Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Self-Guided Walking Tour

Witness the power of Old Faithful and explore the surrounding geyser basin with this self-guided walking tour! As one of the most densely-packed geyser regions in the park, there’s no shortage of explosive wonders on display here. Watch huge geysers like Old Faithful, Castle Geyser, and Grand Geyser erupt. Stroll past smaller, bubbling pools. Find out how geysers form and work, and uncover the hidden systems underlying the whole basin. This walking tour makes for the perfect addition to any Yellowstone visit!

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

We’re walking along the Old Faithful Observation Deck. But the benches and boardwalk here are just part of the 14 miles of boardwalk that snake through this part of Yellowstone.
Thousands of visitors trek through this park every year.

You’ll see a sign for Observation Point Trail. If you’d like an elevated view of Old Faithful erupting, this path will take you to the perfect spot for it. It’s an uphill trek of about a mile out and back, and should take around 30 minutes.

It gets its name from geologist Arnold Hague, who thought the vents looked like the petals of the anemone flower.

It looks like a big innocuous beehive just sitting on the ground. That is, until it sends boiling water shooting 100 feet into the air!
The Beehive spews water for 5 minutes every 10 to 20 hours.

This area is called “Marmot Cave Geyser.” A yellow-bellied marmot used to live in that little cave, but it moved out years ago. I can only assume spewing water heated by magma isn’t ideal for marmot dens!

Off to our left, do see a lion, a lioness, and two cubs. Okay you got me—they’re not real lions. They’re cone geysers! To make things more confusing, they’re not actually named because they look like lions at all!

It looks a lot like a bluish hot spring, but it erupts! And when it does, it sounds like a whirring sawmill. It’s connected underground to a whole complex of thermal features, which makes its eruptions very hard to predict.

Off to your right is a geyser that puts on quite a show. It’s called “Grand Geyser,” and it’s the single most powerful predictable geyser in the world! It’s a fountain-type, so no cones to see—just a pool. And if you think Old Faithful has impressive eruptions, just wait until you see one of these.

On our right is a hydrothermal feature so beautiful people named it “Beauty Pool”! It’s that blue-green hot spring with a thick ring of orange heat-loving microbes—known as thermophiles—around it.

This is Beauty Pool’s sister, Chromatic Pool. It’s a smaller hot spring at only 30 feet in diameter, but the colors are still so vivid! This pool is around 133.1 degrees—too hot for a shower, too cold for a cup of coffee.

Giant’s cone is geyserite or sinter, and it’s about 12-feet tall. Some say it even looks a bit like the Coliseum in Rome! This is one of the tallest geysers in Yellowstone, but it’s far from the only geyser in this cluster.

Dead ahead is Grotto Geyser. This was almost the site of disaster during the 1870 expedition!

The Morning Glory Pool gets its name thanks to the passing resemblance to morning glory flowers. Green ones like it hot. Yellow ones like it pretty hot. Orange like it warm. And red like it kinda warm.

Daisy Geyser is one of Yellowstone’s most predictable geysers. It erupts every 2 to 4 hours for about 4 minutes. And this one is unique because its fountain streams out at an angle to the ground!

Crested Pool is 42 feet deep and has an average temperature of 191 degrees! That’s just about as hot as your hottest cup of coffee.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
• How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Walking Tours: couples can share one using headphones.
• Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
• Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
• Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
• Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
• Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
• Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
• Minimum Mobile OS Requirement: iOS 14 or later / Android 9 (Pie) or later. It is compatible with iPad models that have a GPS chip.

• Walking Among Geysers: Old Faithful Self-Guided Audio Tour
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• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Learn more: dive deeper into any story you enjoyed with extra stories.
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

Trending Yellowstone National Park Nearby Tours Likely To Sell Out

You’re not done yet! It’s time to set up the tour you purchased.

Follow these steps now, while in wifi/signal. Do NOT wait until your travel date or while onsite.

1. Find the tour setup instructions:

>> Email: search for the phrase “Your tour operator sent you a message” OR “Set up your Action Tour Guide self-guided tour now.” If it’s not in Inbox, check All Mail.

>> Viator App Messages: open the app, check Bookings, select View Voucher, and click on Contact Tour Operator

>> TripAdvisor App Messages:
open the app, check Account, select Messages

>> Text: check for a text from 415-980-4997

>> Can’t find it? Ask us to resend: https://actiontourguide.com/redeem/

2. Follow the set up instructions NOW, not later:

>> MUST do this before traveling to site. Requires WiFi/signal.

>> Do NOT wait until your travel date to access the tour for the first time. The tour is not tied to your travel date.

>> If you’ve reserved the tour for multiple participants (e.g., four people), the same password can be redeemed multiple times (e.g., four times).

3. Not familiar with our self-guided audio tours? Watch this quick tutorial: https://actiontourguide.com/tutorial

⚠️ Important Note:
Your purchase is for the audio tour ONLY. It does not include entrance tickets to parks or attractions.

Have a question – We’re here to help! For quick answers, visit the app’s FAQ section or our website at actiontourguide.com/faq. If you need further assistance, please call us at +1 435-288-0560, chat with us online, or email us at support@actiontourguide.com. We’re committed to providing you with the support you need every step of the way!

❄️ Winter Closure 2024:
Most roads are closed for winter prep, with snow coach and snowmobile travel starting December 15. Only the road between the North and Northeast entrances is open year-round to regular vehicles.

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by Travel with Action.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at America/Denver.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• This Tour is Rated 5 Stars based on 1 valid reviews on TRIPADVISOR.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.