Fountain Paint Pot Trail - Yellowstone National Park {Video}

Fountain Paint Pot Trail in Yellowstone National Park is an amazing half-mile boardwalk loop that leads visitors past all four types of hydrothermal features! This is a great opportunity to see geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles. 

Here are my top finds for the Old Faithful Area of Yellowstone NP
🏨Lodges: Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, 1872 INN
📍Tours: Full-Day Guided Yellowstone Day Tour from West Yellowstone, Lower Loop Van Tour from West Yellowstone including Grand Prismatic & Old Faithful
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip

Fountain Paint Pot Trail - Yellowstone National Park

Location - Lower Geyser Basin between Madison and Old Faithful on the loop road. 

Highlights - Contains all four types of hydrothermal features - Geysers, Hot Springs, Mudpots, and Fumaroles.

Trail Distance - .5 mile boardwalk loop

The Fountain Paint Pot Area is a must-see while visiting Yellowstone! This boardwalk trail is a great opportunity to learn more about the different type of thermal features you can find within the park.

There is an easily accessible parking lot near the boardwalk.

Bacterial Mats

As you first head down the boardwalk, you will see thermophiles which are heat-loving microorganisms including bacteria. The green, orange, and brown colors you see in the bacterial mats are mostly Cyanobacteria. 

Cyanobacteria can live in hot water that is up to 167 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature of the water dictates the color of the Cyanobacteria. Cooler waters form different shades of orange, brown, or rust. 

Hot temperatures closer to 176 degrees are usually yellow-green.

Colors along the bacterial mats can change by season and with the sunlight. 

Silex Spring

What does Silex mean - Silex is Latin for Silica. 

When you look at the hot water in Silex Spring it is worth remembering that deep beneath your feet the heat from molten rock deep beneath the surface is transmitted up through the earth's crust.

The groundwater that circulates through rocks becomes heated as it follows cracks upwards until it escapes at the surface creating a hot spring. 

Fountain Paint Pot

One thing to know is Fountain Paint Pot changes by the season. What you may see in the Fall is different from what it looks like in early summer.

During spring and early summer, the mud pots can be thin and watery from winter rain and snow. 

Later in the summer and in the fall, the mud pots are thicker.

The hissing and roaring sounds you hear are caused by gases including steam, carbon dioxide, and a little hydrogen sulfide. These gases rush from the earth through a vent.

 

Leather Pool

The 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake caused dramatic changes to Leather Pool. The pool waters rose to boiling after the earthquake which killed microorganisms. Today the pool has cooled again and can support microorganisms.

 

Red Spouter

One cool thing about the Red Spouter is it exhibits the behaviors of all four thermal features. The Red Sprouter changes by season so you will find it looks very different depending on the time of year you are visiting.

Spring and early summer you can expect the Red Sprouter to be muddy hot spring that can seem similar to a geyser as it splashes reddish water up to several feet high.

Later in the year closer to late summer and fall as the water table lowers Red Sprouter is more of a big mudpot and then transforms into a hissing fumarole. 

As you continue along the Fountain Paint Pot Boardwalk Trail you will enter into the geyser area.

There is an overlook that gives you the chance to see a half dozen geysers erupting at the same time! 

 

Twig Geyser

Twig Geyser is the first geyser you will pass on the boardwalk. It is located at the base of the steps on the boardwalk.

Twig Geyser erupts 2 to 10 feet high in a series of eruptions.

 

Jet Geyser

When Jet Geyser is active it can erupt every few minutes up to 20 feet high.

Fountain Geyser

Fountain Geyser is across from Jet Geyser and can look empty before it erupts.

Eruptions can last 25 minutes or more and be 20 to 50 feet high!!!

 

Morning Geyser

Morning Geyser is located behind Fountain Geyser. This geyser seldom erupts but when it does you are in for a show! Morning Geyser is one of Yellowstone's largest geysers with eruptions reaching 80 to 200 feet high!

Spasm Geyser

Spasm Geyser erupts pretty frequently with an initial eruption of up to 20 feet and then splashes that are about 3 feet high.

Clepsydra Geyser

What does Clepsydra Mean - Clepsydra is Greek for a water clock. 

Clepsydra Geyser is pretty easy to see erupt. This geyser splashes from several vents. You can see the steam from Clepsydra Geyser throughout the Lower Geyser Basin. 

Celestine Pool

The last hot springs you will see along the boardwalk trail is Celestine Spring. This pool has a gorgeous blue color.

 

Bobby Socks Trees

As you travel through the different thermal areas within Yellowstone National Park you will notice trees that look like they are wearing white socks.

