NORTHWESTERN SECTION - Yellowstone Treasures - page 39

From Madison Junction to Old Faithful Village
This section of the Grand Loop Road leads south to Upper Geyser Basin at Old Faithful Vil-
lage, 17 miles (27 km) away. There are three side roads of interest. Firehole Canyon Drive
closely parallels the canyon of the Firehole River and runs one way north to south. A few miles
farther south, Fountain Flats Drive takes you to a walking or bicycle trail. The third side road
is the Firehole Lake Drive—a one-way road (south to north) where you might catch an erup-
tion of Great Fountain or White Dome Geysers or stroll around steaming Firehole Lake.
On the main road you'll find numerous turnouts for access to the Firehole River. Before
you reach Old Faithful, you'll pass four thermal areas: the Fountain Paint Pot area and the
geyser basins called Midway, Biscuit, and Black Sand.
Road Log
NOTE: Mileage in this road log goes to and from the Old Faithful Visitor Center.
0.0/17.0 Madison Junction intersects with the Grand Loop Road, the figure eight road that
has taken visitors to the major features of the park for over one hundred years. Norris Junction
and Norris Geyser Basin are to the northeast; Old Faithful Village is to the south.
0.1/16.9 Madison picnic area and information station/ bookstore.
Drinking water and flush toilets are available here, unlike at most picnic areas.
The information station has a park ranger on duty, small exhibits, a Yellowstone Associ-
ation bookstore, and current geyser predictions for Upper Geyser Basin. For Old Faithful pre-
dictions you can call [phone] on some cell phones. This is also headquarters for the
free Junior Ranger Program.
his building, designed by architect Herbert Maier, was opened in 1929 as a museum of his-
tory and is one of the six National Historic Landmarks in Yellowstone. Just behind it are the
amphitheater for evening lectures and a path to the Madison Campground. Attractive plaques
relate the long-accepted story of Yellowstone as the first national park and tell about Stephen
Mather, the first NPS director.