Hiking the Artists’ Paintpot Trail in Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
The Artists’ Paintpot Trail in Yellowstone National Park is a short day hike that leads to a small, unique thermal area where visitors can see a variety of uniquely colored thermal features—most notably the Blood Geyser!
That said, the Artists’ Paintpots are most similar in size to the short boardwalk through the Black Sand Basin near Old Faithful to the south, but they are most comparable to the Norris Geyser Basin in terms of the thermal features encountered.
However, the Artists’ Paintpot Trail is not nearly as busy as the nearby Norris Geyser Basin, but if you’re looking for the best of both experiences, I highly recommend visiting both first thing in the morning, which is always the best way to avoid the crowds in popular areas across Yellowstone, such as this!
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!
Artists’ Paintpot Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Artists’ Paintpot Trail is located in a large paved parking lot off the east side of Grand Loop Road between Norris to the north and Maddison to the south.
Typically speaking, the Artists’ Paintpot Trail gets busier by mid-morning, but these photos were taken not long after sunrise.
Google Maps Directions: Artists’ Paintpot 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 Artists’ Paintpot Trail
The Artists’ Paintpot Trail is a mix of boardwalks and native surface, which goes back and forth throughout the entire hike.
While the trail typically gets busier as the day goes on, bear spray is absolutely necessary, especially in the quiet early morning hours, like when I was hiking.
Artists’ Paint Pots Loop Trail
After only 0.3 miles (0.5 km), the Artists’ Paintpot Trail splits into the loop that navigates through the best of the thermal features.
I don’t believe it makes much of a difference which direction to explore first, so I decided to go left.
If accessibility is a concern, it’s worth noting the large number of stairs that climb to the overlook and the upper part of the loop.
Blood Geyser
On a much less foggy day, the Blood Geyser is something to see from this scenic overlook!
On the far side of the loop, the trail descends back down just one switchback to the boardwalk below.
Artists’ Paint Pots Loop Junction
This is back where the Artists’ Paintpot Loop meets back up with the beginning of the trail.
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
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