8 Mind Blowing Geysers You Can’t Miss in Yellowstone National Park
Tour the geysers of Yellowstone National Park with this mini travel guide. Featuring 8 of Yellowstone’s mind blowing geysers you can’t miss on your trip.
Mind blowing, jaw dropping, stunning, and breathtaking pretty much sum up the many geothermal features found throughout the 2 million acres of Yellowstone National Park. The crisp quiet mornings, ultra steamy geysers, and unforgettable scenery make Yellowstone National Park a top bucket list destination.
In this post we are sharing 8 mind blowing and easy geyser you can’t miss on your visit to Yellowstone National Park.
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See our Guide to Yellowstone National Park for the parks full pet policy, entrance fees, amenities, & more.
FOUNTAIN GEYSER
LOCATION: LOWER GEYSER BASIN
ERUPTS: 3.5 TO 11 HOURS | HEIGHT: 10 TO 50 FT. | LENGTH: 20 MIN. | TEMPERATURE: 182 DEGREES
Fountain Geyser is located along the Fountain Paint Pot boardwalk of the Lower Geyser Basin. This unpredictable geyser erupts somewhere between every 3.5 to 11 hours, reaching heights up to 50 feet and lasting around 20 minutes.
If you happen to be there when it’s erupting, you may get wet as much of the boardwalk in the area gets soaked from the geyser spewing like a fountain. When not erupting, Fountain Geyser looks like calm blue pool.
2. EXCELSIOR GEYSER CRATER
LOCATION: MIDWAY GEYSER BASIN
ERUPTS: NON ACTIVE | HEIGHT: 100 TO 300 FT. | TEMPERATURE: 200 DEGREES
Excelsior Geyser Crater is a massive 200 feet by 300 feet crater located along the boardwalk in the Midway Geyser Basin.
Currently, it boils as a hot spring, expelling approximately 4,000 gallons of water per minute into the nearby Firehole River. When Excelsior used to erupt, it would reach heights of 100 to 300 feet high.
3. GRAND PRISMATIC SPRING
LOCATION: MIDWAY GEYSER BASIN
Grand Prismatic Spring is, by far, one of the most photographed geothermal features in all of Yellowstone National Park, and for good reason. This colorful hot spring is the largest in the park, spanning 370 feet in diameter, 121 feet deep and discharging 560 gallons of water per minute.
The microbial mats surrounding the spring create the red, orange, yellow, and green colors the Grand Prismatic is known for. The water in the center gets its vivid blue color from its extreme high temperatures. For a birds eye view of the Grand Prismatic, take the short and steep hike up to the overlook via the Fairy Falls trail.
4. OPAL POOL
LOCATION: MIDWAY GEYSER BASIN
Opal Pool is another stunning geothermal feature located along the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk. This active hot spring is a hot 132 degrees and similar in color to the Grand Prismatic Spring with a deep blue center and a surrounding bacteria mat creating a orange brown color.
Past eruptions of Opal Pool were unpredictable, lasting around 1 minute and reaching heights of 80 feet, making a short and dramatic appearance. Eruptions now from Opal Pool are rare.
5. SAPPHIRE POOL
LOCATION: BISCUIT BASIN
Sapphire Pool is a clear blue pool located along the Biscuit Basin Boardwalk trail. Sapphire Pool used to be an active geyser but hasn’t erupted since 1991. It’s one of the most vivid blue pools in the park and a favorite among park visitors.
6. OLD FAITHFUL
LOCATION: UPPER GEYSER BASIN
ERUPTS: 90 MIN. | HEIGHT: 106 TO 184 FT. | LENGHT: 1.5 TO 5 MIN.
Perhaps you may have heard of Old Faithful, Yellowstone’s most notable attraction. This active geyser is located in the Upper Geyser Basin and was the first geyser in Yellowstone to be named. Old Faithful is known as one of Yellowstone’s most predictable geysers, erupting approximately every 90 minutes and lasting 1.5 to 5 minutes. The geyser expels up to 8,400 gallons of water 184 feet high and features rows of benches for visitors to enjoy Old Faithfuls soaring eruptions.
For a breathtaking view of Old Faithful, take the short & steep hike up to the Old Faithful overlook.
7. MORNING GLORY POOL
LOCATION: UPPER GEYSER BASIN
Morning Glory Pool is one of the 150 hydrothermal gems found in the Upper Geyser Basin and features a 23 foot deep vortex type pool with yellow, green, and blue colors. The appearance of the pool has changed over time due to objects being thrown into the pool and blocking the natural flow of water. The park service has attempted to revive the pool with little success.
8. STEAMBOAT GEYSER
LOCATION: NORRIS GEYSER BASIN
ERUPTS: UNPREDICTABLE | HEIGHT: 300 TO 400 FT.
Steamboat Geyser is the worlds tallest active geyser with heights reaching 300 to 400 feet during eruption. It’s located along the Back Basin boardwalk trail in the Norris Geyser Basin and features two vents spanning 20 feet apart. Massive eruptions of Steamboat Geyser are unpredictable, however, minor 15 foot eruptions are more common.
Let us know in the comments below what are your favorite geysers in Yellowstone National Park!
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Tour the geysers of Yellowstone National Park in this mini guide. Featuring 8 of Yellowstone’s most mind blowing geysers you can’t miss on your trip.