Hi there!
As it goes in Yellowstone National Park, there are many thermal pools to see!
Some are smaller, and some are bigger.
You can make it a walk to the Celestine Pool in Yellowstone to see a thermal pool.
And as it goes in Yellowstone, timing can be everything!
In the case of Celestine Pool, if you happen to be there at the right time, you can see a bubbling Celestine Pool!
When I first walked by, it was a relatively calm Celestine Pool with an occasional big bubble burst.
Then I went off and explored the thermal area surrounding it.
When I walked by on the way back to the parking lot around 30 minutes later, it was a truly bubbling Celestine Pool! 👇
Watch the Celestine Pool video on youtube!
Walking the Fountain Paint Pot Trail to Celestine Pool
You will find the Celestine Pool along the Fountain Paint Pot Trail.
If you walk the Fountain Paint Pot Trail, you will walk right by it. It’s one of the first named thermal features with a sign post that you’ll see towards the start of the trail.
And, when you see a boardwalk near thermal pools in Yellowstone… stay on the boardwalk! Thermal areas can be HOT and dangerous.
👆 The area around Celestine Pool is a fragile thermal area.
👆 Dangers around Celestine Pool include unstable ground and boiling water.
Celestine Pool in the 50s
Weather in Yellowstone can make a difference in how the Celestine Pool looks when you see it!
So can the sun’s lighting on the thermal pool.
You notice a lot of steam coming off of the Celestine Pool in these pictures. The air temperature was on the cooler side.
For reference, my visit to the Celestine Pool was in early October 2021 around 1pm. The outside temperature was in the 50s F at that time.
More below about a walk to see the Celestine Pool!
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Now…
A walk to see Celestine Pool
There is a stretch of road along the western side of the Yellowstone Grand Loop Road that has a number of popular thermal basins.
And it’s at the northern end of this section of road that you’ll find the Celestine Pool.
So if you’re starting your day trip to Yellowstone from West Yellowstone MT and making your way to the Old Faithful geyser overlook or Grand Prismatic Spring overlook, then the Celestine Pool can be along the way.
Explore the map.
You’ll see a sign for the Fountain Paint Pot, and it will be a turn off of the main road.
You’ll then drive into the parking lot.
Then you’ll get started on the trail!
Right near where the trail starts is also where you’ll find a Fountain Paint Pot trail guide that will explain to you the different thermal features (of thermal pools, and more) that you can see as you are walking along. There is a suggested donation of $1 so bring cash!
And then you’ll know when you see the Celestine Pool because there will be a sign for it!
And then after you’ve taken in the views of Celestine Pool, you can continue your walk onwards to see more thermal features near Celestine Pool!
According to the National Park Service, on the trail around here you can see a variety of thermal features including hot springs, geysers, mudpots, and fumaroles.
Next up you can look for the Silex Spring and the Red Spouter.
You can also see some bubbling mudpots of the Fountain Paint Pots.
And you also have a good chance of watching a nearby geyser eruption of the Clepsydra Geyser!
And that’s a bit about a walk to see a thermal pool along the Fountain Paint Pot Trail!
See more thermal pools in Yellowstone:
Plan more of your trip to Yellowstone and beyond:
- How to see Old Faithful geyser eruption
- Things to do in Yellowstone National Park
- Things to do in Grand Teton National Park
HAPPY WALKING TO THE CELESTINE POOL!
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