Yellowstone: Touring the Black Sand Basin

This blog post is taking you to where there is black sand and beautiful blue water. No, I’m not talking about Hawaii. I’m talking about the Black Sand Basin in Yellowstone National Park – the world’s first National Park. The Black Sand Basin is part of Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin which has the greatest concentration of geysers and thermal features in the world.    

Black Sand Basin is a small collection of colorful hot springs located on the south side of the road about half a mile from the Old Faithful Interchange. Since the 1890’s, it’s been called the Black Sand Basin because of the tiny obsidian fragments that make up the sand in this area.

What I like about the Black Sand Basin is its close proximity to Old Faithful, it isn’t as crowded, and it doesn’t take long to see it (about 10-15 minutes). We call places like this a “filler walk”. It’s near the end of the day and we want to do something but we don’t have a lot of time. Black Sand Basin is a perfect “filler walk”.

Map of Black Sand Basin

After we park the car, the first thing we see is Cliff Geyser. Cliff Geyser was named in 1872 for its location at the edge of Iron Creek and the cliff-like wall that separates it from the creek. During our visit, Cliff Geyser was actively splashing bursts of water into the air. It can erupt as high as 35-50 feet.

 Cliff Geyser

We continue our walk by crossing the footbridge over Iron Creek. The rusty-colored banks are caused by reddish-brown algae that thrive in this environment.

Iron Creek near the footbridge

We take a short spur trail to the left where we find Emerald Pool (27’x38’). Over the years, the water temperature in this hot spring has decreased. This caused changes of bacteria and algae growth which, in turn, resulted in a change of color. Today, the center of the pool still reflects a beautiful blue-green but the edges have turned orange and brown. Based on this past activity, it is possible if the water temperature continues to decrease, the pool may eventually lose its emerald color.   

Emerald Pool

Near Green Spring is a grassy area with a woods and mountain behind it. Here I find a beautiful blue bird perched on top of a broken branch. During a sunset walk, I watch a coyote run through this area.

Blue Bird near Green Spring

Rainbow Pool (100’x130’) got its name because the edges of the pool were colorful – like a rainbow.  

   Rainbow Pool

Sunset Lake (145’x191’) is a shallow pool of blue water with a colorful edge of yellow and orange bacteria and algae. In 1887, this hot spring was referred to as “Sunshine Lake”.

 Sunset Lake

Moonrise over Sunset Lake

Opalescent Pool (28’x55’) was once a boiling spring then it went dry. In the 1950’s, water flooded into the dry pool and surrounding area killing the lodgepole pine. Notice the white color around the base of the tree trunks. Over time, this silica compound may contribute to the creation of a petrified forest.

Opalescent Pool & Lodgepole Pine

Located near Opalescent Pool, Spouter Geyser is a fountain-type geyser with frequent eruptions shooting 5-7 feet high.   The sinter crater edges the pool.   

Spouter Geyser

Black Sand Basin isn’t like the black sand beaches found in Hawaii and its Caribbean-blue colored pools of water are too hot to go for a swim; but, this basin’s black sand and blue hot springs will offer visitors an experience that is uniquely Yellowstone.

No matter how many time I visit Yellowstone, I never get tired of seeing its ever-changing scenery. I invite you to view my other blog posts on Yellowstone National Park by clicking on the following links:

Yellowstone: A to Z

Introduction to Yellowstone: Basic Park Highlights

A Geyser Gazers Guide to the Upper Geyser Basin

Yellowstone: It's Cookin' in the BIscuit Basin

Backpacking Yellowstone: Quiet WIld Moments

Yellowstone: A Ton of Fun at the Canyon
Hiking Yellowstone: Fairy Falls & Imperial Geyser
Yellowstone Scenic Drive: Firehole Canyon

Yellowstone Scenic Drive: Firehole Lake

Yellowstone: Fountain Paint Pot Nature Trail
Yellowstone: Fountain Flat Drive & Beyond

Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs is Really Cool (Upper Terraces)

Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs is Really Cool (Lower Terraces)

Yellowstone: Hell's Half Acre

Hiking Yellowstone: Monument Geyser Basin

Yellowstone: Mud Volcano - Stop and Smell the ... Sulfur?
Hiking Yellowstone: NW Corner - More Space; Less Crowded

Norris Geyser Basin: Back Basin - Some Like It Hot

Norris Geyser Basin: Porcelain Basin - Some Like It Hot
West Thumb Geyser Basin: Two Thumbs Up

Whatta Falls - Waterfalls in Yellowstone NP

Planning a visit to Yellowstone? Food and lodging options are available inside the park and in the towns just outside the park (West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Cooke City/Silver Gate – all in Montana).. I strongly suggest making lodging reservations in advance. Yellowstone is a popular destination and “No Vacancy” signs are common especially during the peak summer months. Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews.

