Geysers in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is home to the largest concentration of geysers on Earth, with more than half of the world’s total geysers located within its boundaries. These geothermal wonders are the result of heat from the Yellowstone supervolcano interacting with underground water systems, creating immense pressure that releases in spectacular eruptions. Spread across several major basins, the park’s geysers vary greatly in size, frequency, and behavior, making each basin a unique natural laboratory of geothermal activity.

List of Geysers in Yellowstone

Geyser Basin	Major Geysers
Upper Geyser Basin	Old Faithful Geyser Castle Geyser Grand Geyser Riverside Geyser Daisy Geyser Beehive Geyser Giant Geyser Grotto Geyser Lion Group (Lion, Lioness, Big Cub, Little Cub) Artemisia Geyser Aurum Geyser Plume Geyser Sawmill Geyser Anemone Geyser Clepsydra Geyser (sometimes Upper/Lower border) Morning Geyser Fan & Mortar Geysers
Midway Geyser Basin	Excelsior Geyser Turquoise Geyser
Lower Geyser Basin	Great Fountain Geyser Fountain Geyser White Dome Geyser Clepsydra Geyser Jet Geyser Spasm Geyser Twig Geyser Red Spouter
Norris Geyser Basin	Steamboat Geyser Echinus Geyser Constant Geyser Minute Geyser Veteran Geyser Whirligig Geyser Vixen Geyser Porkchop Geyser
West Thumb Geyser Basin	Lakeshore Geyser Big Cone Geyser Fishing Cone Geyser Percolating Spring
Other Isolated Geysers	Lone Star Geyser Geyser Creek area geysers

1. Upper Geyser Basin

The Upper Geyser Basin is by far the most famous, both for its sheer number of geysers and for housing Old Faithful, perhaps the most iconic geyser in the world. Old Faithful is renowned for its predictability, erupting roughly every 90 minutes and shooting water up to 180 feet in the air.

Nearby, Castle Geyser stands like a fortress of sinter and erupts with a powerful column of water followed by an extended steam phase. Grand Geyser is the tallest predictable geyser in the world, reaching heights of over 200 feet, while Riverside Geyser erupts gracefully over the Firehole River, creating a scene of remarkable beauty. Daisy Geyser is known for its angled eruptions, and Beehive Geyser lives up to its name with a tall, narrow jet that resembles steam from a chimney.

Other significant features in this basin include Giant Geyser, which can rival Steamboat in height but erupts infrequently, and the Grotto Geyser, whose bizarre cone shape creates eruptions that can last for hours. The Lion Group, Artemisia, Aurum, Plume, and Sawmill Geysers each add to the variety, making the Upper Basin the most diverse geyser field on the planet.

2. Midway Geyser Basin

The Midway Geyser Basin, though smaller in size, is home to Excelsior Geyser, a vast crater that once produced massive eruptions but now behaves as one of Yellowstone’s largest hot springs. Its history, however, is an essential part of understanding Yellowstone’s dynamic geothermal system. Turquoise Geyser, although rarely active, adds to the uniqueness of this basin, which is more famous for the nearby Grand Prismatic Spring.

3. Lower Geyser Basin

Moving southward, the Lower Geyser Basin contains some of Yellowstone’s most dramatic geothermal spectacles. The Great Fountain Geyser, located along Firehole Lake Drive, is one of the few that can be predicted with relative accuracy. Its eruptions can last for over an hour and reach up to 200 feet, creating a truly mesmerizing display.

Fountain Geyser is powerful and often accompanied by nearby Clepsydra Geyser, which erupts almost continuously, producing a steady plume of water and steam. White Dome Geyser, with its massive cone, erupts in bursts that may not be tall but are very photogenic. 

Other notable geysers here include Jet, Spasm, Twig, and Red Spouter, each adding to the variety of features in this broad and active basin.

4. Norris Geyser Basin

The Norris Geyser Basin is one of the hottest and most changeable areas in Yellowstone. Here lies Steamboat Geyser, the tallest active geyser in the world, capable of shooting water nearly 400 feet into the air when it erupts. Though unpredictable, its eruptions are legendary. 

Echinus Geyser, once known for its acidic and frequent eruptions, has become less active in recent decades but remains scientifically important. Constant Geyser, true to its name, erupts regularly, while Minute Geyser once erupted frequently but was damaged by early visitors throwing debris into its vent.

Veteran, Whirligig, and Vixen Geysers provide additional activity, and Porkchop Geyser, which exploded in 1989, serves as a reminder of the unpredictable power of these geothermal systems.

5. West Thumb Geyser Basin

Along the shoreline of Yellowstone Lake lies the West Thumb Geyser Basin, one of the most scenic geothermal areas in the park. Fishing Cone Geyser is perhaps the most famous here, once used by early visitors to cook fish directly from the lake, though this practice is now banned. 

Lakeshore Geyser and Big Cone Geyser are partially submerged during high water, making them unusual features in Yellowstone. Percolating Spring also shows geyser-like activity, adding to the diversity of the basin.

6. Other Isolated Geysers

Outside of the major basins, Yellowstone also features isolated geysers that are beloved by visitors willing to venture off the main paths. Lone Star Geyser, located a few miles from Old Faithful, erupts about every three hours in a magnificent display of water and steam. It is one of the few geysers that can be enjoyed in relative solitude, away from the crowds. Other smaller geyser groups, such as those along Geyser Creek, highlight just how widespread geothermal activity is across the park.