Hiking the Imperial Geyser Trail in Yellowstone National Park
Distance (via Fairy Falls Trailhead): 7.4 miles / 11.9 km
The Imperial Geyser Trail in Yellowstone National Park is a beautiful, somewhat long but also easy day hike near the Midway Geyser Basin that leads to one of the park’s more active geysers in a remote area just past the popular Fairy Falls!
The Imperial Geyser Trail can most similarly be thought of like the hike to the Lone Star Geyser, though it is not nearly as challenging to see an eruption, as they occur almost continuously, with very short intervals between them.
That said, the Imperial Geyser Trail really only refers to the very short 0.3-mile (0.5 km) stretch off the Fairy Creek Trail past Fairy Falls, which I mention because there is more than one way to reach the short 0.5-mile (0.8 km) loop that this side trail forms with the Fairy Creek Trail. However, the most popular route to the start of the true Imperial Geyser Trail is the Fairy Falls Trailhead south of the Grand Prismatic Overlook, which is the route described in this article.
Imperial Geyser Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Imperial Geyser Trail is located at either the Fountain Flats Trailhead to the north of Fairy Falls or the Fairy Falls Trailhead to the south, with the Fairy Falls Trailhead being the more popular of the two because it is shorter and allows visitors the easy opportunity to add the Grand Prismatic Overlook to the hike.
That said, the Fairy Falls Trailhead is one of the busiest trailheads in both the Upper and Midway Geyser Basins, and, as a result, parking is extremely competitive on any given day during the beautiful summer season.
This is why I highly recommend arriving very early in the morning, as the hike certainly becomes less enjoyable when the trail gets crowded and the parking lots completely fill up by mid-morning.
Google Maps Directions: Imperial Geyser Trailhead (Fairy Falls)
Hiking Checklist - Yellowstone–Tetons
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Yellowstone–Teton area.
Hiking the Imperial Geyser Trail
As previously mentioned, the Imperial Geyser Trail can either begin from the Fairy Falls Trailhead or the Fountain Flats Trailhead in order to reach the start of the true Imperial Geyser Trail past Fairy Falls.
If you are interested in learning more about the Fairy Falls Trail to the waterfall and the Fairy Creek junction shown below, all the details can be found in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Fairy Falls Trail
Fairy Falls-Fairy Creek Junction
This T-intersection is the end of the Fairy Falls Trail from the south and the beginning of the Fairy Creek Trail that leads over to the start of the true Imperial Geyser Trail.
That said, go left at this junction to begin hiking the Fairy Creek Trail toward the start of the Imperial Geyser Loop, located just a short distance beyond this junction shown here.
The nice thing about the Fairy Creek portion of the hike is that it only extends as far as the tree line in the distance!
East Imperial Geyser-Fairy Creek Junction
After just over 0.1 miles (0.2 km) on the Fairy Creek Trail, the Imperial Geyser Trail branches away at the tree line, which can be seen in the photos above.
Once here, go right to begin the official Imperial Geyser Trail toward both the Spray Geyser and the Imperial Geyser shortly thereafter.
As previously mentioned, the Imperial Geyser Trail is only a 0.3-mile (0.5 km) section of the overall hike, while the loop measures about 0.5 miles (0.8 km).
Spray Geyser
The Spray Geyser is the first of the two geysers on the Imperial Geyser Trail, located just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from the start of the loop.
The reason it is typically not the favorite is that it is located farther away from the trail compared to the Imperial Geyser, which is located directly alongside the path, making it easier to see!
Past the Spray Geyser, the rest of the Imperial Geyser Trail is only 0.2 miles (0.3 km) in all, with the Imperial Geyser located just a few steps before the trail’s second connection with the Fairy Creek Trail.
This is where the Imperial Geyser can be seen for the first time in the distance!
Imperial Geyser
This is the beautiful Imperial Geyser, which undergoes very frequent minor eruptions, as shown in the photo below!
However, what I believe sets the Imperial Geyser apart is the striking turquoise-blue pool surrounding the geyser and the contrasting bacterial mats created by the overflow!
For the best photos, I recommend visiting during the mid-morning hours to bring out the best of all the colors shown here!
I say this because photos taken in the afternoon are best taken from the west side of the geyser, but that isn’t the best side for capturing all the oranges and yellows in the bacterial mats that can be seen below.
After the Imperial Geyser, there are only a few more steps before the Imperial Geyser Trail reaches the return side of the loop on the Fairy Creek Trail.
West Imperial Geyser-Fairy Creek Junction
This is where the Imperial Geyser Trail returns to the Fairy Creek Trail and begins the return loop back to the initial junction.
That said, go left at this split to begin hiking back toward Fairy Falls, as the trail to the right is the very long and remote route to the Mystic Falls Trail, which connects to the Mystic Falls Loop at the very top of the hill above the waterfall, just before the trail starts descending to the Biscuit Basin Overlook.
This final section between the East and West Imperial Geyser junctions is about 0.2 miles (0.3 km).
East Imperial Geyser-Fairy Creek Junction
After just 0.5 miles (0.8 km), the short Imperial Geyser Loop returns to the initial junction, where the official Imperial Geyser Trail first began.
Once here, go straight to return to the end of the Fairy Falls Trail, located a little more than 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away from this point.
Old Faithful (Upper–Lower Geyser Basins)
Canyon Village
Maddison–Norris
Yellowstone Lake & East Entrance
Mammoth, Lamar Valley & Tower
