The Colors of Yellowstone

Thermal Pool at Artist’s Paint Pots

There are many reasons that Yellowstone was set aside as our first national park in 1872, and it continues to inspire visitors with its varied geological formations. With geysers, hot springs, mud pots, rivers, and canyons the park shows off in a rainbow of colors. In this post, I wanted to see if I could correlate the sights of Yellowstone with each of the colors of the rainbow - one natural wonder per color on the spectrum. Remember ROY G BIV from elementary school? It was a mnemonic device to remember the colors in the visible light spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Let’s show off the beauty of Yellowstone through its many colors.

Red: Red Spouter Fumarole

Red Spouter in the Lower Geyser Basin

The Fountain Paint Pot Trail offers views of Red Spouter, a thermal feature that changes throughout the seasons. At times, it is dry and acts as a fumarole or opening in or near a volcano through which hot sulfurous gases emerge. At other times of the year, it is more similar to a boiling mudpot. The red color stands out and looks beautiful against the brown dirt.

Location: Click Here for Map to Red Spouter.

Orange: Edges of the Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring actually contains all of the colors of the rainbow in its ring-like layers of mineral deposits and aqua water. For our list, we are focused on the outermost ring which is a brilliant orange. It is a spectacular sight to view from the boardwalk or from the overlook trail (links to both locations are included below). This spring is the highlight of the Midway Geyser Basin, and it is the third largest spring in the world. It is approximately 370 feet in diameter and 160 feet deep.

Location: Click Here for Map to the Grand Prismatic Spring Boardwalk. Click Here for Map to the Overlook Spot.

Yellow: Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs

There are many terraces and trails to explore in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. From afar, they look beige, but when you look closely at the “stair step” formations you will see many different shades of yellow. The terraces are made by travertine deposited by dozens of hot springs. Mammoth Hot Springs are perched on a side of the hill close to the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District - a great place to spot elk.

Location: Click Here for Map to Mammoth Hot Springs.

Green: Mossy Groundcover in the Artist’s Paintpots Area

Mossy Groundcover near Artist’s Paint Pots

With so much moisture in the air due to the thermal activity, even in the winter, the mossy greens of the groundcover display their brilliance. Mosses often grow in Yellowstone because the ground is hot - making it perfect for moss because it does not have roots. After a half mile walk from the parking lot to the Artist’s Paintpots boardwalk and loop trail, the woods open up to a green area with steam hovering over it. It truly feels like you are on the surface of another planet.

Location: Click Here for Map to Artist’s Paint Pots.

Blue: Silex Spring in the Lower Geyser Basin

Silex Spring

There are many brilliantly blue pools and springs in Yellowstone. One photo we loved was at Silex Spring because the snow in the background makes the blue pop. Silex Spring is easy to get to and is one of the first springs on the Fountain Paint Pot Trail. Other notable blue pools in Yellowstone are the following: Opal Pool in the Midway Geyser Basin, Sapphire Pool in the Biscuit Basin, and Crested Pool in the Upper Geyser Basin.

Location: Click Here for Map to Silex Spring.

Indigo: Firehole River

Firehole River in Midway Geyser Basin

Where water from the springs of the Midway Geyser Basin poor into the Firehole River, the river is a deep indigo color. They with the rocks visible below the surface and the water steaming, the sight is stunning. Temperatures in the river have been measured as high as 86 °F and are, on average, 9 to 18 °F higher than areas upstream that are not influenced by geothermal activity.

Location: Click Here for Map to Firehole River.

Violet: Gibbon Falls

Gibbon Falls from the Overlook

Violet is one of the least found colors in Yellowstone, but in the spring, there are many violet flowers that bloom in the park. In the winter, hints of deep violet can be found in the rock behind Gibbon Falls. The rock is so dark that it almost looks black behind the falls, and it contrasts with the white water rushing over the falls. This violet color is bold and makes Gibbon Falls even more impressive to view.

Location: Click Here for Map to Gibbon Falls.

Hope you enjoyed looking through the spectrum of colors at Yellowstone National Park. Tag us at #pinesandcoastlines with your colorful Yellowstone pics. We would love to see them.