Madison Plateau

FAIRY FALLS

Two different trailheads lead to Fairy Falls, which at 200 feet (61 m) high is one of Yellowstone’s most spectacular waterfalls.

The northern trailhead starts at the end of the Fountain Flat Drive and follows an old road across meadows and near hydrothermal features. This is a 6.7-mile (10.7-km) hike.

The southern trailhead starts at the Fairy Falls parking area and follows an old road along the edge of the Midway Geyser Basin. This is a 5.4-mile (8.6-km) hike. Also along this trail is the side-hike up to the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail to a wonderful view of Grand Prismatic Spring and the rest of the Midway Geyser Basin.

MADISON AND FIREHOLE RIVERS

The Firehole River starts south of Old Faithful, runs through the Upper Geyser Basin northward to join the Gibbon River and form the Madison River. The Madison joins the Jefferson and the Gallatin rivers at Three Forks, Montana, to form the Missouri River.

The Madison is a blue-ribbon fly-fishing stream with brown and rainbow trout and mountain whitefish. Meanwhile, the Firehole River is world-famous among anglers for its pristine beauty and abundant brown, brook, and rainbow trout.

HYDROTHERMAL WONDERS

There are a lot of hydrothermal wonders to discover in this region, from small geysers and fumaroles to more wellknown mudpots and hot springs. This is also a popular area in the summertime, so be prepared for crowded parking areas, or plan to visit during off-hours.

Terrace Springs is a small thermal area just north of Madison Junction where a short boardwalk leads out to hot springs.

Fountain Paint Pot is a popular stop where you can take in all four of the park’s major hydrothermal features: fumaroles, geysers, hot springs, and mudpots. Fountain Paint Pot is one of the more famous mudpots in the park.

Next to Fountain Paint Pot is the Firehole Lake Drive, one of the park’s nice little side-drives. This drive leads you past many hydrothermal features, including Great Fountain Geyser and White Dome Geyser.

Further to the south is Midway Geyser Basin, home to perhaps the most photographed hot spring: Grand Prismatic Spring. Next to Grand Prismatic Spring is the massive steaming crater of Excelsior Geyser, which back in the late 1800s was still erupting over 300 feet (91 m) into the air. Today, Excelsior Geyser is considered dormant.