Firehole Lake Drive in Yellowstone is a scenic road through a thermal area
Located in the Lower Geyser Basin near Fountain Paint Pot, in the US state of Wyoming, Firehole Lake Drive is a one-way road that passes through a thermal area. In 2014, the road was temporarily closed because the ground became too hot, melting the asphalt.
Where is Firehole Lake Drive?
The scenic loop road is in the northwestern corner of Wyoming, within Yellowstone National Park. It is located off the park’s Grand Loop Road, halfway between Old Faithful and Madison Junction.
How long is Firehole Lake Drive?
The short road is fully paved. It is a 5.31 km (3.3 miles) loop road that passes by geysers, hot lakes, hot springs, and even a hot cascade. This side road travels through an active thermal area with high ground temperatures, which in previous years has caused damage to the blacktop surface. The one-way Firehole Lake Drive winds through the woods to hidden geysers and thermal features that can't be seen from the main road.
Is Firehole Lake Drive worth it?
The drive offers stunning views. There are several pullouts and parking areas along the way, making it easy for visitors to get out of their cars and admire these natural wonders. This road is also where the Great Fountain Geyser is located, one of the few places in Yellowstone where you can watch geysers and hot springs from your car.
Is Firehole Lake Drive open?
This famous short one-way road is closed in the winter. RVs, buses, and trailers are not allowed due to narrow sections along the way. Road closures from heat damage are not uncommon in Yellowstone, which contains more than 10,000 geothermal features and 500 geysers. In 2014, the road was closed because the ground beneath it became too hot, melting the asphalt. This incident has sparked renewed theories about the possibility of the supervolcano beneath Yellowstone erupting in the future.