This white sock look is caused when Lodgepole Pine Trees drown in super-heated waters. The trees are penetrated by silica which hardens their bases. 

 

Fountain Paint Pot Trail Map

Where is Fountain Paint Pot?

Best Yellowstone National Park Tours & Activities

Full-Day Guided Yellowstone Day Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (677+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 12 hours | 🚐🦌 Check Rates and Availability

One of the most booked and highest-reviewed full-day Yellowstone experiences, this comprehensive guided day tour covers every iconic sight in the park in a single well-organized 12-hour journey.

The tour guarantees Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and all the must-see highlights, with the guide staying by your side throughout, never leaving guests to figure things out on their own. A lunch is included. Recommended by 98% of travelers across nearly 700 reviews. Booked an average of 40 days in advance. Pickup is included from hotels in West Yellowstone.

Lower Loop Van Tour from West Yellowstone: Grand Prismatic and Old Faithful
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (385+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 8 hours | 🚐🌋 Check Rates and Availability

This full-day van tour is the go-to choice for visitors who want to see the Lower Loop's greatest hits without worrying about driving, parking, or navigation. Departing from West Yellowstone at 7 AM with hotel pickup included, the day begins with an early-morning wildlife sweep through Shadow Canyon of the Madison River, where bear and elk are regularly spotted. From there the tour hits the Grand Prismatic Hot Springs overlook, Old Faithful and the historic Old Faithful Inn, West Thumb Geyser Basin on Yellowstone Lake, the bison-filled Hayden Valley, Mud Volcano, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone at Artist Point.

Hotel pickup included from West Yellowstone. Booked an average of 30 days in advance.

6-Mile Geyser Hiking Tour in Yellowstone with Lunch
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (93+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 6 hours | 🥾🌋
Check Rates and Availability

Most visitors to Yellowstone spend their time at Old Faithful watching the eruption from the crowded viewing area and then heading back to the parking lot. This tour goes somewhere completely different. Starting at the Daisy Geyser Trailhead and following the Firehole River through the Upper Geyser Basin, your guide takes a small group of up to 14 guests past hissing steam vents, vivid hot springs, and geysers that most park visitors walk right past without knowing what they are looking at.

The route covers 6 miles and about six hours on your feet, passing Grotto Geyser, Observation Point, Daisy Geyser, and a climb up to the Observation Point overlook above Old Faithful where reviewers consistently say the view puts the standard ground-level crowd experience to shame. One reviewer watched Old Faithful erupt twice from two completely different vantage points on the same tour. Another caught Grand Geyser erupting up close after their guide rerouted around a bison blocking the trail.

Click here to find more great Yellowstone National Park Tours.

Nearby Yellowstone Attractions

• Old Faithful - Old Faithful is just down the road from Firehole Lake Drive
• Biscuit Basin - Check out Black Opal Pool and the Jewel Geyser in Biscuit Basin.
• Firehole Lake Drive - This 2-mile scenic drive includes the Great Fountain Geyer, White Dome Geyser, and Firehole Lake
• Firehole Canyon Drive - Check out Firehole Falls and Firehole River Swimming Area on this great scenic drive.
• Norris Geyser Basin - Norris Geyser Basin features some of the hottest thermal areas in the entire park. 
• Black Sand Basin - This short boardwalk trail offers great thermal features. 
• Yellowstone Waterfalls

Closest Campground 

• Madison Campground

Check out all of the Yellowstone Campgrounds to help plan your time in the park. 

Closest Yellowstone Lodging

The Old Faithful Inn, Snow Lodge, and Old Faithful Lodge Cabins are the closest lodging options to the Fountain Paint Pot Trail. 

Lodging Options in the Old Faithful Area

⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - Old Faithful Inn - Click here for Rates and Availability.

The most iconic hotel in the American national park system, a National Historic Landmark and the largest log structure in the world, sitting just steps from Old Faithful geyser!

Built in 1903 from local rhyolite stone and lodge pole pine, the soaring 7-story lobby with its massive stone fireplace and hand-crafted copper and wrought iron clock is one of the most breathtaking interior spaces in any hotel anywhere. Choose from historic Old House rooms, some with shared bathrooms straight out of the early 1900s, to modern Deluxe rooms, Junior Suites, and Geyser Basin View Suites. Live music fills the lobby each evening, and the elegant Old Faithful Inn Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with dinner reservations required. Also on site are the Bear Pit Lounge, Bear Paw Deli and Coffee Bar, & gift shop. No TVs, WiFi, or air conditioning keeps the historic magic intact. Open early May through mid-October, book up to 13 months in advance as this is the most requested lodging in Yellowstone!

⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins - Click here for Rates and Availability. 

