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Yellowstone National Park

Clepsydra Geyser Seen From Fountain Paint Pot Trail, Yellowstone National Park

A telephoto close-up of an erupting Clepsydra Geyser on a gray winter day along the Fountain Paint Pot Nature Trail in Yellowstone National Park

"This nearly constant performer splashes from several vents and its steam can be seen throughout the Lower Geyser Basin. Its name is Greek for water clock, and was given because the geyser used to erupt regularly every three minutes. Since the 1959 Hebgen earthquake, however, Clepsydra erupts almost without pause."

Rebecca Latson

Bison - And Human - Footprints Around Crested Pool, Yellowstone National Park

A telephoto view of Crested Pool at Upper Geyser Basin, with visible human and bison footprints along the edge of the hot spring in Yellowstone National Park

"With temperatures that average temperate of 191.1°F (88.4°C), Crested Pool is almost constantly boiling, sometimes to 6 feet (2 m) or more. The extreme heat prevents most bacterial growth, resulting in exceptionally clear blue water. Boiling is particularly active along the intricate sinter formation circling the spring, the “crested” edge. Listen for the sizzling. Crested Pool has an average pH of 8.9 and an average conductivity of 2269 uS/cm." 

Rebecca Latson

A Frosty-Faced Bison, Yellowstone National Park

A close-up profile portrait of a bison with frost on its face and eyelashes and fur, Yellowstone National Park

According to the National Park Service, there are about 5,450 bison as of 2021, which includes two primary breeding herds (Northern and Central). You can see them year-round in both the Hayden and Lamar valleys. In the winter, they may be seen near thermal features around the park, including Upper Geyser Basin, Biscuit Basin, and Mammoth, as well as along the Firehole River, Madison River, Blacktail Deer Plateau, Tower, and the Gardiner Basin. The average male weighs 2,000 pounds and the female weighs 1,000 pounds.

Rebecca Latson

Winter Landscape Around Giant Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

A frosty, steaming winter landscape around Giant Geyser at Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park

Winter in Yellowstone is a magical season and presents yet another side of this park's personality. "Giant Geyser became dormant in 1955. Since then, it has slowly become active and erratic. During 2007, it erupted more than 50 times. During 2010, it erupted once. Its spectacular eruptions last more than an hour and can reach 250 feet (76 m). Before and during eruptions, small geysers on the same platform may erupt."

Rebecca Latson

A Quiescent Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

A wide-angle view of a quiet Great Fountain Geyser, with reflections in the calm water and puffy clouds in a blue sky at Yellowstone National Park

Located within the Lower Geyser Basin, "Great Fountain Geyser experiences periods of irregularity. For the most part, it is dependable. Eruptions average 100 feet (31 m) high, with some rare “superbursts” of 200 feet (61 m) or more. Eruptions last 45-60 minutes in a series of bursts. Great Fountain Geyser takes 10-14 hours to rebuild to an eruption. The pool slowly fills, then begins to overflow 70-100 minutes before the eruption."

Rebecca Latson

INN Member

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