Biscuit Basin

Many of the thermal features of Biscuit Basin are named for jewels, a testament to their colorful beauty.

Plan Around Biscuit Basin

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Biscuit Basin Details

Many of the thermal features of Biscuit Basin are named for jewels, a testament to their colorful beauty: Sapphire, Black Opal and Jewel are several examples of these gem-like pools. Sapphire Pool was once surrounded by biscuit-shaped sinters, giving the area its name, but these were destroyed in a 1959 earthquake. Earthquakes also have altered the action of the twin Mustard Springs; currently, the East Mustard Spring is active as a geyser, while the West Mustard Spring is dry. Avoca Spring is actually a fountain-type geyser, erupting every one to 18 minutes. The unpredictable Shell Geyser was thought to resemble a clam or oyster shell in shape. The Firehole River plunges 70 feet over Mystic Falls in Biscuit Basin, and the 2.2-mile Mystic Falls Trail will take you to the base of the waterfall. If you follow the trail to the top of the falls you can connect to the Little Firehole Meadows Trail and loop back to your starting point.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

Region

Old Faithful to West Thumb

Nearby Parks Around Biscuit Basin

Compare nearby parks around Biscuit Basin when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

14.6 mi away

Yellowstone

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Glacier

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Theodore Roosevelt

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392.0 mi away

Rocky Mountain

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410.4 mi away

Arches

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Nearby Points of Interest Around Biscuit Basin

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Biscuit Basin while the map context is still fresh.

0.0 mi away

Mystic Falls Trail

The trail to these 70 foot falls climbs gently through a growing pine forest.

0.1 mi away

Porcelain Basin Trail

This short boardwalk loop runs though one of the most easily accessible thermal basins.

0.2 mi away

Biscuit Basin Loop

If you want to get some moderate exercise while enjoying some of Yellowstone's greatest sights.

0.8 mi away

Morning Glory Pool

Named for the distinctive shape of its vent, which resembles that of a Morning Glory Flower.

0.9 mi away

Economic Geyser

Economic geyser was a very popular geyser in the early 1900s.