The Lake Area
The Lake hotel opened in 1891, now the oldest standing hotel in any national park.
Yellowstone lake is a great example of underwater thermal features, as the bottom of the lake has many springs, geysers, and vents, as well as all along the shoreline.
The lake holds over 847 billion cubic feet of water. It freezes up to 25 inches thick in the winter. It’s massive. Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation lake (7,733 feet above sea level) in North America
The lake holds the largest wild population of cutthroat trout in North America. However, illegally introduced lake trout have caused trouble for the native trout. Today the invasive lake trout are the only fish you can keep when fishing, the restaurant in the village will even clean and cook it up for you to eat.
I’ll list the trails in order from West Thumb to Lake Butte (E exit rd).
West Thumb
Geyser Bain Trail has boardwalks around blue and orange pools, there is also a shorter overview trail located across the street. Lakeshore Geyser boils vigorously and continuously, often erupting a few feet, but has not had a major eruption since 1970. Big Cone geyser rarely erupts, when it does it’s often unnoticed at only a foot high. Hillside geyser has not erupted since 2004. The Twin Geysers, Maggie and Jiggs, when active go off every 4-8 hours, but they tend to lay dormant for years at a time, including now, the last eruption was in 1999. Thumb geyser goes off every 20-40 minutes, also tending to be wholly unpredictable. There are many thermal pools also in this area.
Duck Lake Trail takes you to a small inland lake that often houses waterfoul. As you continue on Grand Loop Rd there are many springs on either side of the road that you can’t really get to but can see while driving by. There are also many pullouts and picnic areas you can walk around a bit, some go right up to the water, but beware of thermal features. The thermal features in the park come and go often, one of many reasons you’ll almost always see construction in the park, as the acidic water washes asphalt away (sinkholes). Underneath every step is molten lava, some areas are just thinner than others.
The Wreck of E.C. Waters He was known as Yellowstone's most hated concessioner. He built the giant 500-person steamship without approval. Park officials, fed up with his scams, refused to give him a license. He was booted from the park in 1907, never ferrying a single paying customer on the ship.In 1921, a massive storm blew the abandoned ship onto the shores of Stevenson Island. Over the years, the wreck became a magnet for parties and bootleggers. In 1930, park rangers intentionally burned the boat. Today, you can still see the rusted metal skeleton of the ship on the way to Bridge Bay.
Natural Bridge Trail Another one of the few bike trails in the park, while often crowded it is an amazing sight. Depending on how many people have been hurt that year you can climb to the top of the bridge, it has a stunning view.
Elephant BackTrail About 4 miles on a lollipop loop trail, up 800 ft in elevation, considered a harder trail, with a stunning view of the lake as a reward.
Fishing Bridge Area Built in 1937, you haven’t been able to fish here since 1973. Sometimes you can spot bears ‘fishing’ in the river below. This area is also a good place for eagle and osprey watching.
Pelican Creek Nature Trail is about a mile loop, takes you to the lake and near pelican creek.
Storm Point Trailhead is a 2.3 mile loop to Storm Point, where lightning often strikes during storms.
Pelican Valley Trail is a 6.2 mile out and back trail that connects into backpacking trails. Due to bear activity the trail is only open from 9am-7pm. Or you can do the 15 mile through hike, to Lake Butte, or 30 miles out and back, and see Turbid Lake.
Turbid Lake is a 143-acre, murky lake, named by the 1878 Hayden Surveyors, its waters are always tan and cloudy. The lake is highly acidic, fishless, and sits in a massive 9,400-year-old hydrothermal explosion crater. Currently closed for bear activity.
Nine Mile Trailhead as it sounds, 9 miles with about 5k elevation gain with a beautiful overlook at the top. Also connects into backpacking trails.
Viewpoints;
Steamboat point - beautiful picnic area on the lake
Lake Butte Overlook - has parking and an overlook of the lake, and Lake Butte (the mountain).
Animals;
Osprey, Eagles, bison, Grizzly and black bears, elk, and coyotes are often spotted in the Lake areas. They are primarily out early mornings and late afternoons, there is more animal activity here because of the lake.
Camping;
Fishing Bridge is RV sites only, no tents, no hammocks, and must be hard walled.
Bridge Bay is more like a parking lot for RV sites, but has good tent sites, they’re very popular.
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