Geysers in Yellowstone National Park

Geysers are one of Yellowstone National Park's most famous and fascinating features. The park has the highest concentration of geysers in the world, hosting more than 500 of these natural wonders. 

Geysers are hot springs that periodically erupt, shooting water and steam into the air. This occurs when underground water is heated by geothermal activity until it becomes superheated and builds pressure. When the pressure is released through a surface vent, the water and steam erupt.

Yellowstone's geysers are located in several geothermal geyser basins. Geyser basins are areas within geothermal regions where geysers, hot springs, and other thermal features are concentrated. In Yellowstone National Park, several major geyser basins showcase the park’s geothermal activity. Each basin has its unique characteristics and features.

Yellowstone National Park features a total of five major geyser basins:

• Upper Geyser Basin
• Midway Geyser Basin
• Lower Geyser Basin
• Norris Geyser Basin
• West Thumb Geyser Basin

Upper Geyser Basin

Yellowstone is home to about half of the world’s geysers, with the majority located in the Upper Geyser Basin. The Upper Geyser Basin is divided into several distinct sections, including the Old Faithful area, Geyser Hill, the area between Castle Geyser and Morning Glory Pool, Black Sand Basin and Biscuit Basin.

The Upper Geyser Basin is home to five major geysers: Old Faithful Geyser, Grand Geyser, Castle Geyser, Daisy Geyser, and Riverside Geyser.

1. Old Faithful:

Old Faithful is one of the most iconic and well-known geysers in Yellowstone National Park, situated in the Upper Geyser Basin, renowned for its dense collection of geothermal features. This geyser is famous for its predictable eruptions, occurring approximately every 60 to 90 minutes, although this interval can vary slightly. 

During each eruption, Old Faithful can shoot water up to 180 feet into the air, providing a dramatic and impressive display. The water temperature at the geyser's base is around 204°F (95°C), though it cools as it reaches the higher altitudes.

The geyser is easily accessible, with a large viewing area equipped with benches and boardwalks, allowing visitors to comfortably observe its eruptions. The eruption schedule is prominently displayed at the nearby Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, which also offers educational exhibits about the geyser and the park’s geothermal features. Old Faithful’s regularity has made it a reliable and popular attraction, drawing visitors from around the world.

Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful Geyser

2. Castle Geyser:

Castle Geyser, located in Yellowstone National Park's Upper Geyser Basin, is renowned for its distinctive and dramatic appearance. This geyser is distinguished by its large, castle-like cone, which gives it a unique and impressive profile. The cone has been built up over many years by the mineral deposits left behind after numerous eruptions.

Castle Geyser erupts approximately every 14 hours, with the eruptions lasting up to 20 minutes. During an eruption, the geyser can shoot water up to 75 feet (24 m) into the air. The eruptions are often accompanied by a significant steam plume, making the display quite spectacular.

The geyser's large cone is formed from silica deposits, creating a visually striking structure that stands out among the other geothermal features in the basin. The cone's appearance and the periodic eruptions contribute to Castle Geyser’s status as one of the notable geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin.

Castle Geyser

Castle Geyser

3. Grand Geyser:

Grand Geyser, located in Yellowstone National Park’s Upper Geyser Basin, is one of the park’s most impressive and spectacular geysers. Known for its dramatic and towering eruptions, Grand Geyser is one of the tallest in the park, with eruptions that can reach up to 200 feet. Its eruptions are characterized by a powerful and sustained display of hot water and steam, making it a standout feature in the basin.

Grand Geyser erupts less frequently than some other geysers in the park, with intervals ranging from 6 to 7 hours, making its eruptions a much-anticipated event for visitors. The eruption can reach 200 feet (60 m) and last from 9 to 12 minutes, providing a long-lasting and dramatic spectacle. Grand Geyser has an average temperate of 163°F (72.8°C).

