Walk Yellowstone's Artemisia Trail, Upper Geyser Basin (snow)

#Artemisiatrail #yellowstonehikes #uppergeyser
This trailhead is located across from the Biscuit Basin parking lot.
This recording is suitable for treadmill use only if you don't mind a few short scenic stops.
As with all of our recorded hikes, you can adjust the pace of the hike by clicking on the gear box in the lower right corner of the viewing screen on YouTube.
Assuming Biscuit Basin will be re-opened in Spring 2024, you can park your vehicle in the Biscuit Basin parking lot and walk to the trailhead directly across from the lot. One nice advantage to starting this trail at this point is that you can avoid most of the Old Faithful crowds while enjoying the hike and views of amazing geothermal features, including the beautiful Morning Glory Pool. The Artemisia trail (entirely dirt trail) ends where the paved (wheelchair accessible) Morning Glory Trail ends. (That trail originates at Old Faithful coming from the other direction). The two trails meet in the middle, connecting the two geyser trails within the Upper Geyser Basin. If you'd like, you can continue down to Old Faithful seeing many other geothermal features along the way, or turn around and head back to the Biscuit Basin parking lot. Note that through the day of winter closing on Oct 31, Biscuit Basin parking lot was closed because of a thermal explosion that took place there back on July 23, 2024. This video was recorded October 30, 2024. It will most likely be reopened in spring of 2025. Either way, there is some space to park just a hundred yards south across the Firehole river bridge.One final note, that if you chose to hike the entire distance from the Artemisia trailhead to Old Faithful, the distance is slightly over two miles, and is almost entirely flat (very minor slopes). Only the portion from Morning Glory to Old Faithful is paved and wheelchair accessible, whereas you should park at Old Faithful for that option.

Along Artemisia trail, which is mostly flat, you will pass Mirror Pool (a large and steaming hot spring) and Gem Pool (as well as other unnamed and smaller geothermal features) before reaching Artemisia Geyser at about the .5-mile mark. Artemisia Geyser’s pool is a beautiful blue color and when it erupts, which is unpredictable and only once or twice every 24 hours, the fountain peak reaches 30 feet, with the eruptions lasting approximately 20 minutes. It did not erupt during this hike. The only real indicator of an impending eruption is a sudden and dramatic increase in overflow from the pool. As you continue along the path you can see two geyserite cones collectively known as Atomizer Geyser. Another half-mile past Artemisia Geyser you arrive at Morning Glory Pool - a rewarding experience if you love color and contrast. Named because of its resemblance to the morning glory flower, this beautiful hot spring unfortunately is not as beautiful as it once was. Over the years, visitors have thrown various objects into the spring, clogging the vent, and leading to a reduction in the pools temperature and consequently a lessening of the pools vibrant colors and an encroachment of the yellow bacteria and algae into the blue center. To everyone’s pleasure and gratitude, a restroom awaits you at the end of the trail near Morning Glory Pool.
About the Biscuit Basin Explosion:
   • Biscuit Basin Explosion  
   • Biscuit Basin Explosion