National Park & Nature

Fishing Cone

📍 West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone NP, WY, USA

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3.8/ 5.0

★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location: USA, Wyoming
Category: National Park & Nature
Duration: 30分钟
Opening Hours: West Thumb open late May to mid-October
Ticket Price: Yellowstone pass, $35 per private vehicle for 7 days
Address: West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone NP, WY, USA
Coordinates: 44.4173, -110.5703

Introduction

Fishing Cone is a uniquely shaped hot spring crater in the West Thumb Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. It resembles an inverted funnel or volcanic cone about 10 meters across and 7 meters deep, filled with clear emerald water at roughly 80 degrees Celsius. What makes it magical is its setting right on the shore of Yellowstone Lake; from the boardwalk you see boiling spring and cold lake separated by a stone's throw, with steam and ripples in striking contrast. In the late 1800s visitors actually caught fish from the lake and dropped them into the boiling cone to cook on the spot, giving the feature its name; this odd story is a curious footnote of early Yellowstone tourism. Such cooking is now prohibited to protect geothermal resources, but visitors can still admire the eerie beauty of this lakeside spring from the boardwalk, one of the must-see oddities of West Thumb.

✨ Highlights

Lakeside Hot Cone

A cone-shaped boiling spring right on Yellowstone Lake, with cold water a stone's throw away.

Emerald Pool

About 10 meters wide and 7 deep, the clear emerald water at roughly 80C reveals geothermal detail.

Cooked Fish Tale

Late-1800s visitors cooked lake fish in the boiling cone on the spot, giving the feature its name.

West Thumb Basin

Within West Thumb Geyser Basin alongside lakeside springs and geysers, a geothermal showcase.

Steam vs Ripples

Steaming spring beside rippling lake creates one of Yellowstone's most photogenic thermal contrasts.

Boardwalk Access

A boardwalk reaches the cone rim for safe close views of mineral textures in the water.

🛈 Practical Info

→Best Time：June to September, morning for light and fewer crowds

→Transport：Drive the Grand Loop from West Yellowstone or Old Faithful

→Duration：West Thumb about 1 to 1.5 hours

→Boardwalk：Stay on boardwalks; off-trail in thermal areas prohibited

→Opening Hours：West Thumb open late May to mid-October

→Ticket Information：Yellowstone pass, $35 per private vehicle for 7 days

💡 Tips

• Thermal crust is thin and scalding; leaving the boardwalk can be fatal. Watch kids; no pets on boardwalks.

• The basin also has lakeside springs and geysers; walk the full loop to miss nothing.

• Arrive before 10 AM for fewer people and better photos; tour buses arrive in afternoon.

• Combine with Yellowstone Lake views and Grant Village for a lakeside half-day.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Fishing Cone?

West Thumb open late May to mid-October

How much is the admission for Fishing Cone?

Yellowstone pass, $35 per private vehicle for 7 days

Any practical tips for visiting Fishing Cone?

Thermal crust is thin and scalding; leaving the boardwalk can be fatal. Watch kids; no pets on boardwalks. The basin also has lakeside springs and geysers; walk the full loop to miss nothing.