Hiking the Lone Star Geyser Trail in Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 5.0 miles / 8.0 km
The Lone Star Geyser in Yellowstone National Park is a remote thermal area just south of Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin, where hikers can enjoy one of Yellowstone’s least-visited geysers on one of the park’s easier trails.
On top of this, the Lone Star Geyser Trail is one of the best biking trails in Yellowstone National Park, and I say this for a number of reasons.
The first is that the entire hike to the Lone Star Geyser is flat, making a bike ride a really fun and easy adventure. The second reason is that the mosquitoes along the Long Star Geyser Trail are certainly present during the mid-summer months, and I got my fair share of bites just by hiking the trail.
However, what’s perhaps most important is that timing the Long Star Geyser eruption is a tricky thing, but if you have a good idea about when it’s going to erupt from the National Park Service, getting there faster on a bike may be the best way to ensure that you don’t miss the next eruption!
How Often Does the Lone Star Geyser Erupt?
The National Park Service says every three hours, with 1-2 hours of variability.
This variability is because the Lone Star Geyser goes through both major and minor eruptions, which I’ll talk more about below.
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!
Lone Star Geyser Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Lone Star Geyser Trail is located in either one of two parking areas.
You can either park directly at the Lone Star Geyser Trailhead linked below, or you can park at the neighboring Kepler Cascades and take the short trail in between the two parking areas. Parking at the Kepler Cascades is a great way to see both the geyser and the waterfall without having to move your car.
Google Maps Directions: Lone Star Geyser 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 Lone Star Geyser Trail
The National Park Service rarely knows when the Lone Star Geyser is going to erupt unless someone that just saw an eruption walks into the visitor at Old Faithful and reports it.
This is often not the case, meaning that you may have to hike the trail and hope that you aren’t waiting too long to see the eruption.
At the first split shortly after the trailhead, go left to continue toward the Lone Star Geyser.
Firehole River
This is the only time the trail crosses the Firehole River, and personally, I think this bridge is a nice mental checkpoint that you’re getting close when you’re on the return hike.
Once across the bridge, the trail parallels the Firehole River for most of the remaining trail to the geyser.
This is also where the mosquitoes were at their worst. Even midday the mosquitoes were still biting me through my shirt, but overall, I would say that the inconvenience was minimal in order to enjoy the Lone Star Geyser. However, they were definitely noticeable.
This is why I recommend hiking with the cheap bug net linked below, especially if you’re going to be doing the hike early or late in the day.
Spring Creek Junction
At about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) into the hike, the Lone Star Geyser Trail comes to the only junction with the Spring Creek Trail that eventually links up with the Divide Mountain Trail.
Personally, I recommend treating Divide Mountain as a separate hike and beginning from the official Divide Mountain Trailhead, rather than continuing up Spring Creek.
Past the Spring Creek Junction, the rest of the trail is very straightforward and easy to follow.
Just before the Lone Star Geyser there is a bike rack, as bikes are not allowed any closer to the geyser.
Lone Star Geyser
Generally speaking, if you had been passing other hikers on your way to the Lone Star Geyser, then that’s a pretty good sign that you missed the eruption.
However, if you passed no one on your hike to the geyser, that may be a good sign that you timed it just right.
In either case, I recommend packing food and perhaps even cards to keep busy because you may have to wait up to three hours in order to see the Lone Star Geyser erupt. That being said, I’d say it’s worth the wait since it’s the main reason that everyone hikes out this way!
In case no one else is at the geyser, there should be a log book, which may give you an idea about the previous eruptions.
This is obviously not as helpful if you’re the first one to arrive on any given day.
In my experience, I had to wait about two hours for the major eruption, with one minor eruption occurring about 25 minutes before the major.
However, it was definitely worth the wait, as the major eruption continued some ten minutes total, which was more than anyone was expecting!
Warning
Afternoon thunderstorms in high Mountain West areas, such as this, are a serious concern during the summer monsoon season.
Even if the weather forecast doesn’t predict any storms, I can tell you from personal experience that they may show up out of nowhere and can put you and your entire group in a very dangerous situation.
I say this to emphasize the importance of turning around at the first sign of lightning, thunder, or even heavy cloud buildup. However, if you ever get caught in a storm unsuspectingly, follow the steps linked below to reduce the risk of getting struck.
U.S. Forest Service: Lightning Safety Tips
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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