Lower Geyser Basin, located between Old Faithful and Madison, includes the Fountain Flats, Fountain Paint Pots and Firehole Lake areas. Fountain Flats Drive departs Grand Loop Road 5 miles (8 km) south of Madison. Fountain Paints Pots is located midway between Old Faithful and Madison, 8 miles (13 km) each way. Firehole Lake Drive, a 3-mile one-way road, is located 7 miles (11 km) north of Old Faithful. The road from Old Faithful to Madison Junction is open to wheeled vehicles from mid-April through October and is open to oversnow vehicles from mid-December to mid-March.

Lower Geyser Basin trails vary in length and grade. Fountain Paint Pot Trail is an easy ½-mile (0.8 km) loop. The trail is wooden boardwalk but it is only partially accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Apart from the short boardwalk at Black Warrior Group there is no walking at Firehole Lake Drive. All the features at this thermal area can be viewed from your vehicle. Fountain Flats trails are backcountry treks. The 1.5-mile (2.5 km) Fountain Flats Drive ends at a parking lot and offers access to Fountain Freight Road, Sentinel Meadows Trail and Fairy Falls Trail. (Fountain Freight Road and Fairy Falls Trail have a second trailhead just south of Midway Geyser Basin.) Fountain Freight Road is 5.5 miles (9 km) one-way. The trail, an old roadbed, is open to hikers and mountain bikers and is wheelchair accessible to Goose Lake. Sentinel Meadows Trail is an easy 3-mile (5 km) ramble. The Sentinel Meadows trailhead is located at the Fountain Flats Drive parking lot. Fairy Falls Trail is an easy 7-mile (11 km) hike. The Fairy Falls trailhead is located on Fountain Freight Road. This trail is open to x-country skiers in winter. NB: Check the ranger station for trail closings before you set out. Be bear aware. Maintain a safe distance from all wildlife, 100 yards (91m) from bears and wolves and 25 yards (23m) from all other animals. Be sure to pull your car of the roadway when parking at roadside turnouts and overlooks.