Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
loop, totaling about 1.3 miles (2 km), start near Old Faithful Geyser as below, but return from
near North Goggles Geyser (the area labeled
(C)
on the map and described on
pages 97-99
)
.
Starting from the visitor center, circle partway around Old Faithful Geyser, keeping the
geyser on your left. There may be bison or elk around the area; allow them plenty of space.
Marmots once lived under the old redwood boardwalks here. When the higher recycled
plastic boardwalks were put in during 1997-98, coyotes, foxes, and the increased heat prob-
ably chased them away.
As you walk toward the Firehole River, notice that Old Faithful and two or three other
small features are on a huge mound some 200 feet (60 m) across and 12 to 15 feet (3.6-4.6 m)
high. One or more hot springs must have been overflowing and depositing geyserite here for
centuries to build such a mound. Yet one study hints that Old Faithful was probably born as a
geyser not more than seven hundred years ago.
The trail to Geyser Hill starts down the hill to the right across the Firehole River foot-
bridge.
