At almost 250 by 350 feet (76m x 106m), the Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States (and the third largest in the world). Located in the Midway Geyser Basin, it’s the biggest and brightest of the many colored pools in Yellowstone National Park.
It’s bright blue, but changes color through the year. The colors are a result of microbes in the water and they change depending on the temperature of the water. In summer the edges are more orange and in winter they are usually dark green.
No matter what time of year you go, it’s stunning.
Watch this guide to Grand Prismatic Spring on video:
🔔 You can also watch this video on YouTube directly (opens in new tab).
🎙️ Or listen as a podcast:
🛏️TOP HOTEL PICK IN WEST YELLOWSTONE: Check availability now
🚘FIND THE CHEAPEST CAR RENTAL: Search Discover Cars for the best deals
✈️FIND THE CHEAPEST FLIGHTS: Search Skyscanner for the best deals
🧳GET TRAVEL INSURANCE: Get insured with Travelex before you go
📱TAKE AN AUDIO TOUR: Buy an audio tour now
Table of Contents
The Best View of Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY
There are so many great hikes in American national parks, but there is no park quite like Yellowstone. Full of incredible geothermal phenomena like geysers, colored pools and bubbling mud pots; home to herds of bison and wolves; and the site of some of the most incredible waterfalls in the United States, this park has a lot to offer.
The biggest and most colorful hot spring is Grand Prismatic Spring and it is absolutely not to be missed.
Subscribe to daily national parks planning tips, travel inspiration and trip ideas and get instant access to the free PDF of this
Guide the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail
There are two ways for you to experience the Grand Prismatic Spring.
1. The Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk goes around the edges of the giant hot spring, giving you a close up look.
➡️ See my guide How to See Grand Prismatic Spring for more details about the boardwalk.
2. The Giant Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail gives you an ‘aerial’ view. This is the classic view that you see in photos.
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail
The trail was only opened in 2018. Prior to that, people scrambled up the hill to get an ‘aerial’ view of the spring. Obviously, that was not great, so we are lucky this trail exists!
The Start of the trail
For most of the trail it is the same trail as the Fairy Falls Trail. Start along the wide, flat trail from the parking lot. The Grand Prismatic Spring is off in the distance to your right (you can’t see it from here though).
After about 0.5 miles/ 800m, you will see a sign indicating the Overlook Trail. It is easy to see – plus most people will be going/ coming that way.
Take the turn off to the left. This is the actual overlook trail. It soon starts to climb. I saw a fox right here along the trail – it got incredibly close, which was very cool.
The trail starts with a gradual climb, but then does get steep in parts. The climb is short, but can be slippery, so it’s better to wear proper hiking shoes.
The best view of Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Before long, you will come to the viewing platform. There are incredible views of the Grand Prismatic spring from there. It’s often pretty crowded, but when I was there, people were pretty good about taking turns to take photos and have their photos taken.
Returning/ Continuing on to Fairy Falls
To return, you have two options. You can go back the way you came to the parking lot, which is what most people do. However, you can also continue on to Fairy Falls (if you took my advice, you would actually do this whole thing in reverse and go to Fairy falls first, but let’s assume you went to the Overlook first).
If you are going straight back to the parking area, turn left. If you decide to continue on to Fairy falls, turn right. The overlook Trail is actually a side trail loop from the main Fairy Falls Trail, so rather than backtrack, you can continue in the same direction and will take you down a short switchback back to the main trail, but further along.
When you reach the flat Fairy Falls Trail again, turn left and continue along. Less than half a mile along, there is a sign to Fairy Falls. Follow the sign to turn left. It’s another 1.6 miles to the falls. The trail stays flat, but goes through some lodgepole forest.
At 197 feet/ 60m, Fairy Falls are some of the tallest waterfalls in Yellowstone and make a lovely spot for lunch.
You can continue another 0.75 miles/ 1.2 km to Imperial Geyser.
The Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail Map
Check this Yellowstone Grand Prismatic Spring map for trail details and to see how to get to Grand Prismatic Spring.
The Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail Overview
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail Details
Trail length: 0.6 miles/ 1 km each way (1.2 miles/ 2km roundtrip) out-and-back trail. The Fairy Falls Trail is 2.5 miles/ 4km each way (5 miles/ 8km round trip)
Duration: It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the overlook, then another 20 minutes to return, plus time at the lookout. If you decide to continue on to Fairy Falls, the Fairy Falls Trail takes about2.5-3 hours.
Elevation Change: 105 feet/ 32m
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
When is the trail open?
The trail is in a Bear Management Area and is closed March – Memorial Day. The park’s Grand Loop Road is actually closed for the winter early November through to May. So, the trail is generally open late May to early November, though this can vary from year to year depending on the snow. If you are planning to go in late spring or fall, check the park’s website for road closures.
Where is the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone?
The Grand Prismatic Spring location is in the Midway Geyser Basin in the western part of the northern loop.
It’s sometimes called the Grand Prismatic Geyser or the Grand Prismatic Pool, Yellowstone or even Grand Prismatic Lake, Yellowstone Park, but it is actually a hot spring.
Where is Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook trailhead?
The Grand Prismatic Spring trail head is the same as the Fairy Falls Trailhead. It’s about a mile (1.6 km) south of Midway Geyser Basin parking area.
Parking for the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail
Parking is at the Fairy Falls Parking Lot, NOT the Grand Prismatic Springs/ Midway Geyser Basin parking lot (that is for the boardwalk, a mile away; there is no trail from the Grand Prismatic Springs parking area to the Overlook trail).
The Fairy Falls parking lot is larger, but this trail is very popular and it gets full. You can check the park’s website for current parking conditions, but I recommend taking your chances – keep driving around until you see someone heading to their car and follow them!
Note that RVs, buses and trailers aren’t allowed to park in this parking area.
When is the best time to hike the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook trail?
It may be tempting to go early to beat the crowds, but this is one place that doesn’t pay off. The thermal pools in Yellowstone – and the Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone is no exception – are typically shrouded in mist in the morning. The most usually doesn’t burn off until around noon.
So, you should time your visit for the afternoon. This is true of all of the colored pools. It would be disappointing to go all that way and not see the colors in all their splendor.
For the best experience, visit after midday, once the mist burns off. Yes, it will be crowded, but it is worth it to see these colors.
The Great Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail is actually part of the Fairy Falls Trail, so if you want to hike to the falls, a good option would be to hike straight to the falls in the morning, then go to the overlook n the way back, around noon. That way you avoid the worst of the parking crunch, see the falls and see the spring without the mist.
Learning all about the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail is a great thing to do, because it will make the hike easier and much more enjoyable.
However, it’s just one of the many amazing hikes in Yellowstone National Park. And it can be really difficult to know what they all are and how to put them all together for your trip.
As you can see, there’s a lot to know about this one hike alone. It’s even harder to coordinate all the other hikes you want to do and all the other things to see and do in Yellowstone into an itinerary that actually makes sense – so you’re doing the hikes and activities you want to do and seeing all the views you want to at the right time of day, joining them all together in a logical order, and managing all the logistics that makes them happen.
To help take away the overwhelm of planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park, I’ve created several super detailed itineraries.
There are 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4- day options for Yellowstone National Park: all with detailed hour-by-hour schedules, including alternatives for different activity and fitness levels, plus trail maps and descriptions, driving instructions, important information, essential tips, and everything else you need to make the most of your time in Yellowstone National Park.
The itineraries will help you make the most of the time you have available. The Grand Prismatic Spring is included in all the itineraries. And there are also built in options for different lengths since there are several possible turning abck points. As well as options for people you’re traveling with who prefer not to hike.
What to take on the Grand Prismatic Spring hike?
The Yellowstone Grand Prismatic Spring hike is short and easy, so you don’t need any special hiking gear (hiking sandals, walking sandals or hiking shoes are all fine). However, there is little shade and this is bear country, so I recommend:
Sunscreen
Water
I love the Que bottles – they collapse down when empty and expand to a greater size when they’re full.
