Yellowstone’s Chocolate Pots

The largest and prettiest of the Chocolate Pots in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — The largest and prettiest of the Chocolate Pots

The Chocolate Pots are an overlooked attraction between the Artist Paint Pots and Norris in Yellowstone National Park. In some ways, it makes sense that the overlook doesn’t even have a sign (it’s not that exciting!), but if you have a few extra minutes, the one pot is interesting and pretty to see. I did the site all wrong on my visit, so I’ll try to give you enough information to do better!

Quick Stats

Round Trip Length: 0-0.2 miles Trail Type: Out & back Elevation Gain: Up to 50 ft. Pets: No Fees: $35/vehicle

The 2nd largest Chocolate Pot makes a waterfall down the hillside, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — The 2nd largest Chocolate Pot makes a waterfall down the hillside

The Chocolate Pots are geothermal hot springs along the Gibbon River. The iron-rich water (with silica) makes the springs deposit orange-brown mounds; thus the name.

A little bit of a geyser in a Chocolate Pot, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — A little bit of a geyser in a chocolate pot

The unmarked pulloff is the trailhead. A low stone wall keeps the bank from collapsing into the Gibbon River below. Walking along the edge of the parking area or along the stone wall, you should be able to spot the most interesting of the Chocolate Pots (given the totally unexciting name of GCPNN019) through the trees on the other side of the river.

Views of the prettiest of the Chocolate Pots, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — Views of the prettiest of the Chocolate Pots

This is definitely the prettiest of the Chocolate Pots. Moving around the parking area or the top of the bank gives you the best views.

The top of a chocolate pot, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — The top of a chocolate pot

If you move to the right (while facing the river) and then follow a social trail beyond the end of the pulloff, you can scramble down to the second-best of the Chocolate Pots (with an equally unexciting name of GCPNN002). This one is on your side of the river (don’t get close – not only is it illegal, but it’s also very hot, muddy, and slippery). It creates a fun little steaming waterfall as the water gurgles down into the river.

The chocolate pot waterfall above the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — The chocolate pot waterfall

Despite what others on the internet say, the best views of the Chocolate Pots are not from along the river. In fact, just getting down the hill is likely to leave you up to your knees in red-brown mud (yes, I found this out the hard way… my hiking sock and hiking boot will likely never be the same). Stay higher on the hillside!

A small chocolate pot in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — A small chocolate pot

There are social trails (and animal trails) along the hillside. They do pass some of the other of the 21 Chocolate Pots. But honestly, sticking to the two biggest features is all you need to do.

The prettiest chocolate pot from a little way upstream, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — The prettiest chocolate pot from a little way upstream

After enjoying the second Chocolate Pot return to your vehicle and go enjoy more cool features in Yellowstone!

Rocky Mountain Fringed Gentian near the Chocolate Pots, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — Rocky Mountain Fringed Gentian near the Chocolate Pots

Round Trip Trail Length: N/A to about 0.2 miles

Elevation Gain: N/A to maybe 50ft.

Facilities: None

Fees: $35/vehicle to enter Yellowstone National Park, valid 7 days. America the Beautiful National Park & Federal Lands Passes and Yellowstone National Park Annual Passes are accepted.

Trail Notes: There are a total of 21 “pots” on either side of the river in this area. However, only the two I described are large. There are a few more medium-size features, but they look like little more than springs with muddy areas around them. The different iron oxides make the different colors on the prettiest Chocolate Pot (one person described it as “custard sauce”). I expect the social paths in this area are mostly made by animals. I saw prints of some kind of canine (either wolf or coyote, probably) in a muddy spot on the riverbank. It is illegal to wade or swim in the geothermal features, even though these are cooler than most hot springs (only about 130F).

A coyote (probably) print in the mud near the Chocolate Pots, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — A coyote (probably) print in the mud near the Chocolate Pots

Trail

Road

Signs

Scenery

Would I go 100 miles out of my way for this?

Overall Rating:

GPS Coordinates for the Chocolate Pots

Chocolate Pots Parking Area: 44.7096943°, -110.7421276° (44°42.58166′, -110°44.52766′ / 44°42’34.8994″, -110°44’31.6594″) (3,277ft.)

The prettiest chocolate pot spouts water, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming — The prettiest chocolate pot spouts water

Getting to the Chocolate Pots

From Norris Junction (near the Norris Geyser Basin), drive south on US-89 toward Madison. The unmarked pulloff for the Chocolate Paint Pots will be on the right after 2.8 miles – note that this is the second pulloff in the same general area, not the first one.

From Madison Junction, drive north on US-89 toward Norris, Mammoth, and Canyon. The unmarked pulloff will be on the left after 10.5 miles. The pulloff is also 0.9 miles north of the turnoff for the Artist Paint Pots Trailhead.

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