📷 DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0West Thumb Geyser Basin
Yellowstone, WY
Hot springs and pools spilling into Yellowstone Lake, with a boardwalk loop that passes the Fishing Cone and the deep blue Abyss Pool. The large parking lot suits RVs, and the loop takes about 45 minutes.
West Thumb Geyser Basin is a thermal area on the shore of Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. According to Fodor's, it formed in a later eruption after the creation of the great Yellowstone Caldera. The mix of hot springs and lakeshore makes the area unusual and especially photogenic.
Two boardwalk loops lead to the main stops. Highlights include Abyss Pool, a striking blue-green pool, and Fishing Cone, where anglers once cooked their fresh catch right in the boiling water without taking it off the hook.
In winter the area is popular, according to Fodor's: a nearby warming hut serves as the starting point, you walk through the basin and then continue by snowmobile or snowcoach. For cars, most park roads close on November 1, 2026; nothing more specific turned up for the West Thumb section (as of October 2026, check ahead).
- Nearest town
- Yellowstone, WY
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 44.4175, -110.5725
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Grant Village CampgroundCampsite1 mi from West Thumb Geyser Basin · 430 pitchesTentsCaravansDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposal
- Lewis Lake CampgroundCampsite10 mi from West Thumb Geyser Basin · 84 pitchesTentsCaravansDrinking water
- Bridge Bay CampgroundCampsite11 mi from West Thumb Geyser BasinTentsCaravansDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposal
- Fishing Bridge RV ParkCampsite14 mi from West Thumb Geyser Basin · 310 pitchesCaravansShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Headwaters CampgroundCampsite22 mi from West Thumb Geyser BasinTentsCaravansDrinking waterShowersToiletsDogs allowed
- Canyon CampgroundCampsite23 mi from West Thumb Geyser Basin · 273 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in Wyoming · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is West Thumb Geyser Basin?
West Thumb Geyser Basin is in Yellowstone, WY, at GPS 44.4175, -110.5725. It is about 31 mi from West Yellowstone.
Can you camp near West Thumb Geyser Basin?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Grant Village Campground, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 13 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass West Thumb Geyser Basin?
West Thumb Geyser Basin is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Mesa Falls to Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, Hayden Valley and Cody.
What is there to see near West Thumb Geyser Basin?
Places worth a stop nearby: Old Faithful (13 mi), Old Faithful Inn (13 mi), Grand Prismatic Spring (15 mi) and Hayden Valley (17 mi).
When is the best time to visit West Thumb Geyser Basin?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)