Monument Geyser Basin and Artists' Paintpots

It rained overnight and was still rainy and cloudy this morning so we stayed home and did planning for our trip back east (2,844 miles/2,006 towing) and Frederick filled our fresh water tank (the city-water hook-ups are turned off in the RV park because it goes below freezing over night) and did some outside clean-up. This afternoon turned partly sunny and we went looking for a nearby, short hike. Frederick found two, both only about 30 miles from home, between Madison Junction and Norris Geyser Basin.

The hike to Monument Geyser Basin (2.76 miles) began along the Gibbon River for about 1/2 mile and then turned sharply left and climbed a very steep hillside (770 feet in 0.6 mile) to the geyser basin. This is at the top looking south with the Gibbon River and the road below with...

the geyser basin a little further ahead and easily found by following the smell of sulfur. In this long narrow basin, the air is filled with the smell of rotten eggs as sulfur cauldrons and fumaroles bubble and hiss. Adding to this otherworldly appearance is a collection of strange looking geyser cones. 

Over time, the silica in the water erupting from these features has slowly been deposited to create some very unique cones. Unfortunately, all but one of these geysers are now dormant, having sealed themselves up. 

The one feature still showing a little sign of life is the basin's namesake, Monument Geyser, also know as Thermos Bottle Geyser. At 10 feet tall, it is not quite yet sealed over but it mostly steams and sprays a little water.

The run-off stream from the geyser basin looks like it's ready to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

From one of the viewpoints at the top we could see the Gibbon River Canyon and the layer after layer of lava flows that stretch out to form the broad Yellowstone Plateau. 

On the way down we had this view of the Gibbon Meadows to the north, with the river winding in a series of sweeping meanders and oxbow bends. 

The Gibbon Meadow is home to elk and bison and we had this view of the road and two bison to the left - with the cars stopping to get a good look and take pictures.

Less than a mile further north we took the very short (1 mile) trail through the thermal features that are called Artists' Paintpots. There are geysers, fumaroles, bubbling mudpots and hot springs. This is looking down on the area from a small hill that provided the overview.

From the overview, looking down at the mossy green hillside.  

Two small geysers with the one in the back, surrounded by red-colored ground, called a "perpetual spouter" because it erupts continually discharging, in spouts 6 feet high,  up to 150 gallons of water per minute.

Hike statistics (combined):

Length - 3.84 miles

Elevation gain - 860 feet (86 floors on the Fitbit)

Duration - 2 hours, 47 minutes