Abyss Pool, West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Amazingly vibrant color, more than any other single thing, is what puts Yellowstone in a league all by itself. For some unknown reason, though, the park’s collection of frequently erupting geysers gets most of the attention. Old Faithful, it seems, is as much a national landmark as the overexposed giant heads of Mount Rushmore. But seeing a column of water burst from the ground like an ordinary city fountain is every bit as exciting as it sounds. Having to wait 90 minutes or more to actually see one makes it decidedly less so.
Thermophiles, meanwhile, are as underappreciated as the water spouts are overhyped. These incredible heat-loving microbes literally put the yellow into Yellowstone.
Jewel Geyser, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone
Thriving at various temperatures, different thermophiles take up residence in different hot water springs and pools. Cooler water is hospitable to green and brown colored organisms.
Morning Glory Pool, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone
Orange and yellow indicates hotter temperatures.
Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone
Fewer creatures survive in springs with temperatures near the boiling point. In these locations, the clear water shines emerald blue.
Excelsior Geyser Crater, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone
For other looks at this most diverse of U.S. national parks also check out The Otherworldliness of Yellowstone and The Ordinary Beauty of Yellowstone.
Everywhere Once 
Fabulous place. We were there about two years ago… and you’re right, Old Faithful was fairly interesting but it was the pools and smoking vents that were far more captivating.
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What beautiful colours! Visiting Yellowstone National Park is on my bucket list 🙂
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wow…its just amazing how the colors serve as indicators to the temperatures. What a wonder of nature!
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The colours are stunning. Great photographs.
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Oh my goodness, those fabulous colours take me back to an incident that occurred there when I visited in my childhood. I’m British, but we lived in the States for a year when I was 8, and my brave parents took me and my brother and sister on a coast-to-coast road trip. We spent a wonderful day at Yellowstone, where I insisted on buying a red straw souvenir hat with Yellowstone Park emblazoned across the front which I immediately put on. Next stop, Morning Glory Pool, where we stood gazing into its beautiful blue depths. Until, that is, a gust of warm air came along and whipped the hat off my head straight into the pool. Glad to see it is no longer the deep pink that it was turning from the dye on the hat, as this shrieking British family ran as fast as we could in the opposite direction…
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I sincerely believe that one is required to take a picture of a hat in one of the pools. I bagged 2 hat photos my last trip to Yellowstone.
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Ha ha! I bet they sell a lot of hats in the shops there actually – because of course we then had to call back to the shop to replace the hat I’d lost! There are probably Park Rangers hidden behind bushes with wind machines to help them on their journey!
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Ha! Maybe I got it wrong. The colors are really just dies bled from different hats that flew into the pools.
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Yep, that’ll be it! I had a nice green Amish bonnet that I’d picked up in Pennsylvania Dutch country a few days earlier too…
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Wow! I just put this on my bucket list! Actually to do a trip like you guys have done ought to be on there too now I think about it.
Love the premise of Novel Destinations and just added it to my Christmas List.
After years of disappointing pressies I’ve decided to go for direct rather than subtle hints in the present department. Know this is off topic but does anyone else have this problem too?!
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We’re delighted that you’ve added Novel Destinations to your Christmas list. And nothing wrong with asking for what you want. 😉
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it almost looks like someone has coloured the water with yellow texta! Incredible – it sure looks hot 🙂
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An almost unbelievable change in colours in the third photo. Yellow then BAM now I’m green! Back to admiring, yet again, the wonders of Mother Nature.
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It is hard to improve on what nature has already done.
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Womderful colors.
I hope to see them one day with my own eyes.
Thanks fir sharing!
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Womderful colors.
I hope to see them one day with my own eyes.
Thanks fir sharing!
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Rich and vivid colors. Almost a surreal view. Great photos!
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Really surreal photos–they appear to be fabricated with either filters or photoshop!
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Nope. That’s how they really look. I discovered that it helped to get a cloudless day (because the clouds reflected on the water) and to shoot at mid-day when the sun light penatrated deep into the pools.
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Gorgeous photos! I have yet to make it to Yellowstone. I remember family vacays to the Rocky Mountains and then up into the Badlands, but I don’t believe we hit Yellowstone or I would have remembered all those spectacular colors! 🙂
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I just “shared” your photo on Facebook, Brian. Stunning.
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The colours of those pools are so beautiful. Thank you also for the information about why they are like this. Nature can be so unexpected and amazing.
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There are actually Yellow stones at yellowstone! Genius!
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These pictures are stunning! I’ve never been to Yellostone but these images really make me want to go.
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OMG! I so want to go there — you got it — at least once! Magnificent photos, I love them! Thanks for visiting my blog and your like – is the Jurassic Coast now on your bucket list?
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Josh here from the BlinkPack blog. What awesome photos! I hope to visit someday. I wish you all the best with your travels and blogging. Cheers!
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Beautiful photos – thanks for sharing! Have a Great One:)
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It’s one of those where first impressions could guess that the photos have been enhanced, but of course we know nature is just brilliant. Nice work
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Hello! I have nominated you for The Super Sweet Blogging Award http://marionquitasol.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/super-sweet-blogging-award/
This is my thank you for inspiring me once in a while. 🙂
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Well we’re super honored! Thanks.
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You’re very much welcome. Enjoy! 🙂 All the best to both of you. 🙂
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Beautiful photographs! I will finally get to travel to Yellowstone National Park next year & cannot wait to be there. Thanks for sharing.
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Sublime colours. Gorgeous.
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Your pictures reminded me of what a neat place Yellowstone is. I do love the colors! Also interesting are macro shots of some of the really shallow pools – they look like the surface of some strange planet. Thanks for sharing!
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The thumbnails in my reader could easily have been abstract paintings. Very beautiful.
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I guess they kind of are abstract paintings – just not painted by man.
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color of earth!…very nature…nice!
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I love the layout of your blog and love reading about your adventures. I am glad you enjoyed my post about Costa Rica. I hope I am even half as sucessful on my journey as y’all are on yours! Way to take control of your lives and live the way you want to!
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Thanks for stopping by and for commenting. Here’s to living the lives we want. Cheers and happy travels.
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Wow amazing colours! I love all the photos! Beautiful!
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When is the best time to visit it??
Please answer me 🙂
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Spring, Summer and Fall are all very popular. I don’t think there is necessarily a best time. Seeing Yellowstone in winter seems like it would be a unique experience. Although the park is open all year long, most of the roads close during the winter. But you can still get a snowmobile and see the park in a way very few other people do.
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I agree completely with your view on the park’s landmarks. All the hot springs and pools with their incredible colors deserve much more attention than Old Faithful.
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