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Our second day hike while in Yellowstone was a short loop of 5.4 miles to Queen's Laundry located in Sentinel Meadows which reside in Lower Geyser Basin. It's my understanding that Queen's Laundry was originally supposed to be location for a bathhouse in the early days of the Park. The structure was never completed though and today it lays claim to being the oldest surviving structure in Yellowstone.
Imagery overview of hike
Map overview of hike
The hike is easy enough and a great one for families to attempt even those with young children. We began at Fountain Flat Drive / Freight Road Trailhead and made our way along the old freight rode. We stopped to see Ojo Caliente, which is a thermal feature located next to the Firehole.
Backcountry information sign near the trailhead
Hiking along the old freight road
Ojo Caliente
After crossing the Firehole, we immediately came upon the trail heading west to Sentinel Meadows. About three quarters of a mile along the trail, there is a backcountry campsite (0G1), located to the north of the trail, that looks out over the meadows and Sentinel Creek.
Turnoff to Sentinel Meadows and Queen's Laundry
Sentinel Meadows Trail
Campsite 0G1
Just after the campsite, we had to hike up a little rise, where on top the full expanse of the meadows opened up before us. Some of the thermal features present in the meadows are: Mound Spring, Steep Cone and Flat Cone.
Mound Spring, Steep Cone and Flat Cone in the distance
Mound Spring coming up on our right
Mound Spring
Steep Cone and Flat Cone in the distance
Steep Cone and Flat Cone
Once past the thermal features, we continued on towards Queen's Laundry. As we reached the apex of the loop, we started off-trail (Yeah!) for about one tenth of a mile towards the old structure. The going along this section was a bit marshy and we had to watch our steps so that our boots wouldn't get wet.
Staring off-trail towards Queen's Laundry
Watch your step!
We finally arrived at the old bathhouse to find that the structure wasn't very large at all. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but this surprised me a bit. It was divided up into two rooms but only one room had a door apparently.
Of course the thermal areas next to the bathhouse were impressive as usual and one had an elk skull and antlers in it. There was also a wolf track in the dried mud next to the Laundry.
Wolf Track at Queen's Laundry
Elk skull and antlers in thermal pool
Thermal pool at Queen's Laundry
Structure at Queen's Laundry
Queen's Laundry
A look inside
This group looks like they could use some help!
Thermal area at Queen's Laundry
Thermal Area at Queen's Laundry
We stopped and ate lunch in a stand of trees just to the south of the thermal area. While eating lunch, we had a deer walk by through the meadow. After lunch, we hiked back to the trail and continued along the south side of the loop and eventually back to the old freight road and on to the trailhead. Along the way we passed a couple more thermal pools and were able to catch a good view of Fairy Falls in the distance.
Deer in the meadow
Old footbridge in meadow - not part of current trail, must have taken a different route in the past.
Hiking along the south side of the loop
Meadows in Lower Geyser Basin
Making our way back to the old freight road
Backcountry pose!
Thermal pool
Thermal pool
If you squint, you can see Fairy Falls in the distance coming off the Madison Plateau
Mileage sign
Again, a great, short little hike with some history attached to it. On the wildlife front, we saw four sandhill cranes, two deer, one bison, a hawk and a blue heron, along with a few ravens thrown in for good measure.
Imagery overview of hike
Map overview of hike
The hike is easy enough and a great one for families to attempt even those with young children. We began at Fountain Flat Drive / Freight Road Trailhead and made our way along the old freight rode. We stopped to see Ojo Caliente, which is a thermal feature located next to the Firehole.
Backcountry information sign near the trailhead
Hiking along the old freight road
Ojo Caliente
After crossing the Firehole, we immediately came upon the trail heading west to Sentinel Meadows. About three quarters of a mile along the trail, there is a backcountry campsite (0G1), located to the north of the trail, that looks out over the meadows and Sentinel Creek.
Turnoff to Sentinel Meadows and Queen's Laundry
Sentinel Meadows Trail
Campsite 0G1
Just after the campsite, we had to hike up a little rise, where on top the full expanse of the meadows opened up before us. Some of the thermal features present in the meadows are: Mound Spring, Steep Cone and Flat Cone.
Mound Spring, Steep Cone and Flat Cone in the distance
Mound Spring coming up on our right
Mound Spring
Steep Cone and Flat Cone in the distance
Steep Cone and Flat Cone
Once past the thermal features, we continued on towards Queen's Laundry. As we reached the apex of the loop, we started off-trail (Yeah!) for about one tenth of a mile towards the old structure. The going along this section was a bit marshy and we had to watch our steps so that our boots wouldn't get wet.
Staring off-trail towards Queen's Laundry
Watch your step!
We finally arrived at the old bathhouse to find that the structure wasn't very large at all. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but this surprised me a bit. It was divided up into two rooms but only one room had a door apparently.
Of course the thermal areas next to the bathhouse were impressive as usual and one had an elk skull and antlers in it. There was also a wolf track in the dried mud next to the Laundry.
Wolf Track at Queen's Laundry
Elk skull and antlers in thermal pool
Thermal pool at Queen's Laundry
Structure at Queen's Laundry
Queen's Laundry
A look inside
This group looks like they could use some help!
Thermal area at Queen's Laundry
Thermal Area at Queen's Laundry
We stopped and ate lunch in a stand of trees just to the south of the thermal area. While eating lunch, we had a deer walk by through the meadow. After lunch, we hiked back to the trail and continued along the south side of the loop and eventually back to the old freight road and on to the trailhead. Along the way we passed a couple more thermal pools and were able to catch a good view of Fairy Falls in the distance.
Deer in the meadow
Old footbridge in meadow - not part of current trail, must have taken a different route in the past.
Hiking along the south side of the loop
Meadows in Lower Geyser Basin
Making our way back to the old freight road
Backcountry pose!
Thermal pool
Thermal pool
If you squint, you can see Fairy Falls in the distance coming off the Madison Plateau
Mileage sign
Again, a great, short little hike with some history attached to it. On the wildlife front, we saw four sandhill cranes, two deer, one bison, a hawk and a blue heron, along with a few ravens thrown in for good measure.