➡️ Check prices on Amazon here
A sun hat
I don’t love hats, to be honest, but always wear a sun hat when hiking (my slightly thinning hair may have something to do with it, but you should wear one anyway!) I wear this one from Amazon
Bear spray
This is bear country and it is always best to be prepared, just in case. You can choose either bear spray (get some here) or a bear bell
Binoculars or Spotting Scope
You won’t need them to see the stunning view of the springs, but it is cool to see the boardwalk up close as well as where the hot springs meet the river and even some wildlife, for which you will need binoculars.
➡️ The best binoculars for the money/ best binoculars under $300 are the Vortex Optics Diamondback 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars (check them out on Amazon).
➡️ For cheaper options, read my detailed guides to buying the best binoculars under $200 and the best binoculars under $100.
For even better visuals, invest in a spotting scope.
➡️ Read my Guide to the Best Spotting Scopes for Wildlife Viewing for more details.
Additional hiking resources
When hiking in Yellowstone, check out these useful resources:
🥾 Hiking Guide for Beginners
🥾 How to Read Hiking Trail Markers
🥾 Hiking Etiquette
🥾 How to Choose Hiking Trails
🥾 Day Hike Packing List
🥾 Best Hiking Gear for Beginners
The Verdict: Grand Prismatic Spring Hot Springs Overlook
This trail provides a much better view of the Grand Prismatic Spring than the boardwalk – if you are short for time and have to choose between the two, you should absolutely choose the overlook.
You will probably have a chance to get close to other colored springs, so it wouldn’t be too terrible to skip the boardwalk IF you are short on time, but it would be a real shame to miss the view from the overlook.
Travel Insurance
You should always travel with travel insurance. If in doubt, read my Guide to Travel Insurance for the full low down.
➡️ A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
Happy hiking!
More Planning Resources for Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Yellowstone National Park Guide
⭐ Yellowstone Itineraries
⭐ 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ How Many Days in Yellowstone National Park?
⭐ Guide To Camping In Yellowstone National Park
⭐ How to Visit Yellowstone in Winter
⭐ Best Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park
⭐ The Best Yellowstone Scenic Drives
⭐ Lamar Valley Scenic Drive
⭐ Best Waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Tips For Visiting Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Visiting Yellowstone Throughout the Year
⭐ How To Get To Yellowstone National Park
⭐ All The Airports Near Yellowstone National Park
⭐ The Closest Airport to Yellowstone National Park
⭐ 10 Fun Facts about Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Best Books about Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Vacation Rentals Near Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Yellowstone Packing List
➡️ If you’re in the middle of planning a trip to Yellowstone, there is an easier way. I’ve created extremely detailed 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-day itineraries for Yellowstone (and 1-3-day itineraries for Grand Teton National park. They take all the stress out of planning your trip and give you a detailed (and flexible) plan to follow for your trip. ➡️ Check them out here.
➡️ If you’re also planning to visit the Grand Tetons, read my Guide to Grand Teton National Park and get a detailed Grand Teton itinerary.
Do you have any favorite hikes in Yellowstone? I’d love to hear about them. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know.
Subscribe to daily national parks planning tips, travel inspiration and trip ideas and get instant access to the free PDF of this
Guide the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail
If you liked this article, Pin it to your Yellowstone National Park board!
💡 Are you just starting to think about taking a national parks trip? Get Inspiration
‼️ Are you looking for helpful tips for visiting US national parks? Read articles that share useful tips on a range of national-park related issues
💻 Are you starting to plan a trip to Yellowstone National Park? Read my Guide to Yellowstone National Park
📋 Do you want a ready-made super detailed plan for your trip to Yellowstone? Get a detailed 1 – 4-day Yellowstone National Park Itinerary
🛏️ Are you looking for a place to stay in or near Yellowstone National Park? Find a vacation rental near Yellowstone National Park or ⛺ Find a campground inside Yellowstone National Park
💲 Are you ready to book your trip? Use these Planning and Booking Resources
📖 Do you want to read a book about Yellowstone National Park? Check out my Recommended Reading List for Yellowstone National Park
About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
I’m a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.