Pocket Basin

Pocket Basin is situated beside the Firehole River in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Because it is a backcountry hydrothermal area, reaching it requires hiking along unmaintained trails rather than the standard boardwalks used for nearby geyser basins.

Unlike the more accessible geyser basins in Yellowstone, Pocket Basin is distinguished by containing one of the park's largest and most active concentrations of mudpots. These muddy hot springs are formed when microorganisms consume hydrogen sulfide gas, turning the water into highly acidic clay.

While the Lower Geyser Basin does not have drive-in campgrounds right at Pocket Basin, backcountry camping is allowed in designated zones within Yellowstone National Park. Visitors looking to stay nearby must obtain a backcountry permit from the National Park Service and camp well away from the unstable hydrothermal crust.

The National Park Service has intentionally left Pocket Basin undeveloped due to the dangerous, thin crust typical of intense hydrothermal areas. Unlike the paved paths of the Upper Geyser Basin, the lack of boardwalks here protects visitors from severe thermal burns by discouraging foot traffic.