Grand Geyser

4. Riverside Geyser:

Riverside Geyser, located in Yellowstone National Park’s Upper Geyser Basin, is notable for its unique eruption pattern and scenic location. This geyser is situated along the Firehole River, which adds to its picturesque setting. Unlike some of the park’s more predictable geysers, Riverside Geyser’s eruptions are less frequent and occur approximately every 5 to 7 hours.

During an eruption, Riverside Geyser shoots water in a graceful, arching plume that can reach up to 75 feet 24 m) in height. The eruption typically lasts for about 20 minutes, creating a beautiful display of water that arcs over the nearby river. Riverside Geyser has an average temperate of 96.1°F (35.6°C).

Riverside Geyser

5. Daisy Geyser:

Daisy Geyser, located in Yellowstone National Park's Upper Geyser Basin, is a charming and relatively lesser-known geyser compared to some of the park's more famous features. Named for its distinctive floral shape, Daisy Geyser is known for its periodic eruptions and unique characteristics.

Daisy Geyser erupts approximately every 2 to 4 hours, making it one of the more frequent erupting geysers in the basin. During an eruption, it shoots water to heights of about 75 feet (23 m), with the eruption lasting around 2 to 3 minutes.

Daisy Geyser

6. Beehive Geyser:

Beehive Geyser, located in Yellowstone National Park’s Upper Geyser Basin, is renowned for its distinctive, beehive-shaped cone and dramatic eruptions. This geyser is notable for its height and the visual spectacle of its eruptions. Beehive Geyser is known for its impressive water jets that can reach up to 200 feet, making it one of the taller geysers in the park.

Beehive Geyser erupts less frequently than some of the more predictable geysers like Old Faithful, with intervals ranging from once or twice daily, making its eruptions a less regular but highly anticipated event. The eruption lasts for approximately 3 to 4 minutes, providing a striking display of water and steam.

The geyser’s distinctive beehive-shaped cone is formed from silica deposits and contributes to its unique appearance. Beehive Geyser is located near the main boardwalks in the Upper Geyser Basin, making it accessible to visitors. While its eruptions are less predictable, the sight of Beehive Geyser’s tall, powerful plume is a memorable part of exploring the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone.

Midway Geyser Basin

Known for its stunning hot springs and colorful features, Midway Geyser Basin includes the Grand Prismatic Spring, one of the most photographed geothermal features in the park due to its vibrant colors. This basin also contains Excelsior Geyser, a massive hot spring that was once a major geyser.

1. Excelsior Geyser:

Excelsior Geyser, situated in Yellowstone National Park's Midway Geyser Basin, is renowned for its sheer size and striking visual appeal. Unlike many geysers that erupt intermittently, Excelsior is primarily known for its expansive hot spring. With a crater measuring about 300 feet in diameter, the hot spring is noted for its deep blue waters and the colorful thermal sediments that surround it, creating a vibrant and picturesque scene.

While it was once famous for its spectacular eruptions, Excelsior Geyser now primarily emits a steady flow of hot water rather than erupting. The geyser's eruption activity diminished in the late 19th century, and today it mainly emits a steady flow of hot water. 

The water in Excelsior Geyser is very hot, with temperatures often exceeding 180°F (82°C). The spring releases a substantial amount of water into the Firehole River, contributing to the river's thermal character and providing an impressive sight for visitors.

Visitors can safely view Excelsior Geyser from a boardwalk that encircles the hot spring, offering close-up views of its impressive size and vivid colors. The Midway Geyser Basin, home to Excelsior, also features other notable geothermal wonders like the Grand Prismatic Spring, making it a highlight of Yellowstone's geothermal landscape.

Excelsior Geyser

Excelsior Geyser

Lower Geyser Basin

This basin includes a mix of geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles. Notable features here are the Great Fountain Geyser, Fountain Geyser and the White Dome Geyser. The basin is less crowded than the Upper Geyser Basin but still offers a variety of geothermal phenomena.

