Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world,after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake in Dominica. It is located in the Midway Geyser Basin.



Grand Prismatic Spring was noted by geologists working in the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871, and named by them for its striking coloration. Its colors match the rainbow dispersion of white light by an optical prism: red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.


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B Gross 2018-06-24

Truly a beautiful stop in Yellowstone. It is a large, colorful hot spring. You can get pretty close to the main spring, and right on top of the crater. It was a windy day when we were there; make sure your hat is secure!
Alex Berman 2018-05-28

Very large and impressive. Might get very packed there, even not in peak season. Be Ware of winds and make sure your hat is tight so it will not fly into the acidic waters.
Feral Escape 2018-04-28

Visited in early summer. Incredible place. It looked like a strange blue mist was rising from the spring, but then so many things in Yellowstone are strange and wonderful! Pretty crowded on the boardwalk, so best to go very early or very late in the day.
Greg Boutestein 2018-03-15

Fantastic stop in Yellowstone National Park. The size of this hot spring has to be seen to be believed. Come early in the morning to have the place to yourself.
Peter USA 2018-01-07

Out of this world. The colors are amazing, watch your kids, water is boiling hot and sulphuric.
Peter USA 2018-01-07

Out of this world. The colors are amazing, watch your kids, water is boiling hot and sulphuric.
Joe Ferrari 2017-11-16

Of all the beautiful places in Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring has to be the most beautiful. Due to the mineral content of the area, these springs are colored in some of the most incredible shades of turquoise, orange, yellow and green.
The EyeGuy 2017-11-15

The best way to see the Springs is via the elevated trail turnoff just south of the spring itself. The boardwalk around the spring is great and well maintained, but a bird's eye view is the only way to see all the colors properly.
Anton Korniyenko 2017-09-16

In my book the is Number 1 attraction in Yellowstone. It is unbelievable. But there are couple trips to really enjoy it: 1. In the morning temperature difference between air and water is much hire than during the day (best to see in the warm a day) so, stream will block mist of the view. 2. Try get parking and walk on the boardwalk. 3. Make sure to drive down North and take first right park and hike (less then a mile) to first left and take shots (0.1-0.3 mile) hike up the hill (it was added a month ago so, you will not find it on the maps but hike itself is to Fairy Falls) and you will get most incredible view of Grand Prismatic!!! Same tip always plan to visit this place when day is at its hottest and be prepared to strangle with parking. Please enjoy.
Jack Poon 2017-09-15

Grand Prismatic Spring is the most colorful scene in Yellowstone. Unfortunately, going there in the morning is a waste because the sun has not come out, and the color looks pale. Always visit in the afternoon despite the crowd.
Bucky Rodriguez 2017-08-14

Giving 1 star due to the parking. There is not enough parking and this area gets very crowded. People start parking on the shoulders of nearby roads and are crossing the street without paying attention. It is a dangerous area. You may need to try multiple times before you actually get a chance to see this. It took me 4 tries across 3 different days to finally get a chance to park. If you don't mind a walk, go a few hundred yards south to the fairy falls trail head. if you take the short hike it'll give you an awesome vantage point of the spring on a trail which goes behind it.
Elayne S. 2017-07-16

The largest hot spring in the US, Grand Prismatic is among the most popular sights in Yellowstone. But unless you’ve got a spare airplane, there are only two ways to view this colorful creature: on the boardwalk or off the grid. Ignore the endless stream of tour buses, motorhomes and Subarus heading for the Midway Geyser Basin and drive south towards a parking lot for Fairy Falls. From there look for a faint path and head to the top of this ash filled hilltop. You’ll be sucking wind a bit, but you won’t regret it once you work your way through the tree filled path and take in the grand beauty.
Charles Sagona 2017-06-25

One of the coolest things that I have ever seen in person and a definite highlight to one of the best vacations ever.
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