Geysers of Yellowstone: A Guide to the Park's Thermal Wonders
“Yellowstone’s geysers remind us that the Earth is alive and that its wonders are beyond our understanding”
Yellowstone has the largest concentration of geysers in the world. It could take you a week to just see all of the Geysers. Here are my top 5 thermal features to see when visiting the park.
Old Faithful
Erupting almost every 90-110 minutes it certainly maintains its namesake. Eruptions can last up to 5 minutes and reach heights of up to 184ft. This is a huge highlight of the park and can draw massive crowds. Stop by the historic Old Faithful Inn for some history, souvenirs and a bite to eat.
Midway Geyser Basin
Midway is the home of Grand Prismatic Spring and Excelsior Geyser Crater. The boardwalk is a little under a mile long and walks you past the big geysers. The steam rising off the geysers can make it difficult to see the colors and sheer scale of the features. For a better view park at the Fairy Falls trailhead parking lot and follow the trail to the Grand Prismatic overlook. If your up for a little more hiking take the trail out to Fairy Falls and Imperial Geyser.
Norris Geyser Basin
A huge expanse of thermal pools, geysers, and boiling mud. Norris is made up of two sections Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. Steamboat geyser, the world's tallest geyser, is located in the Porcelain Basin. Norris has the hottest springs in the park resulting in a large patchwork of green and orange thermophile mats.
Mud Volcano
Located in the eastern part of the park, a smaller geyser basin but one of my personal favorites. This area has the most acidic thermal features in the park. There are several mudpots and the Dragon’s Mouth feature.
Mammoth Hot Springs
While not colorful or explosive the shear size is what is impressive. The terraces and pools attract songbirds and the inactive cracks host marmots and ground squirrels. The area surrounding Mammoth is a great place to see elk, just remember to keep your distance. The town of Mammoth is hosts a visitor center, public bathrooms, a gas station and places to eat. Mammoth is one of the few places in the park that has service. A recommended stopping point when exploring the northern part of the park.