Biscuit Basin is a short ½ mile boardwalk trail that guides you through epic Yellowstone Hyrdrotheremal features including Jewel Geyser, Mustard Spring, Black Opal Pool, and more. This easy walk is a must-see attraction in Yellowstone.
Biscuit Basin - Yellowstone National Park
Biscuit Basin was named originally for the unusual biscuit-like formations (deposits) that used to be surrounding Sapphire Pool. During the 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake Sapphire Pool erupted and the biscuits were blown away.
Even without the biscuit-like deposits, Sapphire Pool is still amazing!
Black Diamond Pool Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park
UPDATE from July 23, 2024 Biscuit Basin Hydrothermal Explosion
A Geyser in the Biscuit Basin Area near Black Diamond Pool (pictured above) exploded around 10 AM Tuesday Morning on 7/23/2024, sending a black cloud of debris, including mud and rock, into the sky.
The aftermath of the Biscuit Basin Explosion included scattered rock and mud while leaving a large amount of the boardwalk area severely damaged and unsafe for park visitors/tourists.
These explosions do happen in Yellowstone; in fact, the last time they happened in Biscuit Basin was in 2009.
For safety reasons, park officials have closed Biscuit Basin until further notice.
Yellowstone National Park Entrance Fee
Remember that Yellowstone has an entrance fee separate from camping fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle/snowmobile - $30.00 Per motorcycle/snowmobile (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass—$20.00. Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$20.00 for vehicles with 1-6 seats and non-commercial group (16+ persons)
$125.00 for vehicles with 7-15 seats
$200.00 vehicles with 16-25 seats
$300.00 for vehicles with 26+ seats
America the Beautiful/National Park Pass - $80.00 (Also known as the Interagency Access Pass or Interagency Annual Pass) covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.
This is very worthwhile if you are planning a vacation to a National Park, especially for visitors to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks!
The park pass covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy on REI.com and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the annual five free entrance days the National Park Service offers.
Black Opal Spring Biscuit Basin Yellowstone National Park
Location - Upper Geyser Basin, three miles north of Old Faithful in the Upper Geyser Basin.
Distance - ½ of a mile boardwalk
If you want to spend more time hiking, you can take the extension off the Biscuit Basin Loop and head towards Mystic Falls Trail, Observation Point, Summit Lake, and Fairy Creek Trail.
The boardwalk is an easy walk from the parking lot. There is a small hill in the beginning, but once you are past that, it is pretty flat.
There is no shade, so it can get fairly warm on a hot summer day. However, it is well worth taking the time to explore this gorgeous thermal area in Yellowstone.
Black Opal Spring
One of the first things you see when you walk along the boardwalk is the gorgeous Black Opal Spring.
Sapphire Pool
Sapphire Pool is one of our favorite blue water pools in Yellowstone National Park. The bright blue pools are unbelievable.
It is hard to imagine that Sapphire Pool is over 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Following the 1959 earthquake, Sapphire Pool would erupt with 150-foot eruptions. Today the pool is normally very calm with rare boiling and surges.
Jewel Geyser
Jewel Geyser erupts every seven to ten minutes!
You can see the eruptions from all around the Biscuit Basin boardwalk. We had to wait for just a few minutes for it to erupt and it was so worth it.
Shell Spring
Keep an eye on Shell Geyser as you walk by it. You will see the water start to drain and then it starts bubbling up. For a small thermal feature, it is really fun to watch.
At times Shell Spring can erupt 5 to 8 feet high.
Avoca Spring
Avoca Spring hisses and steams as you walk by it on the boardwalk.
At time Avoca Spring will erupt with water going in all directions.
The Biscuit Basin boardwalk splits and there is a trail towards Mystic Falls which is 1.2 miles.
Just down from there the boardwalk splits is this super colorful pool. We have not been able to find a name for it but it is worth taking the side trail down a few feet to get a photo.
Mustard Spring
Mustard Spring temperature ranges from 172-198°F. It erupts frequently and normally for about five minutes.
Black Pearl Geyser
We did not see this small geyser go off. So far we are still researching if it is still active.
Wall Pool
Wall Pool is absolutely gorgeous! I don't know why we don't hear more about the epic hot springs and colorful pools along Biscuit Basin more often.
River Otters
Keep an eye out on the Firehole River for River Otters as you cross the wooden bridge heading up to Biscuit Basin.
