The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire burned over most of this area, but the crown fire sections are small and the understory is making a rapid comeback. They will only be seen at the last moment because they are located in a small rocky recess. This is huge brilliantly colored pool. Simple things like packing out your trash, obeying national park rules, and respecting the peace and quiet of our national park trails is a great start. A 0.8 mile boardwalk weaves its way around all of these hot springs. Most of these tactics aim to avoid making a bear react defensively. Continue straight to retrace your steps back to the parking lot. In the background, on the hillside, you can see people at the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook. The extension, which was under construction at the end of October 2017, is located on the left side of the access road to the car park. Time it right and catch the sunset from Lemmon’s Viewpoint on the way back. Spray geyser is located just behind the river and fills it with warm water. Take the trail to the left. This hike can take about 2-3 hours. With the privilege of hiking through their habitat comes great responsibility to uphold respect and safety. All of the following practices are necessary if you are sleeping outside in bear country. If you can handle 1.6 more miles, add variety to your Fairy Falls day hike by making it a loop past a backcountry geyser basin and several small lakes. Suitable for all ability levels, a day hike on the Fairy Falls trail rewards hikers with views of diverse thermal features and one of Yellowstone’s more beautiful backcountry waterfalls. We promised to follow the Sentinel Meadows trail and the northern option of the Fairy Falls trail during our next visit! At this point, you will have to look for the small path on the right. Even what appears to be solid ground in a thermal basin can give way to scalding water below. These are best practices to lower the risks of an aggressive bear encounter. Further in the background, you’ll see Spray Geyser gushing as always. When passing through the forest, we tend to find the time a bit long because the undergrowth part is not very interesting. The trail, which at this point is called the Fairy Falls Trail, starts off wide and relatively flat. The Fairy Falls which are impressive in their height. They are even more enjoyable, because there are no parking lots, boardwalks, or crowds. The view on the walk back to the Fairy Falls parking lot. To your right you will be able to see the Grand Prismatic Spring. To see the spring from the overlook, you will have to drive and park at a different lot than the one for Midway Geyser Basin. When the air temperature is cooler (when there is a big difference between the water temperature of the spring and the air temperature), you will see more mist on the  spring. Fairy Falls is one of Yellowstone’s tallest waterfalls. Distance: 5.4 miles round trip The first section of the Fairy Falls trail in fir trees is long and monotonous. Julie Last updated: October 31, 2020 United States 2 Comments. Might as well say it's in great shape! The Grand Prismatic Spring is Yellowstone’s most colorful hot spring. Constructed in 1881, this is the only building still standing from the era of Superintendent Norris, before the U.S. Army took charge of the park in 1886. Normally, I would recommend waiting for a space in the parking lot, but if everyone did this, it would create stand-still traffic on the park road. This cliff side is the edge of the Madison Plateau, which is what Fairy Creek falls over to form your destination. José Aartse, No, there shouldn’t be a mist then. The magnificent Imperial Geyser and the whole area around the smoking river. This is a bear management area, so be alert for bear. To add another highlight, our route offers a chance to stop at the Grand Prismatic Overlook. The falls plunge off a plateau into a shallow, shaded pool of very cold water. Follow the short bridge with a few trunks, which will allow you to cross the small river escaping from the Fairy Falls. Quick Overview of the Grand Prismatic Spring, Grand Prismatic Spring + the Hike to Fairy Falls. If in doubt, head towards the noise generated by the small river. It rivals the color scheme of Morning Glory Pool, but this hot spring is free of boardwalks and crowds. The Grand Prismatic Spring has a different appearance in the summer and winter. In this article, learn how to visit the Grand Prismatic Spring and how to combine the hike to Fairy Falls with the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook. A bear will feel threatened if we surprise it, approach its cubs, or encroach on its food source. 6 Best Geyser Basins to Visit in Yellowstone, 18 Best Things to do in Yellowstone National Park, How to Spend One Perfect Day in Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 5 Days in Yellowstone, The Perfect Yellowstone Day Trip from Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone’s Old Faithful: 10 Tips to Have the Best Experience, Where to Stay in Yellowstone: Best Hotels and Locations, Grand Teton, Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary, Angels Landing Survival Guide: Things to Know Before You Go, 15 Great Hikes to do in Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Canyon Road Trip: 5 Itineraries from Las Vegas, 15 Things to do in Las Vegas with Teenagers, The Ultimate Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Best Things to do in Grand Teton National Park, 6 Best Geyser Basins in Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Itinerary: Best Way to Spend 1 to 5 Days in Yellowstone. Listen and you'll hear a distant rustle. It is now time to walk 2.4 km to reach the Fairy Falls, the first objective of this hike. This may sound surprising, but the Fairy Falls trail does not start directly from the parking lot of the same name. The trail for the overlook breaks off from the Fairy Falls Trail 0.6 miles from the parking lot. We start by crossing the bridge over the Firehole River. Be careful because it is not marked! It's the Fairy Falls trail to Imperial and Spray geysers. After 300 meters, we finally reach the ultimate goal of this hike, his Majesty Imperial Geyser! This hike starts off with a visit to the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook. The path goes very close and allows us to admire it from every perspective. Yellowstone is black and grizzly bear country. Click here for directions. This hike can take 3-5 hours. If you look at his position, you will quickly understand that it alone feeds the river. For more information on Yellowstone’s permit system, click here. In other words, the volume of water it expels is really impressive!