Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
—With contributions by Timothy McDermott
Continuing on the Grand Loop Road 10.6/6.4
Across the Firehole River from the
road is
Flood Geyser;
other geysers of lesser interest line both river-banks. Flood was recently
erupting up to 10 feet (3 m) every 30 to 40 minutes, but it has been known to have major
eruptions up to 25 feet (7.6 m). The big meander in the river is called Muleshoe Bend by fish-
ermen, who have caught many big trout here.
11.2/5.8
Rabbit Creek crossing. Near the headwaters and elsewhere along this creek is a
thermal area with paint pots and hot springs. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous area due both
to downed trees and the risk of breaking through the fragile thermal crust into the very hot
water below. Visit only in the company of a park ranger or other person knowledgeable about
this thermal area.
Before 1970, bears were everywhere along the roads. A garbage dump near here was fre-
quented by grizzly bears. Nearby Grizzly Pool is a spot where the bears sometimes bathed.
11.3/5.7
To the northwest a short road takes you to a large parking area for
Fairy Falls
Trailhead.
The entire 5-mile stretch of the former Fountain Freight Road, beginning at the
1903-vintage steel bridge, is open to mountain bikes. To approach by car from the other end,
turn off the Grand Loop Road at the “Fountain Flat Drive” sign at mile 5.
6/1
1.4 instead.
There are several small geysers and hot springs near the river (and even in the parking lot).
To the north is a spring with a 75-foot-wide (23 m) crater, named
Tire Pool
when two auto
tires were removed from it. South of the parking lot and closer to the river is
Egeria Spring,
a
name that comes from a water nymph in Roman mythology.
To reach graceful 197-foot (60 m)
Fairy Falls
on Fairy Creek, it's a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) hike
along the former road and then west on a level trail. The walk to Fairy Falls is one of the rel-
atively few park experiences that were somewhat spoiled by the 1988 fires, but the falls itself
is now easier to see and quite spectacular.
Imperial
and
Spray Geysers
and some fascinating
mud pots are about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) farther along the same trail, at the foot of the Twin
Buttes.
On the Grand Loop Road opposite this side road and partially concealed up the small hill
is
Till Geyser,
named for the loose sand and gravel left by glaciers. It erupts as high as 20 feet
(6 m) from several vents about every 10 to 11 hours.