We saw 5 or 6 River Otters playing in the water just below the bridge. I have to admit we were so surprised we jumped and squealed in joy a bit. LOL
Don't Forget to Pack
Camera and Binoculars, remember you will want to see wildlife!
Field Guide to Birds and Mammals - These easy-to-use field guides are easy to use and make it exciting to identify birds and mammals.
Insect Repellent - Nothing ruins a good day outdoors like biting insects!
Sunscreen - I personally choose environmentally friendly sunscreen
Additional Activities in Yellowstone National Park
Where is Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone?
Biscuit Basin is located three miles north of Old Faithful just off of the Grand Loop Road.
It is an easy drive and there is a great loop parking lot near the trailhead that is easily accessible. I would not drive large RVs into the loop parking lot.
It could get really tight to make the turn. We saw someone trying to make it through the parking area and the entire time we were holding our breath hoping they didn't hit another car.
Closest Visitor Center
Old Faithful Visitor Center is the closest campground to Black Sand Basin.
Additional Yellowstone National Park Resources
Yellowstone National Park Guide - Your complete guide to exploring the world's first National Park!
Things to do in Yellowstone - These are the top things to do that you don't want to miss, including exploring the Mammoth Hot Springs, the Museum of the National Park Ranger, Yellowstone Waterfalls, Kayaking in Yellowstone, fishing in Yellowstone, Fairy Falls Trail, and more!
Yellowstone National Park Facts - Learn more about our 1st National Park and fun facts about the wildlife in the park.
Yellowstone Wildlife Guide- Complete Guide to seeing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, including the most popular wildlife viewing areas, including Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley.
Yellowstone Geyser Basin Areas
Upper Geyser Basin, including Geyser Hill, Biscuit Basin, Black Sand Basin, and Old Faithful Geyser.
Midway Geyser Basin, including Grand Prismatic Spring and Firehole Lake Drive.
Lower Geyser Basin, including Fountain Paint Pot Trail and Firehole Canyon Drive
Norris Geyser Basin—This basin is known for having some of the hottest water and springs in the park. It is actually two basins: Porcelain Basin and Black Basin, with famous geysers, including Ledge Geyser, Cistern Geyser, and Steamboat Geyser.
West Thumb Geyser Basin - Beautiful boardwalk trail with hydrothermal features right next to Lake Yellowstone!
Mud Volcano - The Mud Volcano area is Located south of Canyon Village and North of Lake Yellowstone. It has several hydrothermal features, including a mud volcano and Dragon's Mouth Spring.
Yellowstone Campgrounds
Ultimate Yellowstone Camping Guide - This complete guide to camping in Yellowstone includes all front country campgrounds including: Bridge Bay Campground, Canyon Campground, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Grant Village Campground, Indian Creek Campground, Lewis Lake Campground, Madison Campground, Mammoth Campground, Norris Campground, Pebble Creek Campground, Slough Creek Campground, and Tower Fall Campground.
Yellowstone Lodging Resources
Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Lodging Guide - This complete guide to all of Yellowstone National Park's Lodges and cabins, including Canyon Lodge, Canyon Lodge Cabins, Grant Village Lodge,Yellowstone Lake Hotel, Lake Lodge Cabins, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Cabins, Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Lodge (Cabin Accommodations), Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and Roosevelt Lodge (cabin accommodations)
Parks near Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teron National Park
Complete Guide to Grand Teton National Park - Your complete guide to go explore Grand Teton National Park before or after you visit Yellowstone!
Grand Teton Camping Guide - Complete Guide to all of Grand Teton National Parks campgrounds.
Grand Teton Lodging Guide - Complete Guide to all of Grand Teton's Lodges.
Glacier National Park
Epic Guide to Glacier National Park - Complete guide to exploring Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park Camping Guide - Complete Guide to all of Glacier National Park front country campgrounds
Glacier National Park Lodging Guide - Complete Guide to Glacier National Park Lodges
Additional Montana National Parks
Little Bighorn Battlefield - Also known as Custer's Last Stand, a place where the Plains Tribes fought their last major battle and won.
Big Hole National Battlefield - site of the pivotal battle in the Nez Perce War of 1877 between Colonel Gibbon's troops and five bands of the Nez Perce Indians led by the famous Native American Leader, Cheif Joseph.
Grant Kohr's Ranch National Historic Site - See what ranch life was like in the 1800s in Montana
Check out all of the National Parks in Wyoming along with neighboring National Parks in Colorado, National Parks in Idaho, Montana National Parks, Nebraska National Parks, South Dakota National Parks, and Utah National Parks
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