Outbound Collective logo

Hike to Lone Star Geyser

44.444708,-110.804603

4.5/5
based on 2 reviews

Details

Distance

5 miles

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Trent Sizemore

The hike to Lone Star Geyser is a 5 mile out-and-back trail. This geyser erupts every 3 hours so plan accordingly.

Lone Star Geyser gets its name from being one the most isolated major geysers. The trailhead begins just south of Old Faithful, along the Loop Road. This trail follows the Firehole River for 2.5 miles along an old service road, through a mix of wooded areas and open meadows. Wildlife spotting is possible along the river so keep an eye out.

Near the end of the trail, you'll find the familiar smell of a geyser basin, and the trees start thinning out. You'll come to a large clearing, which is the Lone Star Geyser Basin. You can't miss the main attraction, which is a large cone shaped geyser.

Once you arrive, you may be relaxing for a while waiting on the geyser to start. It usually shows some little signs of activity, before going all out.

Lone Star Geyser erupts approximately every three hours, lasting for 30 minutes. The water from the geyser can reach up to 40 feet high. There is a log book in a cache nearby to log eruptions and times. This is a must see if you have extra time after visiting the Upper Geyser Basin and Old Faithful.

Read More

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app
Download GPX File

Features

Chillin
Photography
Hiking
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Hot Springs
River
Scenic
Wildflowers
Wildlife

Hike to Lone Star Geyser Reviews

This is a cool lesser known spot in the park. I recommend biking to Lone Star. Can do this with any type of bike as it is a partially gravel and pavement wide road/trail. As stated this geyser erupts fairly frequently so you can time your visit. While not as high as Old Faithful this is a nice spot.

Why view a geyser with 500 other people when you can have the area to yourself (or maybe just a few people)? Lone Star Geyser was so spectacular and a much needed experience after the let-down of Old Faithful. We shared the eruption with just one other group of hikers, so it was truly an unforgettable experience. We didn't have to worry about crowds and people in our photos like we did at Old Faithful. The hike is pretty easy, a good trail that is paved most of the way. There was still some snow on it during our visit in early May, but it was easily passable with hiking shoes. This is definitely a must-see!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Cross-Country Ski around Old Faithful, Yellowstone

Old Faithful

Upper Geyser Basin Old Faithful Observation Point Loop

Photograph the Elusive Beehive Geyser

Mystic Falls Loop

Hike above Grand Prismatic Spring