Yellowstone’s Black Sands, Biscuit and Midway Geyer Basin are located on the lower western portion of Yellowstone’s Loop Road with two of these three basins being only a short distance from Old Faithful. Of these three, Midway Basin is the most popular geyser basin due to its star attraction, Grand Prismatic Pool.
Biscuit and Black Sand Geyser Basins, however, contain some beautiful geothermal features that should not be missed including Emerald Pool.
In this “Photographing Yellowstone’s Biscuit, Black Sand, and Midway Geyser Basins” post I highlight the top hydrothermal features from each basin as well as provide some tips for how best to photograph them. The photo opportunities in these three basins includes some unique features you will not see anywhere else in the United States.
So follow along as we take a virtual walk around the geysers, pools and springs in Yellowstone’s Biscuit, Black Sands and Midway Geyser Basins.
Where are Biscuit and Black Sands Geyser Basins?
Where is Midway Geyser Basin?
BLACK SANDS GEYSER BASIN
Our first stop, Black Sands Basin, is a small geyser basin just a mile north of Old Faithful in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin. The name Black Sands Basin came from tourists for the basin’s black sand. This sand originated from a dark rock called obsidian that formed when lava cooled too quickly.
Black Sands Basin is home to stunning Emerald Pool along with other beautiful thermal features such as Cliff Geyser, Rainbow Pool, and Opalescent Pool. A short and easy boardwalk of about .5 miles with a side spur that leads to Emerald Pool will take you by most of the major features in the basin.
Despite Black Sands being a small basin, it has a number of hydrothermal features that are quite photogenic. Additionally, the early morning steam emitting from the geysers combined with the boardwalks is definitely a camera worthy shot. If you are lucky, you may also capture coyotes and elk roaming the basin.
Map of Black Sands Basin
Here are a couple of my favorite photo spots at Yellowstone’s Black Sands Basin.
Yellowstone Emerald Pool
This pool is also referred to as Emerald Spring and named due to its unique green water color created from the presence of yellow bacteria. In fact, this bacteria provides the stunning distinctive yellow edges around the pool that make it so unique and photogenic.
Emerald Pool is definitely a morning photo spot and best photographed as soon as the sun is high enough in the sky to eliminate shadows on the pool.
Click on image to view purchase options.
Emerald Pool Photo Tips:
Black Sand Basin Sunset Lake
Sunset Lake, aka Sunset Pool, is the largest pool in Black Sands Basin with over 190 feet on its longest side. It is actually a geyser, not a lake, with edges comprised of rich yellow and orange colors.
Photo Tips:
Other Black Sands Features
Cliff Geyser – is a small but interesting geyser that is located as you first enter the Black Sand Basin Boardwalk by Iron Spring Creek and erupts every few minutes with heights up to 40 feet.
Rainbow Pool – this is a large 100 foot pool that rarely erupts. What makes this pool photographic is the mineral deposits on its edges that also resemble the colors around Emerald Springs.
Opalescent Pool – This pool has a cooler temperature than the other features in Black Sands Basin and also contains bobby sock trees which makes for an interesting photo subject.
To learn more about this basin and all of its features please check out Black Sands Basin.
YELLOWSTONE BISCUIT BASIN
Update: In 2024 this basin experienced a significant eruption that damaged the basin resulting in its closure until further notice.
After photographing Black Sand Basin, head north for 2 miles from Old Faithful and you will arrive at Biscuit Basin. This is a small geyser basin but don’t let that stop you from exploring it. Just cross a wooded bridge over the Firehole River and walk the .6 mile basin trail.
Biscuit Basin was named for the biscuit like deposits that once lined its star attraction, Sapphire Pool. Sadly, most of these biscuits are no longer there due to the Hebgen Lake earthquake of 1959. The earthquake caused an eruption of Sapphire Pool which threw biscuits away from the Pool.
The basin is filled with interesting and unique hot springs, geysers, and other hydrothermal features to keep your camera busy for hours. Now let’s start to explore all its photography opportunities.
Map of Biscuit Basin
The following are just a few of Biscuit Basin’s geothermal features:
Sapphire Pool
Biscuit Basin’s star attraction and namesake, Sapphire Pool, is one of the very first geothermal features to greet you with its stunning deep blue waters. Well, not the first feature; the first two features are Black Opal Pool and Black Diamond Pool, then Sapphire Pool. Note: The 2024 eruption occurred by Black Diamond and Black Opal Pools.
Click on image to view purchase options
Sapphire Pool, prior to the 1959 earthquake, was an active geyser with regular eruptions and beautiful blue waters. After the earthquake the Pool’s waters turned a muddy color then later returned to the colors seen in the above image.
I have no idea what color the water is at Sapphire Pool now since the basin is closed to the public.
In 1971, the regular eruptions stopped and Sapphire Pool, has not erupted at all since 1991.
Sapphire Pool Photo Tips:
Leaving Sapphire Pool and continuing through Biscuit Basin, the next interesting feature you will see is Jewel Geyser on your right.
To photograph this geyser you have to face north so best photo opportunities are when the sun in the southern sky.
Shell Geyser
Shortly after Jewel Geyser, on your left you will encounter a very unique and cool little geyser called Shell Geyser. This little geyser became a favorite of mine. I am choosing to show a photo of this geyser when it is not erupting so you can see the interesting formation of the shell.