My best advice is this - don’t just drive through Yellowstone – experience it!

The National Park Service has created a series of short videos titled “Inside Yellowstone”. It’s a fast and fun way to learn about the Park. Click on the following link to begin this Yellowstone experience:.

Inside Yellowstone - A Series of Short Videos

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. To start planning your memorable trip to Yellowstone, please click on the following link:

Plan Your Visit - Yellowstone NP

Yellowstone: It's Cookin' in the Biscuit Basin

Welcome to Yellowstone National Park where its majestic mountains, colorful canyon walls, and thousands of thermal features all partner to create its natural beauty. Yellowstone is the one place in the world where you can find the greatest concentration of geysers.

In my last post, I shared a walk through the Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful area). In this post, I will see what’s cookin’ in the Biscuit Basin.

The Biscuit Basin is located along the Grand Loop Road about three miles north of Old Faithful. In the 1880’s, Biscuit Basin got its name from the biscuit-like formations that were found around the edges of Sapphire Pool. In 1959, an earthquake shook the area causing Sapphire Pool to begin erupting. As a result of the eruptions, most of the “biscuits” were literally “blown away”. Still, the basin is worth taking the time to walk around it.

Map of Biscuit Basin (part of the Upper Geyser Basin)

My hubby parks the car and we walk across the footbridge that crosses the Firehole River. Early fur-trappers referred to this river as the “Firehole” because of the hot geyser water that flowed into the river.

Firehole River & Biscuit Basin

The Biscuit Basin has an easy half mile loop trail. This geyser basin may be small in size but some of its thermal features make this a “must see” stop.  As always, we'll be following the boardwalk trail which provides a safe route to view the geyser basin.  

As soon as we cross the footbridge, we see several pools on our right. They are identified as Black Opal Pool, Black Diamond Pool and Wall Pool.

Located closest to the river is Black Opal Pool. It hasn’t erupted in decades but it is still an eye-catching thermal feature.   

 Black Opal Pool

Black Diamond Pool is the second pool.  In 2006, it erupted to a height of 80 feet.   Today, all is quiet.

Black Opal Pool (foreground) & Black Diamond Pool (background)

Just down the boardwalk trail is Sapphire Pool. This hot spring is considered the gem of the Biscuit Basin. It was named in the 1880’s because of its brilliant sapphire color.   

Sapphire Pool

We can’t help but notice the colorful run-off channel from Sapphire Pool. So, what makes these pretty colors? The yellow is from sulfur, the red is from iron oxide, and other bright colors are caused by algae and bacteria.

Sapphire Pool Run-Off Channel

Colors in the Biscuit Basin

At this point, the loop part of the trail begins. Most people tend to go in a clockwise direction. So, we follow the flow of foot traffic. Also, we want to get a better view of Jewel Geyser while it is erupting.

Jewel Geyser erupts every 5-10 minutes releasing bursts of water from 10-30 feet lasting a minute or so. These bursts may be repeated anywhere from one to five times during its eruption. Jewel Geyser received its name because of the pearl-like sinter beads formed around the vent. I didn’t know what “sinter” was so I checked it out on Wikipedia. Sintering is: “the process of compacting and forming a solid mass of material by heat or pressure without melting it to the point of liquefaction”. I learn something new everyday!

Jewel Geyser

Across from Jewel Geyser is Shell Spring. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to see how this thermal feature got its name. During our visit, Shell Spring was bubbling with activity for quite awhile.

Shell Spring

We continue walking the curve in the boardwalk trail making our way to Avoca Spring.

Boardwalk Trail

Since the 1959 earthquake, Avoca Spring has become active shooting streams of water in different directions. During our visit, we see a lot of bubbling water.

Avoca Spring

Silver Globe Spring is a hot spring located immediately south (and attached to) Avoca Spring. Zygomatic Arch (named in 1887) is a sinter (there’s that word again!) arch in and over Silver Globe Spring. I have heard these types of arches are rare.

 Avoca Spring & Silver Globe Spring

Zygomatic Arch

The trail to Mystic Falls begins here near Avoca Spring. I’ll share our hike to Mystic Falls in my blog post on Yellowstone waterfalls. In the meantime, look to the left of that trail to see West Geyser. While it rarely erupts, the pool presents a uniquely shaped thermal feature. I think it looks like a weirdly shaped fish.   At times, the “tail” may be dry and white with only the imprint of it visible.