1. Great Fountain Geyser:

Great Fountain Geyser, located in Yellowstone National Park’s Lower Geyser Basin, is a notable geothermal feature known for its impressive eruptions and striking visual displays. This geyser is characterized by its large, circular vent and the dramatic, fountain-like eruptions that it produces.

Great Fountain Geyser erupts approximately every 10 to 14 hours, although the exact timing can vary. When it erupts, it sends a series of water jets high into the air, reaching heights of up to 100 feet (31 m). The eruption typically lasts around 45-60 minutes, creating a beautiful, fountain-like display of water and steam.

Great Fountain Geyser

2. Fountain Geyser:

Fountain Geyser is located in Yellowstone National Park’s Lower Geyser Basin. Fountain Geyser erupts approximately every 3.5–11 hour hours, with intervals that can vary. 

The geyser produces a series of dramatic eruptions, sending water jets up to 10–50 feet (3–15 m) into the air. The eruption sequence typically lasts for around 20 minutes, creating a visually striking, fountain-like display of water and steam. It has an average temperate of 182.1°F (83.4°C).

Fountain Geyser

3. White Dome Geyser:

White Dome Geyser is located in Yellowstone National Park’s Lower Geyser Basin. It is notable for its unique eruption pattern and striking appearance.

White Dome Geyser erupts approximately every 1 to 3 hours, although the exact intervals can vary. During an eruption, it produces a series of bursts that can reach heights of up to 30 feet. The eruption lasts for about 1 to 2 minutes, creating a brief but impressive display of water and steam.

The geyser’s vent is surrounded by a dome-shaped structure made of mineral deposits, which gives it its distinctive appearance. The surrounding area features colorful thermal deposits and mineral formations, adding to the visual appeal of the geyser.

White Dome Geyser

Norris Geyser Basin

The hottest and most volatile of the park's geyser basins, Norris features a wide range of geothermal activity, including fumaroles, hot springs, and geysers. It is divided into the Back Basin and Porcelain Basin, each with distinct geothermal features. 

Norris Geyser Basin is known for its unpredictable geysers and the constantly changing landscape. Notable features here are Steamboat Geyser, Echinus Geyser (known for its acidic water).

1. Steamboat Geyser:

Steamboat Geyser, located in the Norris Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park, is renowned for being the world’s tallest active geyser. It has the capability to shoot water more than 300 feet (91 meters) into the sky during its major eruptions.

Major eruptions of Steamboat Geyser are rare but spectacular events. During these eruptions, water surges from two vents to heights exceeding 300 feet before cascading back down, creating torrents that carry mud, sand, and rock. This intense activity results in a considerable accumulation of debris around the geyser, affecting even vehicles parked nearby. The water phase of a major eruption can last from 3 minutes to over 40 minutes, followed by a prolonged steam phase that can continue for several hours or days.

Minor eruptions, which are more frequent, reach heights of 6 to 40 feet (2 to 12 meters) and last between 1 and 4 minutes. These eruptions can occur at intervals as short as 2 to 5 minutes, often leading spectators to anticipate a major eruption when both the larger and smaller vents are active.

Steamboat Geyser

Steamboat Geyser

Steamboat Geyser

(2) Echinus Geyser:

Echinus Geyser, located in Yellowstone National Park’s Norris Geyser Basin, is known for its distinctive and striking geothermal features. It is a medium-sized geyser recognized for its unique eruption patterns and the remarkable visual display it provides.

Echinus Geyser erupts approximately every 35 to 75 minutes, though the timing can vary. During an eruption, it produces a series of bursts, with the water reaching heights of up to 40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 m). The eruptions can last from about 4 minutes to as long as 118 minutes, creating a captivating display of water and steam.

Echinus Geyser

Echinus Geyser

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Located along the shore of Yellowstone Lake, this basin features a mix of geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles. It is unique for its lakeside setting, offering beautiful views and interesting geothermal features, such as the Fishing Cone, where hot water once mingled with the lake.

Fishing Cone