Make sure you have lots of color film for this next stretch. The geysers, pools, and other thermal features in this area are some of the most colorful. This is also an excellent area to photograph wildlife, including elk and bison. Early morning photos of animals may find them shrouded in the steamy landscape. Much of this area was destroyed by the 1988 fire. burned Trees and more abundant wildflowers add to the photo opportunities.

Firehold Canyon
   After you rejoin the road it passes over Nez Perce Creek. You are very likely to see bison grazing in this area as well as meadows filled with wildflowers.
   On your right is Fountain Flats Drive that follows the Firehole River past meadows frequented by elk and bison. the road dead ends in three miles. From here you can hike to Imperial Geyser and Fairy Falls. This is a good winter route if you are cross-country skiing or snowmobiling, and you'll find large numbers of bison wintering here through May.

Fire Lake Drive
   Beyond the Paint Pots is the three-mile, one-way Firehole lake Drive (heading north). At the beginning of the drive are dead trees encrusted with mineral deposits. Along the way you'll pass Great Fountain Geyser (a spectacular spouter), White Dome (a stunning cone geyser that is also good to shoot at sunset and erupts every 12-24 minutes), Pine Cone, Narcissus, and Steady (near the lake) geysers. Firehole lake is a beautiful shade of blue on a sunny day.

Midway Geyser Basin
   South of Firehole Lake Drive is the Midway Geyser Basin. You won't want to miss deep blue Grand Prismatic Spring surrounded by brilliant shades of green, yellow, orange, and red. This is one of the most outstanding photo subjects in the area. For a great photo, hike up the north end of the parking area to Bluff Point. Here you can take a terrific photo of Midway Basin area including Grand Prismatic Spring, Excelsior Crater, Indigo Spring, Turquoise Pool and the Firehole River and Twin Buttes.
   Along the next stretch of road keep an eye out for elk.

Biscuit Basin
   The next stop is a short side road to the right that takes you to Biscuit Basin. The best photo subject here is jewel Geyser that erupts every 15 minutes or so and is surrounded by a colorful ledge. From here you can take the short one-mile trail to Mystic Falls. The trail follows the Little Firehole Rive. Mystic Falls drops 70 feet into a steaming spray.

Black Sand Basin
   The next side road leads to Black Sand Basin. near here, where hot water from the geysers split from the cold waters of iron Creek, algae flourishes in the hot channel in a colorful display. Follow the boardwalks to several pools and geysers, the most colorful being Rainbow Pool with its blue center and yellow, orange and green perimeter. nearby Sunset lake also has beautiful colors. One of the most popular photo subjects is Emerald Pool. When the blue sky reflects in its yellow basin the water turns a beautiful emerald green.

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