Artist Paint Pots Trail

Overview

A compact greatest-hits tour of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal weirdness. This 1.0-mile total lollipop loop mixes easy walking with a short stair climb and delivers hot springs, a fumarole, small geysers (including the attention-grabbing “Blood Geyser”), and those namesake mud pots that bubble like pale paint. It’s generally less hectic than Norris Geyser Basin, but it still draws a crowd by mid‑morning.

What You’ll See

Down low, you’ll pass vividly colored pools and steam vents. Up top, the mud pots steal the show—plopping, gurgling, and sometimes flinging specks of clay. From the higher decks you get broad views across the basin, and on clear days you can spot Mount Holmes in the distance.

Trail Layout and Surfaces

The path starts on mostly flat gravel/dirt and boardwalk through forest and meadow before reaching the loop at about 0.3 miles. Go left (clockwise) to climb stairs first and descend on trail; go right if you’d rather ascend on trail and descend the stairs. Expect a mix of gravel/dirt and boardwalk with edge barriers or partial railings. Total elevation gain is around 100 feet—easy overall with a brief, steeper section.

Logistics and Crowd Strategy

The paved lot sits right off the Grand Loop Road between Norris and Madison. It’s small-to-moderate, fills quickly, and turns over fast because this is a short stop. Arrive early for easy parking. There’s a vault toilet at the trailhead, spotty cell service, and larger RVs may find parking tricky. Bear spray is smart—this approach runs through forest and meadow where wildlife can be active in quiet hours.

Best Time to Hike

Go early morning for calmer boardwalks, easier parking, and soft light on the pools. Mud pot consistency changes with moisture—wetter periods make them thinner; late summer and fall often thicken the “paint.” After rain, expect some muddy stretches on the dirt approach. If you’re building a hydrothermal morning, pair this with nearby Norris or the shorter, mostly level Fountain Paint Pot loop.

Safety and Access Notes

Hydrothermal features can scald—stay on boardwalks and marked paths, supervise kids, and give active mud pots space (they can spit). The first ~0.4 miles to the lower features are the most accessible; the upper loop has steeper grades and stairs. A designated van-accessible space is in the paved lot. Wheelchairs are allowed where pedestrians are, but devices like Segways aren’t. Pets aren’t allowed on boardwalks, trails, or in thermal areas.