Y E L L O W S T O N E N A T I O N A L P A R K
F O U N T A I N P A I N T P O T A R E A
Northwestern Wyoming
Friday, August 6, 2004

Park: #4.3

Established: 1872 (first national park)

Acres: 2,219,791

Annual Budget: $28,116,000 (FY 2004)

Visitation: 2,900,971 (FY 2004)

Highlights: Active volcano, unique geothermal activity, Old Faithful, Yellowstone Canyon

Location: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Hours: Open year round

Phone: (307) 344-7381

Fees: Individual - $10 (7 days), Single Vehicle - $20 (7 days), $40 Annual

Links: Official Website | NPS Online Tour

Top Pics: 5 Images

Rating: (5 max)

NOTE: Portions of this writing were taken directly from Yellowstone's Fountain Paint Pot Area Trail Guide. All excepts are denoted with double-quotes.

"At Fountain Paint Pot, what you see varies with the season. In early summer the mudpots are thin and watery from abundant rain and snow. By late summer they are quite thick. If the mud is thick today, watch out! Bursting bubbles may lob mud up and over the guard rail."

The mud is thick today but not to the point where I have to duck and dodge flying mud. Too bad, that would have been fun!

"The mud is composed of clay minerals and fine particles of silica. In this area the rock is rhyolite, which is composed primarily of quartz and feldspar. Acids in the steam and water break down the feldspar into a clay material called kaolinite. The Crow Tribe used to paint their tipis with this mud."