If you are visiting Yellowstone soon, I’m sure Old Faithful is at the top of your list of things to see.
Old Faithful is the most famous geyser in Yellowstone and it’s a very popular attraction.
Though it’s not the tallest geyser in the park (steamboat geyser is), it’s the most reliable one and for this reason, it’s a great place to visit.
Old Faithful erupts every 90 minutes (more or less) for 1 to 5 minutes and goes as high as 106–184 feet (30–55 m).
It’s pretty much the only geyser in the park that you can be sure you’ll see erupting, provided you are there at the right time.
Now, as I said, this is a busy area of the park so there are some things to know before you head there.
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1. Don’t plan your visit around the predicted eruption time
This one might surprise you because the only thing everyone talks about when it comes to Old Faithful is the predicted time of eruption but I actually don’t believe that you should plan your trip around that.
This is only going to stress you and make you waste time.
Old Faithful erupts every 90 minutes which means that at worst, you’ll wait 90 minutes.
Now, there is actually no reason to wait that much because in the same area you’ll find the visitor center which has fantastic exhibitions, restaurants but also the upper geyser basin.
If you get there over 1 hour before the eruption, you can go around the upper geyser basin and make your way back on time for the eruption.
If you have around 30 minutes, you can go on geyser hill and discover the geysers there before walking back or even go all the way to Observation Hill which is a great view point over Old Faithful.
So, no need to stress about the time, no matter what you’ll see Old Faithful erupting!
2. Get there early
While it’s not necessary to perfectly time your visit with the predicted time, it’s worth getting there early.
Old Faithful is the busiest part of the park and although the car park is very large, it still gets very crowded.
If you get there early, you’ll be able to park closer to the boardwalk or visitor center.
You will also enjoy the eruption and the walk with less people around.
This also means you’ll have more chances of getting a seat if you want one.
3. Stay upwind
The water goes quite high and the wind makes it travel quite a bit. When you get there, try to see which way the wind is blowing so you can stand upwind and actually get to see the eruption.
If you are standing or sitting downwind, you might not be able to see anything because of the water and steam blowing your way.
4. Consider going to Observation Point
Observation Point is a viewing point located on geyser hill. It takes about 30 minutes on foot to get there and it’s a great place to watch the eruption.
You will be higher up which means it’s a lot more scenic. Also, a lot less people go all the way up there so it’s a great spot to avoid the crowds.
The only downside to it is that since you’re higher up, you might not quite realise how high the water is actually going.
5. Consider watching the eruption from the Old Faithful Inn
The Old Faithful Inn is an historic lodge in Yellowstone National Park and it’s worth going inside just to have a look. It’s beautiful!
But they also have a foyer area that boasts fantastic views of Old Faithful so if you want to see the eruption in style, consider going there instead of the boardwalk.
6. Explore the Upper Geyser Basin
While Old Faithful might be the star of the show, the rest of the upper geyser basin is definitely something you should see.
It’s home to over 150 hydrothermal features including many other geysers.
Some of these geysers like Grand or Castle are actually more impressive than Old Faithful but they don’t erupt as often and the predicted time is not as accurate so there is part of luck involved here.
If you get to see them all (which is possible, I saw them all in the same visit), it will for sure be one of the highlights of your visit.
7. Go to the Morning Glory Pool
From the upper geyser basin boardwalk, you can keep walking and reach the morning glory pool.
If you have time, I highly recommend you go because it’s one of the most colorful hot springs in Yellowstone.
It was named after the flower of the same name and it’s so pretty.
8. Wear a hat and put sunscreen on (in summer)
There is no shade at all in the upper geyser basin so if you are visiting in summer, even in the morning, I highly recommend wearing a hat and put sunscreen on to avoid bad surprises in the evening.
That having been said, bear in mind it can be a bit windy so make sure your hat is secure.
If it flies off, you won’t be able to get it back since you’re not allowed to step out of the boardwalk.
9. Wear walking shoes
The walk around the upper geyser basin is a boardwalk so it’s not particularly strenuous but it is a bit long (3.5 miles).
You will be spending a couple of hours walking around so I recommend wearing good shoes.
They don’t have to be hiking boots but trainers would be preferable. I would avoid sandals and heels.
10. Ask the rangers for interesting facts
The park rangers are everywhere in this area of the park. You can find them in the visitor centre but also in various places on the boardwalk.
They walk around and give you information so if you have any questions, feel free to ask them. They are a wealth of knowledge.
If you don’t have any specific questions, I would recommend asking them if they have any interesting facts to share. They sure will and it’s a great way to learn new things.
11. Stay on the boardwalk
The upper geyser basin is the most densely concentrated geyser region in the world.
With over 150 hydrothermal features in less than a square mile, there truly is something everywhere!
The boardwalk was built to keep visitors safe and protect the environment.
It’s very important you stay on the boardwalk as it would be extremely dangerous to step on the ground.
As a matter of fact, when you look at some of the pools there, you might notice there are bones inside.
These are usually baby bison bones. That gives you an idea of what could happen so please, stick to the boardwalk.
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