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Get a Gush of a Rush at Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park

Published on November 03, 2009 by Jason Hussong, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

The Old Faithful geyser is the quintessential Yellowstone National Park experience. It sits at the head of the Upper Geyser Basin, which is home to the majority of the geysers in the Park. Yellowstone on the whole holds more than 60 percent of the geysers in the world, but none more famous than Old Faithful.

The Old Faithful geyser, named during an expedition in 1870, shows off the power of nature every 65 to 90 minutes, depending on the length of the previous eruption. An eruption can shoot up to 8,400 gallons (32,000 litres) of water 185 feet (56 metres) high. The internal temperature of the water has been measured at 244°F (118°C), with steam at 350°F.

Old Faithful erupts about twenty times a day, but seismic activity in the area can change this, as it was measured at twenty-one times daily before an earthquake in 1959. Old Faithful doesn't appear to be getting any less reliable though, as the eruptions can be predicted with approximately 90 percent certainty.

Ranger programs entertain and inform the gathering crowd in-between eruptions. These programs take place on a boardwalk just outside the three lodges that surround Old Faithful. There are benches available, but in the summer months the crowd can be so large that it's necessary to get there well in advance to secure a spot. The Old Faithful geyser can easily be spotted from the back of the crowd, along the boardwalk, and in other areas of the park and too.

Enjoy the like-clockwork plume of Old Faithful at Yellowstone along with the collage of bubbling hot spots, lurking animal herds and remote waterfalls.

Photos

Map

Globe

Puzzle

Get Going!

Any time of year is a good time to see Old Faithful erupt, but Yellowstone National Park can experience extremes. The summer may be crowded and hot, and the winter tends to be snowy and cold, but each time of year can add to the beauty and enjoyment of the occasion. A popular time to visit to avoid these extremities is during the spring or fall seasons. Sunset and sunrise viewing of Old Faithful can be particularly beautiful if approached from the proper angle. It is possible to view Old Faithful from 360°, so don't feel obligated to stay on the main part of the boardwalk that winds through the basin.

Odds n' Ends

Yellowstone National Park is an open area where wildlife can roam freely; and as such, it is possible to have very close encounters with different animals. Make sure to follow the park guidelines in regards to wildlife, and always give them plenty of space, keeping in mind that it is always best to lean towards the side of caution. Bison are particularly plentiful in Yellowstone and are commonly seen in the Old Faithful area. They can be very dangerous, so keep your distance.

Want a Guide?

Ranger Lead Presentation
A Yellowstone National Park Ranger lead presentation is given before each eruption of the geyser. The Old Faithful geyser is also visible from a live webcam.

Places to Eat

National Park Restaurants
All restaurants are operated through the National Park Service. The generally tend to be in the style of fast food or cafeteria restaurants. All three lodges by Old Faitful have restaurants in them. Other areas of the park are easily within driving distance and have similar restaurant experiences.

Recommended Places to Stay

National Park Lodging
There are three lodges within walking distance of the Old Faithful geyser. They are the Old Faithful Inn, the Old Faithful Lodge, and the Snow Lodge. Other available camping sites, cabins and lodges are within a short drive from Old Faithful and each is near another enjoyable feature of the national park. All camping and lodging facilities are operated through the National Park Service.

More Experiences Nearby

Behold the Beautiful Bacteria of The Morning Glory Pool in Yellowstone National Park
There's so much to see and do in Yellowstone National Park, which is bigger than the states of Delaware or Rhode Island, that it would be easy to spend a week there and still not see it all. If you don't have a week, then some of the best experiences can be found in the Upper Geyser Basin in the southwest corner of the Park. All of the geysers, pools and wildlife make it a truly unique place to visit. One of the more popular sites in Yellowstone is the Morning Glory Pool, which sits at the end of a ...1 miles away.

Video

Books and DVDs

Yellowstone Treasures: The Traveler's Companion to the National Park
Fodor's In Focus Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks
The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Yellowstone National Park/Old Faithful/Wyoming: Illustrated Trail Map

Elsewhere on the Web

The Old Faithful WebCam - NPS.gov
Old Faithful Yellowstone - About.com
Yellowstone National Park Old Faithful - GoNorthWest.com

Media References

Yellowstone: A Supervolcano - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
Go Big in the Greatest Wide Open - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
Yellowstone National Park Wyoming - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
Yellowstone Geysers May Stop Erupting, Study Suggests - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
A Time of Wonder At a Classic Sight - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
Introduction to Yellowstone National Park - NYTimes.com (newspaper)

Language Guides

French , Hindi , Indonesian , Italian , Japanese , Lao , Malay , Mandarin , Portugese , Russian , Spanish , Thai , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in United States. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

Discussion

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