The hike to Sentinel Meadows and Queens Laundry gives you a level trail with wide open meadows, hot springs, ponds, birds, and a little bit of Yellowstone National Park history. The trail can be done by hiking directly to Queens Laundry and back or made into a little loop that’s a bit longer through another meadow. Courtesy of hike734.com

Sentinel Meadows and Queen's Laundry is a hiking trail that follows the Firehole River. Flaming red hot springs and beautiful oat colored meadows can be seen on this trail. The construction of Queen's Laundry, is a historic site that dates back to the 1800's when people used the geothermal pools to bathe. The thermal water provided a relaxing bathing experience, while having amazing cleansing properties.The idea behind the laundry was that  it was the first structure built at its time that was a hot spring fed bathing pool. Half of the structure was intended to be for bathing, while the other half was for the laundry. Unfortunately, the laundry was never completed, and as ownership of the park changed overtime, the structure remained a half finished bath/laundry. What is left of the structure can still be seen today in almost perfect condition. The minerals emitted from the hot springs surrounding the area preserved the structure, and it is now considered a historic site.

It is important to know that going off trail is not permitted on this hike. There are dangerous hydrothermal areas that can cause injury if they are encountered. However these areas are a beautiful sight from the trail, as it glows shades of orange, burnt orange, and copper.This is a moderate hike, and is 4.7 mile trail that leads straight to the hydrothermal springs. There is little change in elevation, which makes this hike brilliant for all ages. Bison have been seen here as well as other deer and caribou species. This hike is extremely scenic, and true of Yellowstone's beauty.