Black Sand Basin
Black Sand Basin
4.5
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8 within 3 miles
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31 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
186 reviews
Excellent
113
Very good
62
Average
11
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Empty Nesters
Louisville, KY382 contributions
Jun 2020
We spent the morning "freezing" waiting for Old Faithful to erupt. It was so cold, we almost didn't want to keep going, but we stopped at the black sand basin and was blown away. This are his so beautiful and unique (and for some reason about 10 degrees warmer than Old Faithful). We loved walking around and seeing all the features in this area. It reenergized us and kept us excited for the rest of the day.
Written July 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
limey52
Montello, WI1,119 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
This colorful area is located in the Upper Geyser Basin about ½ miles from Old Faithful. The trail is easy & fully accessible. It was named for the black obsidian sand which cover parts of this basin. We visited early in the morning. There was lots of steam, so I had to protect my camera from the moisture. You will see many colors in this basin. It is one of the smaller basin areas – the trail is about ¼ mile long.
The Emerald Pool was very beautiful. The Cliff Geyser goes off quite often. Sunset Lake is shallow lake that discharges into Iron Creek, just like Cliff Geyser.
If you visit early in the day you will find plenty of parking. Be mindful of wild animals, and do not stray off the path. These thermal areas are very hot!
The Emerald Pool was very beautiful. The Cliff Geyser goes off quite often. Sunset Lake is shallow lake that discharges into Iron Creek, just like Cliff Geyser.
If you visit early in the day you will find plenty of parking. Be mindful of wild animals, and do not stray off the path. These thermal areas are very hot!
Written December 9, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Denice S
DeWitt, MI1,540 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
Located a short distance from the Old Faithful area, Black Sand Geyser Basin is a smaller basin that can be easily walked in a short period of time. Cliff Geyser is very active and we saw it go off a couple of times during our stroll around the boardwalk. Green Spring is pretty with its lacey-looking edge. The boardwalk crosses Iron Spring Creek. We continue walking around the geyser basin passed Emerald Pool which is edged in orange-colored algae. True to its name, Rainbow Pool has a faint partial rainbow shining in its steamy mist. During an early evening visit, Sunset Lake had moonlight reflecting in its steamy water. We have seen wildlife passing through this basin too.
Written October 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shelly4524
18 contributions
Sep 2014 • Couples
The closest "basin area" to Old Faithful along your drive on the main road. Particularly beautiful collection of geysers and boiling hot spring basins. Smaller ones of each, but strikingly beautiful...and because they're small, you can get really good looks at them.
Written September 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
backstock
Savannah, GA239 contributions
Jul 2014
This spot has some interesting colors. A blue sky day is best. Nice bridge and river flowing through-we witnessed an osprey swoop down to the river, grab a fish and fly right in front of us with it clutched in its talons-quite a sight. This boarded trail is easy and does not take long.
Written August 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jbg74
Saint Paul, MN1,163 contributions
May 2018 • Family
There are some cool looking hot springs and geysers here. This doesn't make my top list of geothermal features but if you have time it is well worth a stop. My top four geothermal sites in Yellowstone are the Grand Prismatic Spring, the Firehole River trail (from Old Faithful to Grand Geyser), Mammoth Hot Springs, and Fountain Paint Pot. If you are only going to stop at some of the geothermal sites then these are the must stop places.
Written May 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IheartZephyr
Fresno, CA238 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
Black Sand Basin is an isolated group of the Upper Geyser Basin. Black Sand Basin contains a small collection of jewel-like geysers, and colorful hot springs. Emerald Pool is the most colorful and famous of these springs. It is a deep emerald green fringed by an outer ring of yellow and orange. It is a must visit place for photographers. Another colorful pool is Opalescent Pool. There is an unusual geyser formed on the bank of Iron Creek,Cliff Geyser. Cliff Geyser formed a rim or wall-like ridge of sinter around its crater from which it erupts 30 to 40 feet high. It erupts quite frequently and we had never missed its eruption during our three visits to the park.
On our 2016 visit, we were lucky enough to observe the eruption of a small geyser that hasn't had a name yet at Black Sand Basin because it has been inactive for a very long time.
Yellowstone's geysers had treated us very well on our 2016 trip Our eyes and mind were well entertained. We can't resist to come back to the park time and time again.
On our 2016 visit, we were lucky enough to observe the eruption of a small geyser that hasn't had a name yet at Black Sand Basin because it has been inactive for a very long time.
Yellowstone's geysers had treated us very well on our 2016 trip Our eyes and mind were well entertained. We can't resist to come back to the park time and time again.
Written March 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica H
Snohomish21 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
I didnt plan to visit this one, because it wasnt so high on the list of attractions but every where we stopped was amazing, I just loved everything.
Written August 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Minnesota Traveler
Chanhassen, MN1,819 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Black Sand is just north of old faithful and offers up easy parking and hiking. There are 3-4 cool springs to check out.
Written February 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
parksvisitor
Maple Grove, MN1,469 contributions
Sep 2020
You get similar colors at Rainbow Pool/Sunset Lake as you do at Grand Prismatic Spring on a smaller scale and without the crowds. This is definitely a stop that you need to make and it is a quick walk to see the sights.
Written November 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
is anyone know if we can walk from Daisy geyser to the black sand basin? thanks
Written July 7, 2018
is there a trail that can walk from Daisy Geyser to the black sand basin? thanks
Written July 6, 2018
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