West Geyser

Putting my vivid imagination aside, we keep walking around the loop trail to Mustard Springs. There are actually two springs – East and West. Again, they were given this name for the obvious reason - the mustard colored lining of their craters. Currently, East Mustard Spring is the active geyser while West Mustard Spring is an inactive, dry spring.

East Mustard Spring

All along the boardwalk trail we can see examples of how Mother Nature is cookin’ in the Biscuit Basin.  It’s time to return to the car. Across the road are some more thermal features but we haven’t explored that area yet. It will have to wait for a future visit.

   

No matter how many time I visit Yellowstone, I never get tired of seeing its ever-changing scenery. I invite you to view my other blog posts on Yellowstone National Park by clicking on the following links:

Yellowstone: A to Z

Introduction to Yellowstone: Basic Park Highlights

Yellowstone: A Geyser Gazers Guide to the Upper Geyser Basin

Yellowstone: Touring the Black Sand Basin

Backpacking Yellowstone: Quiet Wild Moments

Yellowstone: A Ton of Fun at the Canyon
Hiking Yellowstone: Fairy Falls & Imperial Geyser
Yellowstone Scenic Drive: Firehole Canyon

Yellowstone Scenic Drive: Firehole Lake

Yellowstone: Fountain Paint Pot Nature Trail
Yellowstone: Fountain Flat Drive & Beyond

Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Spring is Really Cool (Upper Terraces)

Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs is Really Cool (Lower Terraces)
Yellowstone: Hell's Half Acre

Hiking Yellowstone: Monument Geyser Basin

Yellowstone: Mud Volcano - Stop and Smell the ... Sulfur?
Hiking Yellowstone: NW Corner - More Space; Less Crowded

Norris Geyser Basin: Back Basin - Some Like It Hot

Norris Geyser Basin: Porcelain Basin - Some Like It Hot
West Thumb Geyser Basin: Two Thumbs Up

Whatta Falls - Waterfalls in Yellowstone NP

Planning a visit to Yellowstone? Food and lodging options are available inside the park and in the towns just outside the park (West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Cooke City/Silver Gate – all in Montana). I strongly suggest making lodging reservations in advance. Yellowstone is a popular destination and “No Vacancy” signs are common especially during the peak summer months. Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews.

My best advice is this - don’t just drive through Yellowstone – experience it!

The National Park Service has created a series of short videos titled “Inside Yellowstone”. It’s a fast and fun way to learn about the Park. Click on the following link to begin this Yellowstone experience.

Inside Yellowstone - A Series of Short Videos

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. To start planning your memorable trip to Yellowstone, please click on the following link:

Plan Your Visit - Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone: A Geyser Gazers Guide to the Upper Geyser Basin

There are very few places in the world that are as diverse as Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone has it all … from Artist Paint Pot to Zygomatic Arch … from majestic mountains to thundering waterfalls … don’t just drive through the Park – experience it!

There is plenty to see and do. Since the geyser basins are easy walking, I’ll start with the Upper Geyser Basin (the Old Faithful area). The first thing I do is stop at the Visitor Center/Gift Shop and go through the Exhibit Hall which offers lots of information on geysers. Browsing through the Exhibit Hall and watching a video in the theater is a great way to spend a rainy day in the Park.

Visitor Center

Visitor Center Exhibit on Geysers

In the gift shop, I purchased two things – a small stuffed black bear (I named her Ursula) and a brochure titled “A Guide to the Upper Geyser Basin” which included the Biscuit and Black Sand Basins. I’ll refer to them in another post.    

Ursula at the Upper Geyser Basin

Map of the Upper Geyser Basin

Next, I stop at the Park Ranger desk. During the summer months, they have a list of predictable geysers showing a time frame with their “best guess” on eruption times.

Daily Geyser Prediction Times

Using that list and my Upper Geyser Basin map, I organize my geyser gazing agenda.. With a little luck, I will be in the right place at the right time to enjoy seeing as many geysers erupt as possible.  Each geyser is unique in its size and duration.  It’s incredible to think that the Upper Geyser Basin contains the largest concentration (about 25%) of geysers in the world … all in about two square miles.

Introduction to Yellowstone: Basic Park Highlights

Yellowstone National Park was the world’s first National Park (established on March 1, 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant).

