Name: Observation Point Spur
Rating: 4.0

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Geyser basin boardwalks and trails protect you and preserve delicate formations. You must stay on boardwalks and designated trails. Scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust. Pools may be near or above the boiling temperature and can cause severe, possibly even fatal, burns.

Description

The Observation Point Spur begins near the top of the Observation Point Trail. It can be combined with a run up to Observation Point and the Geyser Hill Trail to make it a nice loop route.

From the trailhead the trail travels 0.3 miles to Solitary Geyser. It has an interesting history. Prior to 1915, it was an infrequently visited hot spring. That year, water from the spring began being piped down to fill a commercial swimming pool. As the water level lowered, the water pressure dropped. This, in turn, caused the superheated water below to flash into steam and the spring was transformed into a geyser. Today it continues to erupt to a height of six feet every four to eight minutes.

From Solitary Geyser the trail makes a sharp left turn and continues another 0.3 miles, dropping more than 100 feet, until it reaches a junction with the Geyser Hill Trail near Aurum Geyser.

Thanks to guidebook author, Tom Carter, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about visiting Yellowstone, check out his book, Day Hiking Yellowstone.