About
There’s something super enjoyable and mesmerizing about a natural blue hot spring—and Celestine Pool is a good example of this.
This beautiful hot spring has had eruptions from the superheated water in the past. And as a hot spring, this area is really interesting from a geological perspective. As one of the many areas like this in Yellowstone National Park, Celestine Pool offers an awesome opportunity to understand hydrothermal features and what really happens under the surface of the earth.
Depending on timing, you can see the water bubbling, which is really cool. There are often big bubble bursts that come from the spring, and those can be intense experiences.
While visiting, you’ll stay on the boardwalk to see the bubbles and watch the spectacular show. One thing to note is that it can take some time to see. The bubbles heat at a slow pace, so be patient while mother nature does her thing.
And while it may seem a bit scary, keep in mind that you’re far enough away to enjoy the beauty. The entire area is quite stunning and deserves a few pictures when you get a chance to do so. I recommend taking as many as you can!
Celestine Pool offers a safe way to view the hot springs, and I highly recommend taking a stop by—it’s well worth exploring. And while you’re there, there are a lot of additional activities nearby.
Make sure you check out the Mammoth Hot Springs and, of course, Old Faithful itself in the Lower Geyser Basin!
Fun Facts About Celestine Pool
Going there on a recent trip, I learned that this hot spring has an average temperature of 183.4 degrees Fahrenheit. It also has an average pH of 8.3 and an average conductivity of 2000 uS/cm, making this hot spring quite a unique place to visit!
And with multiple other geysers nearby, you’ll learn the reason they call Old Faithful its name. In general, geysers typically can be hard to forecast when the bubbles will erupt, but with a few of the Yellowstone ones, I learned that there are two that you can rely on.
I’m not going to spoil the fun, but I bet you can guess one of them!
And while the Celestine Pool doesn’t offer a timely eruption, it does offer majestic views of beautiful blue water that are truly picture worthy! And if you’re patient enough, you’ll see the incredible bubble eruptions.
It’s truly worth the wait!
Getting There
To get to the Celestine Pool area, you will need to take the Fountain Paint Pot Trail. This is well-marked and easily available.
Make sure you use the Yellowstone Park app to help you to navigate around it based on where you start. And the best opportunity to see it is to plan to do the Fountain Paint Pot Trail since this provides the best access—just don’t get closer than you’re allowed.
Local Tips
- It’s not cool or smart to go off the boardwalks. Stay on them, or you risk not only injury but getting thrown out of the area.
- There have been people hurt in this area, and there is one noted death from this pool because of the intensity of the water’s heat and pressure here so make sure you follow the rules.
- Plan for a long walk along the trail, and you may want to bring slip-resistant shoes with you.
- Take the time to really understand mother nature. To do that, I suggest checking out the app.