Hiking the Artemisia Trail to the Morning Glory Pool in Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 1.8 miles / 2.9 km
The Morning Glory Pool is one of the most beautiful thermal features in all of Yellowstone National Park!
However, most visitors who want to explore the Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin make the mistake of hiking one way from Old Faithful to the Morning Glory Pool, which typically turns into a hot and very exposed return hike on most nice summer days.
This is why, if you want to see the best of the Upper Geyser Basin without having to walk the roughly 2.0 miles (3.2 km) each way from Old Faithful, I highly recommend checking out the Old Faithful area first. Then, drive up the road north to the Artemisia Trail at Biscuit Basin, where the much shorter trail to the Morning Glory Pool begins.
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Biscuit Basin Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Artemisia Trail is located in the same parking lot as Biscuit Basin.
However, since the Artemisia Trail shares the same trailhead as Biscuit Basin, as well as with the trail to Mystic Falls, parking in the small lot for Biscuit Basin can be difficult on any given summer day.
This means that if parking isn’t an option in the small Biscuit Basin parking lot, you may need to park somewhere along Grand Loop Road.
Google Maps Directions: Biscuit Basin Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Yellowstone-Tetons
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Yellowstone-Teton area.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Artemisia Trail
Like Old Faithful, the Morning Glory Pool is this highlight of the Upper Geyser Basin!
However, as I mentioned earlier, the two are not close to one another; in fact, they’re more than 1.8 miles (2.9 km) apart, making it a 3.6-mile (5.8 km) roundtrip hike.
This is why I recommend starting from the Artemisia Trailhead, which is only 0.9 miles (1.4 km) away from the beautiful Morning Glory Pool!
Artemisia-Power Line Junction
Not long after starting the hike, the Artemisia Trail splits with the Power Line Trail.
Go right to continue to the Morning Glory Pool, which will be the more trafficked of the two trails.
Gem Pool
At about 0.4 miles (0.6 km), the Artemisia Trail passes by the Gem Pool, which in my opinion, is one of the more beautiful pools along the hike.
Artemisia Geyser
After spending a few minutes talking with a group of people who were sitting and waiting for the Artemisia Geyser to erupt, I got to learn a little bit about what to look for if you feel like waiting for the elusive eruption.
First, the know that the Artemisia Geyser is very finicky. Even when all the signs are right, it still may keep you waiting for hours, which the National Park Service says Artemisia averages somewhere around 19-40 hours between eruptions!
Second, look for the water to be flowing out over the side of the geyser, creating a small waterfall.
Finally, and most importantly, your guess is as good as the next person, so be prepared to sit and wait. Artemisia is one of the more unpredictable geysers in Yellowstone.
This small hill is only real elevation change on the entire Artemisia Trail.
Then, when the Artemisia Trail comes to a boardwalk, make a hard right, and you’ll see the Morning Glory Pool shortly ahead.
Morning Glory Pool
For obvious reasons, the Morning Glory Pool is one of the best things to do in Yellowstone!
The pool alone is easily worth the journey through the entire Upper Geyser Basin, but if you’re looking to save some time and avoid the hot summer sun, I highly recommend this much shorter route from the Artemisia Trailhead, as it’s commonly overlooked because of how popular Old Faithful is.
Additionally, if you’re interested in buying my print from the Morning Glory Pool, simply click on the photo below.
My Print - Morning Glory Pool
How Bad are the Mosquitoes?
If this is your first trip to Wyoming, you’re likely unfamiliar with how bad the mosquitoes will be. Locals don’t joke when they call the mosquito the Wyoming state bird, which is why I recommend grabbing this cheap bug net before going. You never know where and when you may want it because even midday in the most unsuspecting places, the mosquitoes can be out in clouds!
More Yellowstone Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Yellowstone National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
From personal experience, I’ve seen that the Yellowstone-Teton area has one of the highest Grizzly Bear densities in the country. Even on the popular trails, you need to be hiking with bear spray and know how to react in the event of a Black or Grizzly Bear encounter.
Aside from wildlife, Wyoming, like any Mountain West state, is known for its violent afternoon thunderstorms, which are more typical in the warmer summer months than other times of the year.
That said, it’s important to check the local forecast before setting off on any adventure, as lightning strikes are not uncommon in and near mountain ranges across the West. I have personally been knocked to the ground by a strike that hit near me in the past, and I confidently say that it’s an experience you don’t want to live through. This is why I highly recommend checking Mountain Forecast for any high-elevation adventures you may be interested in—especially when climbing a summit.
Finally, know that when micro-spikes are necessary for an early-season adventure, micro-spikes are never supposed to be a substitute for conditions that require crampons.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park websites.
National Park Service: Grand Teton National Park / Yellowstone National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
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