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Northwestern Wyoming

Friday, August 6, 2004

Park: #4.5

Established: 1872 (first national park)

Acres: 2,219,791

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

Visitors: 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

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NOTE: Portions of this writing were taken directly from Yellowstone's West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail Guide. All excepts are denoted with double-quotes.

Located on the western shore of Yellowstone Lake, West Thumb Geyser Basin is where you'll find a multitude of hot springs, geysers, and even a few fumaroles. An interesting feature not found anywhere else in Yellowstone are the three geysers that line the Yellowstone Lakeshore.

"The large circular bay of West Thumb is an excellent example of a volcanic crater or caldera. A powerful volcanic explosion about 150,000 years ago caused the earth's crust to collapse, creating the West Thumb caldera. The depression produced by the volcano later filled with water to become this large bay of Yellowstone Lake."

"People have long been drawn to West Thumb. Native Americans favored campsites in this area as they hunted bison in the summer. The Crow people gathered medicinal herbs here. Shoshone and Bannack peoples have stories about the formation of the lake. Early scientific expeditions, which corroborated the tales of colorful hot springs mentioned by mountain men, rested here."

I arrive at West Thumb Geyser Basin just as the rain stops, providing a window of opportunity to enjoy the upcoming visual treats. As you can see the basin sits right on the lakeshore.