Want to see that area that is the most changing part of Yellowstone National Park, where thermal features appear and disappear regularly? If so, you’ll want to make sure you visit Norris Geyser Basin.
This area of the park is the hottest in Yellowstone and is divided up into two main sections, Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. We visited Porcelain Basin the first day of our trip and decided to add in Back Basin on the second day.
Each basin is quite different from the other. Porcelain Basin almost completely without trees, and Back Basin has several areas that meander through the forest.
There are a large variety of colors in the waters at Norris Geyer Basin, caused by mineral and organisms that not only live, but thrive in the waters. There are some wonderful rust, blue, grey, orange, green, and yellow colors.
The hikes around the basins are not difficult, but you will want to make sure that you take water. And the only restrooms are located in the parking lot. There aren’t any at the bookstore and ranger station that are next to the actual basin.
We spent quite a bit of time in the basin, looking at all the different thermal features. And there are a lot! One of the most famou, Steamboat Geyser, which had not had a major eruption since 2005, erupted about a week after we were there. Just missed it!
I remember seeing a young girl that wanted to see it erupt and her mom kept telling her they needed to leave and that it might be awhile before it erupted again. Not sure she realized that it had been 8 years since it fully erupted. If she had only waited one more week! Maybe you will be be luckier! When Steamboat Geyser erupts, it can shoot 300 feet into the air which I’m sure is quite a site.
I’ve got a few pictures below:
Lone pine tree in the middle of Porcelain Basin
Beautiful Colors in one of the waterways in Back Basin
Some of the living things that thrive in the waters of Porcelain Basin
Blue Pools in Norris Geyser Basin
Norris Geyser Basin has a large variety of colors.
One example of the hundreds of thermal features at Norris Geyser Basin.
Overview of Porcelain Basin
I always enjoy this sign. Look at the mom!
Finally, here is a Flickr Slideshow of a lot more of our pictures:
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If you visit Yellowstone, and have time, this area is definitely worth spending some time exploring. Of course I could say that about almost any of the areas in Yellowstone!
Video coming soon!
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