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 The Old Faithful
area features the Upper Geyser Basin, home to the most famous attraction
in Yellowstone,
Old Faithful Geyser (right).
Old Faithful erupts more frequently
than any of the other big geysers, although it is not the largest or most
regular geyser in the park. Its average interval between eruptions is
about 91 minutes, varying from 65 - 92 minutes. An eruption lasts 1 1/2 to
5 minutes, expels 3,700 - 8,400 gallons (14,000 - 32,000 liters) of
boiling water, and reaches heights of 106 - 184 feet (30 - 55m). It was
named for its consistent performance by members of the Washburn Expedition
in 1870. Although its average interval has lengthened through the years
(due to earthquakes and vandalism), Old Faithful is still as spectacular
and predictable as it was a century ago.
 Upper
Geyser Basin also features
many more geysers, including
Beehive,
Castle, and
Riverside. The
Old Faithful Visitor Center provides information on the many
geysers in the Upper Basin.
Old Faithful Inn (left) is the most popular hotel in the park.
Built during the winter of 1903-04, the Old Faithful Inn was designed by
Robert C. Reamer, who wanted the asymmetry of the building to reflect the
chaos of nature. The lobby of the hotel features a 65-foot ceiling, a
massive rhyolite fireplace, and railings made of contorted lodgepole pine.
Wings were added to the hotel in 1915 and 1927, and today there
are 327 rooms available to guests in this
National Historic Landmark.
Reservations are often difficult to obtain during peak summer season.
Unlike the Inn, the current Old Faithful Lodge
is a result of numerous changes dating back to the early days of tent
camps provided by companies like Shaw and Powell Camping Company and
Wylie Permanent Camping Company. These camps were erected throughout the
park and offered shelter before hotels and lodges were built. Both
companies had facilities at Old Faithful. By 1917, auto traffic into the
park was increasing, and it was decided that some camps could be
eliminated. Yellowstone Park Camping Company emerged and operated on the
old site of the Shaw and Powell camp, the present day site of the Lodge.
In 1918, a laundry was built on the site and construction continued on
the facility until 1928 when the Lodge reached its present
configuration.
Cabin-style accommodations are available at Old
Faithful Lodge. Often confused with the other two hotels in the area, Old
Faithful Lodge houses a cafeteria, gift shop, coffee shop, and the front
desk where guests check in.
A number of trails are located in the Old Faithful
area. A few are listed below.
 Geyser
Hill Loop Trail -- This short, easy 1.3 mile loop trail gives visitors
a good chance of seeing a variety of geysers, from the ever-entertaining
Anemone with its short intervals of 5-10 minutes to the impressive Beehive
with its unpredictable eruptions reaching 100-150 feet! Trailhead:
Boardwalk in front of Old Faithful Visitor Center
Observation Point Loop Trail -- This 1.1 mile moderate trail gains
about 200 ft. in elevation to a prominent overlook providing a great view
of the Upper Geyser Basin. Trailhead: Firehole River footbridge behind Old
Faithful Geyser
Mallard Lake Trail -- This 6.8 mile moderate trail climbs through
lodgepole pine forest (some burned areas from the 1988 fires) and along
meadows and rocky slopes before terminating at Mallard Lake. Trailhead:
Old Faithful Lodge cabin area
Lone Star Geyser Trail -- This 5 mile roundtrip, mostly level trail
follows an old service road along the Firehole River through unburned
forests of lodgepole pine. The geyser, which erupts approximately every 3
hours, puts on a delightful show. This trail can be accessed by bicycle
with the final approach to the geyser on foot. The trailhead is 3.5
miles south of Old Faithful.
 Black
Sand and Biscuit Basin Trails -- Easily accessed by boardwalks less
than a mile in length, Emerald Pool, Sunset Lake, Jewel Geyser, and
Sapphire Pool are among the features found in these less visited basins.
Both areas are included in the Old Faithful area trail guide.
Mystic Falls Trail -- This 2.4 mile
moderate trail follows a lovely creek through a lodgepole pine forest
before reaching the 70- foot falls. By following a series of switchbacks,
an overlook of the Upper Geyser Basin can be reached before looping back
to join the main trail. Trailhead: Back of the Biscuit Basin boardwalk
Following is a map of the Old
Faithful area:
Also, you may wish to take a look
at an
overhead view of Old Faithful.
Additional Old Faithful maps are also available.
Information on this
page provided by the National Park Service.
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