Shell Geyser erupts in a cycle that begins as the pool area slowly fills with water, followed by a long eruption. The eruptions are not regular like Old Faithful but usually occur anywhere from several hours to several weeks.
Photo Tip:
Other Photo Features- Biscuit Basin
Salt and Pepper Geyser -Viewed from the parking lot
Black Opal Pool -This is the first pool you see from the boardwalk and the closest to the Firehole River.
Avoca Springs -This springs has very interesting colors with eruptions that reach up to about 25 feet. The colors surrounding this springs are quite dramatic and different.
Mystic Falls Trail- At the back of Biscuit Basin is a trail to beautiful Mystic Falls that is just over a mile one way. I have to admit that I have yet to hike this trail due to always being alone when I have photographed Biscuit Basin and I do not hike alone in Yellowstone.
MIDWAY GEYSER BASIN
Midway Geyser Basin, home to Grand Prismatic Pool, is probably the second most visited basin in Yellowstone after the Upper Geyser Basin.
Midway is home to two of the world’s largest hot springs, Grand Prismatic and Excelsior Geyser with Grand Prismatic Spring drawing the crowds. The crowds are not wrong; Grand Prismatic is stunning both in its size and spectacular colors and the reason every photographer must visit Midway Geyser Basin.
Honestly, with the exception of Grand Prismatic Spring, the rest of the basin is just moderately photogenic compared to other Yellowstone’s geyser basins.
Grand Prismatic Spring
Grand Prismatic Spring, also called Grand Prismatic Pool, is the largest hot springs in the United States and the third largest in the world. It measures an incredible 370 foot wide with depths of 120 feet.
From the Midway Geyser parking lot, a half mile long boardwalk takes visitors right next to Grand Prismatic. The boardwalk is equipped with benches where you can sit and take in the enormity of this spring.
Although photographs of the entire spring are not possible from the boardwalk, it does allow for wonderful photo opportunities. For those who love photographing colorful abstracts, you will find plenty to shoot.
Grand Prismatic Pool is usually covered in mist in the early morning hours making it difficult to photograph. Therefore, midday to late afternoon are better times to capture Grand Prismatic from the boardwalk but it will be crowded.
As you can see in the image below, the steam is obscuring most of the view of the hillside as well as part of Grand Prismatic Spring.
Click on image to view purchase options
A word of caution-Parking at Midway Geyser Basin is difficult as the lot is too small for the number of visitors.
Thankfully, there is another way to photograph Grand Prismatic Pool that will allow you to capture the entire pool. It is from the Fairy Falls Trail.
Grand Prismatic from Fairy Falls Trail
In fact, the Fairy Falls Trail is the best way to see all of Grand Prismatic. The trail is located south of the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot where the hike to Fairy Falls begins.
After walking one mile on this well packed easy trail, you will encounter a spur trail to your left that takes you to an overlook for Grand Prismatic Pool. The trail is a little steep but very doable for most people.
Pro Tip: The Fairy Falls parking lot gets full quickly so plan to arrive very early or later in the day.
The views of Grand Prismatic from this overlook are amazing but it is extremely crowded with lots of shaking so don’t bother bringing along a tripod. In fact I found the entire experience to be very stressful. When I do this trail again it will not be during a peak tourist season.
The photo below was taken around 7:30 p.m. on a smoky summer day and still there were a line of people waiting to get on the observation platform.
Photo Tips Grand Prismatic from Fairy Falls Overlook:
Lastly, be sure to carry bear spray on this trail. Due to the crowds in this area, bear encounters are not frequent but they do occur. Also this trail can be closed for bear activity, especially in early spring.
Opal Pool
Opal Pool is a hot spring with beautiful blue water and vibrant orange edges. It is Opal Pool’s location, however, that makes it such a good photography subject with its expansive views of Yellowstone’s northwest corner as a backdrop.
Mornings and evenings are both good for photographing Opal Pool.
Click on image to view purchase options.
Excelsior Geyser
Excelsior Geyser is located just off the boardwalk as you walk from the parking lot to Grand Prismatic and was once the largest geyser in the world. Today it is a hot spring that has not had a major eruption since the late 1800’s, although it did have a very small eruption in 1985.
It is worth stopping to see this geyser but I have never found it photogenic and in fact have never kept any images I took of the geyser.
FINAL THOUGHTS- PHOTOGRAPHING GEYSER BASINS
Yellowstone National Park is filled with so much amazing scenery and wildlife that these three Yellowstone geyser basins do not get the attention they deserve. I hope that by sharing the information in this “Photographing Yellowstone’s Biscuit, Black Sands and Midway Geyser Basins” post, I have inspired you to spend time photographing these basins.
To date, I have only scratched the surface of Yellowstone’s thermal features in my Yellowstone blog series that also includes Mammoth Hot Springs and the Upper Geyser Basin. Be sure to also check out my other Yellowstone posts that include photo itineraries, hotel guides, packing guides and other helpful information, all which are listed below.
Lastly a great resource for geyser eruption times is ” Geyser Times” which lists all the geyser eruptions in the Park. Since cell phone signals are not available everywhere in the park, be sure to download the latest information to your phone when you are in an area with cell service.
If you have found this information helpful and would like to support this blog, please consider visiting my entire Yellowstone collection at: Yellowstone National Park Photo Gallery. Views and comments definitely help me.
Thanks for joining me on another stop along my Mountain to Sea Photo Journey.
