Artist Paint Pots

The Artist Paint Pots are located in the Gibbon Geyser Basin region of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The area is accessed via an easy, one-mile boardwalk loop trail.

The red, yellow, and pink colors in the mudpots are caused by various forms of iron oxide and other minerals present in the surrounding soil. Thermophilic microorganisms living in the hot water also contribute to the vibrant hues.

A mudpot is a type of acidic hot spring that lacks enough water to fully wash away the surrounding clay and dirt. Microorganisms convert volcanic gases into sulfuric acid, which breaks down the rock into a bubbling clay.

While specific temperatures fluctuate daily, the thermal features in the Gibbon Geyser Basin generally reach near boiling point, around 199°F (93°C) at Yellowstone's high altitude. The mudpots themselves bubble violently due to escaping volcanic gases.