West Thumb Geyser Basin•Yellowstone

Upon arrival it does not take much time to figure out that Yellowstone Nation Park is like no other place on earth. The landscape is so far removed from the ordinary that a visitor might as well be standing on a distant planet. There are lush forests, lakes and streams with wild animals roaming everywhere, but this is the only aspect of Yellowstone that is even remotely normal. It is the steaming hot water pools, geysers, boiling mud pits and multi color paint pots that make this vast volcanic environment so unique. It is easy to see that the geological oddities are the primary attraction and some features are a bit more subtle than others.

The photos demonstrates just how few people actually visit Yellowstone during the fall season. Places like the West Thumb Geyser Basin are usually so crowded during spring and summer, that a visitor can spend more time looking for a parking space than enjoying the scenic views. On a dreary chilly autumn day, do not be surprised when you are the only person walking around. The solitude and silence definitely enables a chance to gain a serene perspective when viewing this strange place. The weird sounds of the geyser field also becomes more audible. 

The West Thumb Geyser Basin overlooks Yellowstone Lake and this spot is surrounded by lush forests with distant mountain peaks on the horizon. The volcanic features of this basin are difficult to decipher upon first glance.  From a distance, this area looks pot marked and dimpled with countless craters and holes in the ground, which resembles a bombed out war zone. The West Thumb Geyser Basin is a field of hot springs, colorful mineral water pools and semi dormant small geysers. There are several dried up geysers that now vent gasses and loud hissing noises can be heard all around. There are also a few active geysers that erupt once in a blue moon, so it is anybody's guess when the natural fountain show will begin.

The little geysers in the West Thumb Geyser Basin for the most part are like sleeping giants. The pools of blue water and the rainbow color mineral springs are surreal looking, especially in the paint pot area. The lake being so close adds a dramatic effect, especially when storms roll through. The thoughts seem to drift aimlessly in this sleeping geyser basin. Then all of a sudden something happens that snaps the focus right back into the reality of standing inside a very powerful volcanic caldera! 

Unfortunately there were no big geyser eruptions during my West Thumb visit. However I was abruptly yanked out of dreamland by an aggressive chipmunk that actually started stalking my every move while walking on the boardwalk. Finally I just gave in and stood still long enough to see what the chipmunk was up to. Immediately the little critter ran full speed in my direction, just to bite into the toe of my shoe! The little chipmunk was definitely showing me who is the boss of the boardwalk and I got a good laugh out of the carefully planned attack! One never knows when Mother Nature will deliver a good laugh and this weird event certainly brightened up the dreary West Thumb Geyser Basin experience.

​Yellowstone truly is a place where a visitor can experience the strangest of the strange and the odd memories will certainly last a lifetime. Autumn is a great time of year to tour Yellowstone National Park, simply because the foul weather limits overcrowding. With more room to breathe, there will be more opportunities to experience all that this volcanic landscape has to offer!