Black Pool

Northwest > Wyoming > Yellowstone National Park > West Thumb, Grant Village and the South > Black Pool

Steaming Black Pool at sunrise

Yellowstone National Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted

Deep blue thermal pool whose color dramatically changed after nearby geothermal activity altered its water temperature and microbial communities.

General Information
Hours:
Open 24 hours a day year-round, weather and park conditions permitting.
Fees:
Yellowstone National Park entrance fees apply
Private vehicle: $35 (7-day pass)
Motorcycle: $30 (7-day pass)
Individual (walk/bike): $20 (7-day pass)
Annual Yellowstone Pass: $70
Pet Policy:
Pets are permitted only in developed areas within 100 feet of roads, parking areas, and campgrounds, must remain leashed, and are not allowed on boardwalks, trails, or in thermal areas.
Closest cities with hotels:
West Yellowstone, Montana (approximately 31 mi)
Seasons:
Late spring through early fall offers the best access and viewing opportunities, though the area may be visited year-round depending on road conditions.
Location:
/?q=Black+Pool+Yellowstone+National+Park" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Black Pool, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Website:
/index.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">nps.gov/yell

How to Get There

From West Yellowstone (31 mi): Enter Yellowstone National Park through the West Entrance, follow Grand Loop Road to the Old Faithful area, and walk the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalks north toward Biscuit Basin to reach Black Pool.

Overview

The Black Pool is one of Yellowstone National Park's most fascinating hot springs, located within Biscuit Basin in the Upper Geyser Basin region. Despite its name, the pool is no longer black. Early visitors observed a dark appearance created by cooler water that supported dense mats of thermophilic microorganisms. Following seismic activity and changes in the area's geothermal plumbing during the twentieth century, the water temperature increased significantly, eliminating many of the darker organisms and revealing the pool's striking blue color. Today, the spring stands as a vivid example of the constantly changing nature of Yellowstone's hydrothermal system.

Visitors viewing Black Pool from the boardwalk can observe brilliant blue water surrounded by orange, yellow, and green microbial mats that reflect variations in temperature and chemistry around the spring. The pool's transformation over time illustrates how earthquakes, underground water movement, and volcanic heat continually reshape Yellowstone's geothermal landscape. Combined with nearby geysers and hot springs in Biscuit Basin, Black Pool offers a remarkable opportunity to witness the dynamic geological forces operating beneath the Yellowstone Plateau and remains a favorite destination for photographers and geology enthusiasts.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for Biscuit Basin, Black Pool, and Yellowstone National Park, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.

Black Pool hot spring with Yellowstone Lake in the background
Black Pool hot spring with Yellowstone Lake in the background, Jim Peaco, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Boardwalk beside Black Pool's turquoise waters, Yellowstone Lake in the background
Boardwalk beside Black Pool's turquoise waters, Yellowstone Lake in the background, Yellowstone National Park from Yellowstone NP, USA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Black Pool steaming at dusk with Yellowstone Lake in the distance
Black Pool steaming at dusk with Yellowstone Lake in the distance, Footwarrior, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons