Lee
Done 5/1 in the later day. Great! 0.6mi
May 1, 2023
Sandra Lee
Fantastic!!!! Loved the Red Spout and the Fountain Paint Pots, Leather Spring, and geysers !

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