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4.2
15 votes

Black Pool

Wyoming USA

  • Independent
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“intensely blue thermal pool”

Black Pool is a hot spring in the West Thumb Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.The pool was cool enough up until 1991 for dark orange-brown cyanobacteria to grow throughout the pool. When combined with the blue of the water, the pool appeared to be an exceptionally dark green to almost black, hence the name. An exchange of function took place in 1991, shifting thermal energy to Black Pool and nearby Abyss Pool, causing them to heat up. Black Pool's temperature became hot enough to kill all the cyanobacteria in the pool, turning the pool a rich teal blue color. The pool also had frequent boiling eruptions on August 15, 1991, doming the water to 3 feet and causing heavy runoff. Black Pool remains extremely hot, and is now one of Yellowstone's most beautiful and intensely blue pools. The name of the pool remains "Black Pool."

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Reviewed by
pliu891

  • 4 Reviews
  • 4 Helpful
June 06, 2016
Rated 5.0

The west thumb geyser area is a must see at Yellowstone, it was honestly our favorite geyser loop!

1 person found this review helpful
  • 18 Reviews
  • 9 Helpful
December 29, 2015
Rated 5.0

The gorgeous teal color of 'Black Pool' actually made my husband get out of the car to look at "another geyser" as he put it. The whole hike is very nice. Black pool might have been my favorite hot spring in Yellowstone. I loved looking deep in the water at the mysterious hint of caves deep below. The little hot springs boiling right at the edge of lake Yellowstone are also worth seeing.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
carigami

  • 3 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
August 21, 2015
Rated 5.0

unbelievably gorgeous blue pool that was so clear you could see several feet down into it.
the surrounding loop had some of the most dynamic,bubbling and steaming features in the entire park.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Joel Schat

  • Photographer
  • 237 Reviews
  • 538 Helpful
July 01, 2014
Rated

Stick to the left to find the black pool. The entire area is awesome though!

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
daniel.carr.564

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 22, 2013
Rated

You could try.. but I think that 160+ degrees might sting a little.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
missy.ross.73

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 22, 2013
Rated

No, you cannot get into any of the named features in the park. Most would burn your skin off due to temperature or acidity.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
shane.joshua91

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 22, 2013
Rated

Can you get in?

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
terri.steffen

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 22, 2013
Rated

This is BEAUTIFUL!! EVERYONE SHOULD SEE THIS!!

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Dana Dotoli

  • 37 Reviews
  • 6 Helpful
June 28, 2020
Rated 5.0

This was a beautiful loop with the lake and mountains as a backdrop especially with the snow caps still showing!

I loved the intense deep blue of the waters in this area as well as the clay pots.

As I walked the boardwalk I enjoyed seeing the color of the water at the waters edge where the hot springs water hits the cold blue lake water. It creates this yellowish green water that I really wanted to jump into!

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Reviewed by
Joanna LeMasters

  • 37 Reviews
  • 34 Helpful
July 30, 2016
Rated 4.0

This was a scenic view at the West Thumb Basin and the first time I saw geysers in the park. We strolled the boardwalks and took the path that splits to the LEFT from the main one that leads to the parking lot. We did not complete the entire loop but saw most geysers up close and the rest from an enjoyable distance within 45 minutes. The restrooms here are "outhouse" style with hand sanitizer, as many in the park are. (this review is similar to the West Thumb Review because it's the same place)

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Black Pool

Wyoming
USA
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