One of only two lodges open in winter inside Yellowstone, a stunning award-winning parkitecture masterpiece with heavy timber construction, exterior log columns, and a cedar shingle roof, just a 5-minute walk from Old Faithful!

The newest full-service lodge in the park, completed in 1999 and winner of the Cody Award for Western Design, it features a cozy lobby fireplace, the elegant Obsidian Dining Room serving wild game and regional cuisine, the casual Geyser Grill, Firehole Lounge with a second fireplace, Bear Den Gift Shop and Ski Shop with cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals, free WiFi, and free parking. Rooms and cabins feature mini-fridges, coffee makers, hair dryers, and modern bathrooms, with pet friendly cabins available. In winter, heated snowcoach tours depart right from the lodge for park-wide sightseeing. Open late April through late October and mid-December through early March!

⭐️ 4.9 of 5 Stars - 1892 Inn - Click here for Rates and Availability.

West Yellowstone's most refined boutique hotel, a gorgeous adults-only mountain lodge just 1 mile from the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, named after the year America's first national park was established!

The 18 rooms feature gas fireplaces, premium bedding, bathrobes and slippers, dual towel warmers, flat-screen satellite TVs, mini-fridges, and walk-in showers, all wrapped in rustic-chic Montana style with cowhide chairs and western throws. A complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning, and the cozy lobby lounge with a stone fireplace is perfect for unwinding after a long day in the park. Sauna, fitness center, business center, free WiFi, and free parking included. Open year-round!

 Click this link or the map below for a complete list of hotels and vacation rentals in the West Yellowstone, Montana Area.

https://www.stay22.com/embed/61f07ec196333b001540b97a

Yellowstone National Park Entrance Fee

New in 2026: Each Non-US Resident aged 16 and older visiting Yellowstone National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.

Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.

Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Park Entrance Pass - Snowmobile - $30.00 Entry for one driver and one passenger (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.

$20.00 for Non-Commercial Group (16+ persons)

$20.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons) ($25.00 plus $20.00 per person)

$125.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats

$200.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats

$300.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

National Park Free Entrance Days  -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.

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Additional Yellowstone National Park Information

• Yellowstone National Park Guide - Your complete guide to exploring the world's first National Park!
• Things to do in Yellowstone - These are the top things to do that you don't want to miss, including exploring the Mammoth Hot Springs, the Museum of the National Park Ranger, Yellowstone Waterfalls, Kayaking in Yellowstone, fishing in Yellowstone, Fairy Falls Trail, and more!
• Yellowstone National Park Facts - Learn more about our 1st National Park and fun facts about the wildlife in the park.
• Yellowstone Wildlife Guide- Complete Guide to seeing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, including the most popular wildlife viewing areas, including Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley.
• Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Lodging Guide - This complete guide to all of Yellowstone National Park's Lodges and cabins
• Ultimate Yellowstone Camping Guide - This complete guide to camping in Yellowstone includes all front country campgrounds

Yellowstone Geyser Basin Areas 

• Upper Geyser Basin, including Biscuit Basin, Black Sand Basin, and Old Faithful Geyser.
• Midway Geyser Basin, including Grand Prismatic Spring and Firehole Lake Drive.
• Lower Geyser Basin, including Fountain Paint Pot Trail and  Firehole Canyon Drive
• Norris Geyser Basin-This basin is known for having some of the hottest water and springs in the park. It is actually two basins: Porcelain Basin and Black Basin, with famous geysers, including Ledge Geyser, Cistern Geyser, and Steamboat Geyser.
• West Thumb Geyser Basin - Beautiful boardwalk trail with hydrothermal features right next to Lake Yellowstone!
• Mud Volcano - The Mud Volcano area is Located south of Canyon Village and North of Lake Yellowstone. It has several hydrothermal features, including a mud volcano and Dragon's Mouth Spring.

Additional Montana National Parks 

• Complete Guide to Grand Teton National Park - Your complete guide to go explore Grand Teton National Park before or after you visit Yellowstone!
• Epic Guide to Glacier National Park - Complete guide to exploring Glacier National Park
• Little Bighorn Battlefield - Also known as Custer's Last Stand, a place where the Plains Tribes fought their last major battle and won.
• Big Hole National Battlefield - site of the pivotal battle in the Nez Perce War of 1877 between Colonel Gibbon's troops and five bands of the Nez Perce Indians led by the famous Native American Leader, Cheif Joseph.
• Grant Kohr's Ranch National Historic Site - See what ranch life was like in the 1800s in Montana

Check out all of the Montana National Parks along with neighboring National Parks in Wyoming, National Parks in South Dakota, North Dakota National Parks, and Idaho National Parks.

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