Hiking the Observation Point Trail in Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 1.6 - 1.9 miles / 2.6 - 3.1 km
The Observation Point Trail in Yellowstone National Park is one of the best and most underrated day hikes in the Upper Geyser Basin, as Observation Point can be a great way to enjoy Old Faithful without the crowds!
By this, I mean that Old Faithful is notorious for being the busiest and most popular geyser in Yellowstone National Park. However, what many visitors don’t think to do is time the eruption with a hike up to Observation Point.
It is here—from the upper viewpoint—that Old Faithful can best be seen and enjoyed, with just a fraction of the people who gather on the boardwalks surrounding the geyser on a typically busy summer day.
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!
Upper Geyser Basin Trailhead Parking
Parking for Old Faithful/ Upper Geyser Basin can be in any number of parking areas surrounding the geyser.
This is because everything from the Old Faithful Inn to the Old Faithful Lodge are all within a short walking distance of the boardwalk where the hike begins.
Google Maps Directions: Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful)
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 Observation Point Trail
From whichever area you park, walk to the far side (right side) of Old Faithful Geyser to reach the Upper Geyser Basin Trailhead.
On a different note, I think it’s important to point out that this is the amount of people surrounding the Old Faithful, which was taken about 20-25 minutes prior to the eruption.
Observation Point (Upper Geyser Basin) Trailhead
When you reach the Upper Geyser Basin Trailhead, go right.
The Observation Point Trailhead will be located shortly after crossing the Firehole River.
Observation Point Junction
After the Firehole River, turn right to begin the Observation Point Loop Trail.
This is also where the trail begins gaining the roughly 200 ft. (61 m) of elevation gain from this junction to the overlook.
Regardless of the trail’s length, hiking with bear spray is a necessity. During my visit, it was made abundantly clear before beginning the hike that there was a grizzly with two cubs roaming the area.
Obviously, this will not always be the case, but I think it’s important to note that the amount of people in the Old Faithful area doesn’t necessarily keep the bears away.
Observation Point-Solitary Geyser Junction
At about 0.6 miles (1.0 km), the trail splits, with both the return loop leading to the Solitary Geyser and the Observation Point Trail to the right.
That said, go right to reach Observation Point, but note that it is because of the loop that can be created with the Solitary Geyser that the distance on the Observation Point Trail can vary, depending on whether you decide to hike out and back or the full 1.9-mile (3.1 km) loop.
Observation Point Loop Trail
At this point, you can either continue straight or turn left to hike up the Observation Point Loop from either direction.
Personally, I continued straight, as this is the most common direction to hike the loop trail.
Observation Point
When I watched this eruption during the busy summer season, there was only a handful of groups watching Old Faithful from Observation Point, making the experience much nicer than the crowded boardwalk below.
Past Observation Point, the loop continues down to the two original splits from earlier.
Here, you can either return back down to Old Faithful and the beginning of the Upper Geyser Basin or continue on to Solitary Geyser.
Observation Point-Solitary Geyser Junction
At the same junction from earlier, I continued straight to hike the slightly longer return trail toward Solitary Geyser.
However, if you wanted to take the fastest trail back, turn left to re-hike the same trail as shown above.
Solitary Geyser
From the junction shown above, Solitary Geyser is located only 0.3 miles (0.5 km) down the trail.
The hike back to the Upper Geyser Basin makes this hard left turn that can be easy to miss when you first arrive at the Solitary Geyser.
Upper Geyser Basin
Once back at the Upper Geyser Basin, you can either use the map to continue hiking through the basin or return to the trailhead by going left at the split shortly ahead.
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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