NPS Plaque

National Park Mountain

We owe a debt of gratitude to those early explorers who had the foresight to propose the preservation of this natural wonder for all to enjoy. To emphasize this sentiment, a stone arch was constructed in 1903 with the words, “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People”. President Theodore Roosevelt was asked to place the cornerstone for the arch which now bears his name. The arch was built here because, at that time, the north entrance was the most important gateway into the Park. Here’s a fun fact, a time capsule was placed inside the arch during the dedication ceremony.

Roosevelt Arch

Visitors can enter this wild and beautiful park from five locations – from the south (near Grand Teton National Park), from the west (at West Yellowstone, Montana), from the north (at Gardiner, Montana), from the northeast (at Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana), and from the east (near Cody, Wyoming).

Entrance Sign

NPS Map

If you look at the NPS map (shown above), you can see the Grand Loop Road. It consists of two loops that create a figure eight. This 142-mile long road was built in 1915 and offers the best route for seeing the Park’s main attractions. Generally, you should plan an entire day to drive the road. It could take longer depending on traffic volume, possible delays due to road construction, animals walking down the road/bear jams, or how often you stop to explore the many natural wonders that make Yellowstone National Park such a special place.

What’s so special about Yellowstone? Let’s start with the geysers. Yellowstone has the greatest concentration of geysers in the world (500 geysers as well as an estimated 10,000 thermal features such as hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles). Old Faithful (in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin) is probably the most famous geyser in the world. The average height of an eruption is 145 feet and lasts an average of 3 minutes. Time between eruptions range from 35 to 120 minutes. 

Old Faithful Geyser

While its predictability made Old Faithful famous, it is not the grandest geyser in Yellowstone.  Not to far from Old Faithful is Grand Geyser.  It is the tallest predictable geyser in the world (NPS source) with bursts soaring 150 to 200 feet in the air. 

Grand Geyser

How about all those the majestic mountains and thunderous waterfalls – they’re pretty spectacular too. Yellowstone National Park contains at least 45 named waterfalls and cascades. Some waterfalls can be seen from the road – like Firehole Falls (about 40 feet in height). These falls are located on a one-way road (Firehole Canyon Road) near Madison Junction.

Firehole Falls

Some waterfalls require hiking to them. The trail to Fairy Falls is a popular and easy hike (about five miles round trip). Before you do any hike in the Park, make sure you have plenty of water, bear spray or talk while you walk for noise, and bring your camera!

Fairy Falls (197' high)

Speaking of waterfalls, within the National Park there are three popular waterfalls along the mighty Yellowstone River – the Upper Falls (109 feet high), the Lower Falls (308 feet high), and Tower Falls (132 feet high). The Upper Falls and Lower Falls are in an area known as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The Yellowstone River is the major force in the creation of the canyon. A stop at any one of the several lookout points to see the breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is among the “must see” things to do when visiting Yellowstone Park.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River

Another Yellowstone “hot spot” is Mammoth Hot Springs (located about 5.5 miles south of Gardiner, Montana and Yellowstone’s North Entrance). At Mammoth, the travertine terraces tantalize tourists with an array of ever-changing features shaped by the presence or absence of water.    

 Mound Terrace

Canary Spring

No trip to Yellowstone is complete without some wildlife sightings. Remember – these are wild animals. A camera with a good telephoto lens will provide a closer image without endangering you or them. Keep a safe distance and do not feed the animals – including those cute little ground squirrels. Keep them wild and healthy. The best time to see animals is early morning or around sunset. The best place to find them depends on the animal and the time of the year. Check with a Park Ranger to find current possibilities.

Grizzly Bear

Elk Bugling

Big Horn Sheep

Bison Herd

Here are some interesting facts about Yellowstone:

SIZE: It is 3,472 square miles. (or 2.2 million acres). That’s larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

LOCATION: It lies within three states – 96% in Wyoming, 3% in Montana, and 1% in Idaho

EARTHQUAKES: It’s common for Yellowstone to experience between 1,000 to 3,000 quakes each year,  No need to worry - most of them aren’t ever felt by visitors.

ROADS: There are over 400 miles of roads. The only road open during the winter months is the 47-mile road from Mammoth to the northeast entrance near Silver Gate/Cooke City.

TRAILS: There are about 15 miles of boardwalk and 900+ miles of trails of varying lengths and ability levels.

ANNUAL VISITATION: Yellowstone is a four-season park and averages 3-4 million visitors each year.

Planning a visit to Yellowstone? Food and lodging options are available inside the park and in the towns just outside the park (West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Cooke City/Silver Gate – all in Montana). I highly recommend making lodging reservations in advance. Yellowstone is a popular destination and “No Vacancy” signs are common especially during the peak summer months. Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews.

