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Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park

4.7
#3 of 38 in Parks in Yellowstone National Park
Hot Spring Nature / Park
At nearly 113 m (370 ft) across and 37 m (121 ft) deep, Grand Prismatic Spring holds the title of the largest hot spring in America and one of the largest in the world. A premier attraction at Yellowstone National Park, the spring's fame traces back to early explorers and fur trappers who first noted it in the early 1800s. The boiling pool constantly steams and bubbles, with its vivid, rainbow-like appearance--the result of pigmented bacteria. To get a close-up view, walk along the park's boardwalk, which leads to a route close to the water's edge. Stay on the path, as the high temperatures of the pool can be dangerous. Put Grand Prismatic Spring and other Yellowstone National Park attractions into our Yellowstone National Park travel itinerary planner, and watch your holiday take shape.
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Grand Prismatic Spring Tours
Yellowstone Lower Loop Full-Day Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $260
Yellowstone National Park Full-Day Guided Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $289
Yellowstone Guided Day Tour From Jackson Hole BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $250
Yellowstone Guided Day Tour From Jackson Hole BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $1,100
Yellowstone Upper and Lower Loop Tours BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $1,370
Yellowstone Guided Day Tour From Jackson Hole BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $970
Yellowstone Lower Loop Self-Guided Tour from Cody BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $57
Self-Guided Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour from Gardiner BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $57
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Grand Prismatic Spring Reviews
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
2,081 reviews
Google
4.8
TripAdvisor
  • August 14, 2017
    The grand prismatic spring is a natural wonder. You have to take the trail to see him from the top.
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  • August 14, 2017
    The best way to view is to take the short hike off of the Fairy Falls trailhead . You look down on the spring and it's surrounding area. We came back down to the Fairy falls trail and made our way to ...  more »
  • August 14, 2017
    We too the path from the south side. It's a little longer walk, but you can go up the trail to get an "overhead" view of the spring. It is truly awe inspiring! There are countless hot springs and vent...  more »
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Google
  • May 8, 2017
    One of the most attractable wonder. Best time to actually experience color spectrum is sunny shiny day that will reflect the sunlight through water prism. Really got in love with the wonderful natural landscape, will surely visit there.
  • June 25, 2017
    One of the coolest things that I have ever seen in person and a definite highlight to one of the best vacations ever.
  • July 4, 2017
    Absolutely beautiful. You gotta hike to the top of the hill behind it to get the best view.
  • March 6, 2017
    One of my top place in Yellowstone. It is a huge boiling colorful pool in midway geyser basin. But you cant see the real beauty from ground level. You should climb to the hill to have a better view of the colours of pool.
  • May 8, 2017
    Walk in the evening after the tour buses leave for less crowds. Great place to see.
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Where to stay in Yellowstone National Park

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As one of the U.S.'s most popular national parks, Yellowstone provides plenty of options for sleeping within its boundaries. Choose from lodges, inns, cabins, hotels, motels, and campgrounds throughout the park. Most of the structured accommodations lie in the park's most-visited areas, such as Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Falls, Old Faithful Geyser, and Yellowstone Lake. Staying on the northern side of the lake puts you right in the heart of the park, making it relatively convenient to visit other areas. Resorts, lodges, and guest ranches line the road just outside the park's east entrance, and a cluster of motels and hotels fills the town of West Yellowstone near the west entrance. You can also opt for lodges and inns to the north in Gardiner, Montana, or find nearly every type of accommodation to the south in Jackson, Wyoming. Staying outside the park is fine if you plan to drive through in a day and catch the highlights, but you'll want to spend at least one night inside the park if you plan to explore it more thoroughly.
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