Walk the Mud Volcano Trail at Yellowstone National Park
The Mud Volcano at Yellowstone was discovered in 1870 by explorers. The trail is full of muddy hot springs and fumaroles. Some of the main attractions are the Cooking Hillside, Churning Caldron, Grizzle Fumarole, Mud Volcano and Dragon’s Mouth Spring.
The Mud Volcano Trail is a nice leisurely stroll on a wooden path that exposes some really unique hot springs. The Mud Volcano itself is a 184 degree, 17-foot deep bubbling mud pit. While not mesmerizing, the pit is a fascinating example of geothermal energy. The smell of rotten eggs that permeates the area is the result of Hydrogen sulfide gas. This area of Yellowstone is the most acidic of any area in the park. This acid destroys the rocks and turns them into mud.
Our stroll on the trail very eventful. Bison roam throughout Yellowstone, but on this day they loved the Mud Volcano area. Bison were walking through the parking lot as if they were visitors. There was another Bison hanging out near the bathroom which made relieving your bowels a little awkward. On the trail there were more bison, but the bubbly, sizzling springs made for a fun and educational look into Earth’s thermal side.
One of the more popular sites to see on the trail is Dragon’s Mouth Spring. Dragon’s Mouth is a hot spring. Gasses and steam are released deep in the cave, creating pressure bubbles that explode against the roof of the cave. This creates a snarling, gurgling sound that, when coupled with the large amount of steam rolling out, resembles a fierce dragon.
The Mud Volcano Trail is definitely worth checking out if you’re making a Yellowstone to-do list. I was nice to see a person in a wheelchair able to go on a bit of a “hike” because of the unique layout of this trail. We recommend Mud Volcano to any and all visitors of the park.
Cost of Adventure
- Per vehicle: $35 (for 7 days)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Total distance: 1 mile
- Calories burned: 150-200 calories
- Time suggested: 30 minutes
- Family friendly: YES
- Park size: 2,219,789 acres
Challenge Yourself
The challenge at Mud Volcano Trail is more educational than physical — because sometimes you need that. Challenge yourself to read every informational sign along the trail. Learn two things about the area that you didn’t know one hour prior to your hike.
Find Great Photo Ops
At any given time, on any given day at Yellowstone National Park you will be given some pretty amazing photo opportunities. The Mud Volcano Trail allowed us to get up close and personal with some bison (from a safe distance) and it’s something we’ll always remember.