My best advice is this - don’t just drive through Yellowstone – experience it!

Over the years, my hubby and I have driven and hiked through Yellowstone’s many scenic natural areas. There are too many things to see and do in this Park to include in a single post. I consider this to be a brief synopsis of what you might expect to see and do.

I invite you to view my other blog posts on Yellowstone National Park by clicking on the following links:

Yellowstone: A to Z

A Geyser Gazers Guide to the Upper Geyser Basin
Yellowstone: It's Cookin' in the Biscuit Basin
Yellowstone: Touring the Black Sand Basin
Backpacking Yellowstone: Quiet Wild Moments
Yellowstone: A Ton of Fun at the Canyon
Hiking Yellowstone: Fairy Falls & Imperial Geyser
Yellowstone Scenic Drive: Firehole Canyon

Yellowstone Scenic Drive: Firehole Lake
Yellowstone: Fountain Paint Pot Nature Trail
Yellowstone: Fountain Flat Drive & Beyond
Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs is Really Cool (Upper Terrace)
Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs are Really Cool (Lower Terraces)
Yellowstone: Hell's Half Acre

Hiking Yellowstone: Monument Geyser Basin
Yellowstone: Mud Volcano - Stop and Smell the ... Sulfur?
Hiking Yellowstone: NW Corner - More Space; Less Crowded
Norris Geyser Basin: Back Basin - Some Like It Hot
Norris Geyser Basin: Porcelain Basin - Some Like It Hot
West Thumb Geyser Basin: Two Thumbs Up
Whatta Falls - Waterfalls in Yellowstone NP

There are lots of books about Yellowstone National Park.  Here are a couple of my favorites:
"Yellowstone Place Names" by Lee H. Whittlesey
"Yellowstone Trails - A Hiking Guide" by Mark C. Marschall

The National Park Service has created a series of short videos titled “Inside Yellowstone”. It’s a fast and fun way to learn about the Park. Click on the following link to begin this Yellowstone experience.   

Inside Yellowstone Short Videos

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. To start planning your memorable trip to Yellowstone, please click on the following link:

Plan Your Visit - Yellowstone NP

Old Victoria - An Old Mining Town Finds A New Life

In October of 2017, we went hunting for ghost towns in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Similar to the California Gold Rush of 1849, Michigan had its own mineral rush – but it was copper. 

Copper Pieces

Between 1845 and 1887, Michigan was the national leader in copper production. During these peak years, Michigan produced nearly 95% of America’s copper. In the year 1916, Michigan produced over 250 million pounds of copper!

It’s no surprise that this region (particularly Keweenaw County, as well as most of Houghton, Baraga, Ontonagon, and even part of Marquette Counties) was dotted with mines and mining towns. When copper became increasingly expensive and difficult to mine, profits declined, and the mines ceased operations. The workers left the area and sought employment elsewhere. The mines and the towns were abandoned.

Some of these abandoned mining towns lie in ruins or have been lost and reclaimed by nature and time. Others have been more fortunate. Old Victoria (in Ontonagon County) is one of the lucky sites where the past is being restored and preserved for us to enjoy now and in the future.

Today, we are taking the road less travelled to find the “ghost town” of Old Victoria (25401 Victoria Dam Road near the town of Rockland). This roadside Keweenaw Heritage Site is accessible year round. However, the four restored, log cabins are open during the summer months only.   

We park the car along the side of the road and begin walking around the cabins. These hand-hewn log cabins served as housing for the miners.

Since we are here in mid-October, the cabins are locked. Still, we can peak through the windows for a look inside the cabins.

   Log Cabin - Exterior & Interior

It is obvious the restoration process continues. The property includes an outhouse and a Finnish sauna.

Outhouse

Finnish Sauna

The Victoria Mining Company Town existed from 1899-1921. It was designated a Michigan Historic Site on April 23, 1971.

If you are interested in other Michigan ghost towns, I invite you to view my blog posts by clicking on the following links:

Keen on Keweenaw County Ghost Towns

Fayette - My Favorite Michigan Ghost Town

Fiborn Quarry - I Really Dig This Place

Hammin' It Up in the Porkies

Barns, Buildings and a By-Gone Era - Sleeping Bear Dunes NLS

Bridging the Years - Fallasburg Historic Village

Village of Alcona - Alcona County Historic Sites

The town of Ontonagon is about 16 miles north of Old Victoria. It will offer the most choices for food and lodging.  Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews.

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. Start planning your next memorable trip today.