Short On Time? Here Are Your Top 3 Must Sees On A Quick Trip to Yellowstone

Staying in Jackson Hole provides easy access to the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park. In less than 90 minutes, you can be inside the Park. If you only have time for a quick trip to Yellowstone, here are the top 3 must-see sights from the south entrance.

Old Faithful

It’s definitely the most well-known part of Yellowstone and for good reason. This impressive geyser erupts with an average interval between eruptions of about 91 minutes, varying from 65 – 92 minutes. An eruption lasts 1 1/2 to 5 minutes, expels 3,700 – 8,400 gallons of boiling water, and reaches heights of 106 – 184 feet. To plan your stop for the next eruption, follow the National Park Service Twitter feed. While you wait, you can spend time walking along the boardwalk and checking out the Visitor Education Center and the 1904 Old Faithful Inn.

Fountain Paint Pot Trail

Yellowstone has many different thermal features. A short drive north of Old Faithful is the Fountain Paint Pot Trail. This area mainly has the bubbling, gurgling mud pots that are a stark contrast to the high shooting geysers. In the summer and fall, the Paint Pot area will be thick mud and have a pink tint to the clay. A short ½ mile boardwalk will provide you a closer look. 

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Head back east from Old Faithful to the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. The Lake was formed by a large volcanic explosion that occurred approximately 150,000 years ago. The resulting collapsed volcano later filled with water forming an extension of Yellowstone Lake. Along the shores, you can see the Geyser Basin with hot springs steaming with beautiful color. Take time to find the Abyss Pool, with its seemingly bottomless emerald blue hue. 

You might only have time for a quick trip to Yellowstone, but these three stops will provide a memorable trip!