Old Faithful

 

Watch Old Faithful Geyser

Watching Old Faithful Geyser erupt is a Yellowstone National Park tradition. People from all over the world have journeyed here to watch this famous geyser. The park’s wildlife and scenery might be as well-known today, but it was the unique thermal features like Old Faithful Geyser that inspired the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872.

Old Faithful is one of nearly 500 geysers in Yellowstone and one of six that park rangers currently predict. It is uncommon to be able to predict geyser eruptions with regularity and Old Faithful has lived up to its name, only lengthening the time between eruptions by about 30 minutes in the last 30 years.

Thermal features change constantly and it is possible Old Faithful may stop erupting someday. Geysers and other thermal features are evidence of ongoing volcanic activity beneath the surface and change is part of this natural system. Yellowstone preserves the natural geologic processes so that visitors may continue to enjoy this natural system.

Watch eruptions from the Old Faithful viewing area or along the boardwalks that weave around the geyser and through the Upper Geyser Basin.

When visiting Old Faithful, you can find when next eruption is predicted at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, at the lodges, and in the NPS App.

 

Old Faithful Live-stream Webcam Watch live views

 

Latest Geyser Eruption Predictions

Old Faithful Loading…

Castle Loading…

Grand Loading…

Daisy Loading…

Riverside Loading…

Great Fountain Loading…

Notes on Predictions:

- Predictions are not available when the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center is closed, typically early November through mid-December and mid-March through mid-April.

- The last prediction made will remain up until a new prediction is available.

 

A crowd on the porch of the Old Faithful Inn watches Old Faithful Geyser erupt.

NPS/Jim Peaco

Step Back in Time at the Old Faithful Inn

The Old Faithful Inn was designed by Robert C. Reamer, who wanted the asymmetry of the building to reflect the chaos of nature. It was built during the winter of 1903–1904. The Old Faithful Inn is one of the few remaining log hotels in the United States. It is a masterpiece of rustic architecture in its stylized design and fine craftsmanship. Its influence on American architecture, particularly park architecture, was immeasurable.

The building is a rustic log and wood-frame structure with gigantic proportions: nearly 700 feet (213 m) in length and seven stories high. The lobby of the hotel features a 65-foot (20-m) ceiling, a massive rhyolite fireplace, and railings made of contorted lodgepole pine. Stand in the lobby and look up at the exposed structure, or walk up a gnarled log staircase to one of the balconies. Wings were added to the hotel in 1915 and 1927, and today there are 327 rooms available to guests in this National Historic Landmark.

 

Learn all about the geologic history of the Upper Geyser Basin.

NPS/Neal Herbert

Investigate Old Faithful's Geologic Story

Tour exhibits about the geologic forces behind Old Faithful and Yellowstone at the Old Faithful Visitor Center. Kids of all ages can get Junior Ranger and Young Scientist booklets from rangers.

Evidence of the geological forces that have shaped Yellowstone are found in abundance in this district. The hills surrounding Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin are reminders of Quaternary rhyolitic lava flows. These flows, occurring long after the catastrophic eruption of 600,000 years ago, flowed across the landscape like stiff mounds of bread dough due to their high silica content.

Evidence of glacial activity is common, and it is one of the keys that allows geysers to exist. Glacier till deposits underlie the geyser basins providing storage areas for the water used in eruptions. Many landforms, such as Porcupine Hills north of Fountain Flats, are comprised of glacial gravel and are reminders that as recently as 13,000 years ago, this area was buried under ice.

Signs of the forces of erosion can be seen everywhere, from runoff channels carved across the sinter in the geyser basins to the drainage created by the Firehole River. Mountain building is evident as you drive south of Old Faithful, toward Craig Pass. Here the Rocky Mountains reach a height of 8,262 feet (2518 m), dividing the country into two distinct watersheds.

 

The Upper Geyser Basin has hundreds of hydrothermal features to experience.

NPS/Jim Peaco

Tour the Upper Geyser Basin

Yellowstone, as a whole, possesses close to 60 percent of the world's geysers. The Upper Geyser Basin is home to the largest numbers of this fragile feature found in the park. Within one square mile there are at least 150 of these hydrothermal wonders. Of this remarkable number, only five major geysers are predicted regularly by the naturalist staff. They are Castle, Grand, Daisy, Riverside, and Old Faithful. There are many frequent, smaller geysers to be seen and marveled at in this basin as well as numerous hot springs and one recently developed mudpot (if it lasts).

 

Wander Biscuit Basin or Black Sand Basin

Just north of Old Faithful are two smaller basins that are worth a visit. Both basins have parking lots, or are accessible by foot via the trail network through the Upper Geyser Basin.

Black Sand Basin is northwest of Old Faithful and has several enjoyable hydrothermal features, from the rather active Cliff Geyser to the chromatic Rainbow Pool and Sunset Lake.

Further north of Old Faithful is Biscuit Basin, named after the biscuit-shaped geyserite formations that can still be seen around parts of the majestic Sapphire Pool. There are also some enjoyable surprises along the boardwalk like Jewel Geyser, as well as the start of the Mystic Falls Trail at the far end of the boardwalk loop. Biscuit Basin is closed for the remainder of summer 2024 due to a hydrothermal explosion.

 

Visitors on a boardwalk at Grand Prismatic Spring.

NPS/Jim Peaco

Discover Midway Geyser Basin

This geyser basin, though small in size compared to its companions along the Firehole River, holds large hydrothermal wonders.

First is Excelsior Geyser Crater, where a 200 feet x 300 feet (61 m x 91 m) hot spring steams within and constantly discharges more than 4,000 gallons (15,142 l) of water per minute into the Firehole River.

Next is the chromatic wonder of Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone's largest hot springs. This feature is 370 feet (113 m) in diameter and more than 121 feet (37 m) in depth.

 

If you witness an eruption of Lone Star Geyser, please note the time and report it at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center.

NPS/Neal Herbert

Hike to Lone Star Geyser

Lone Star Geyser erupts about every three hours. There is a logbook, located in a cache near the geyser, for observations of geyser times and types of eruptions. This is a 4.8 mile (7.7 km), easy there-and-back hike or bike that follows the Firehole River to the geyser. The trailhead is east of Kepler Cascades pullout, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southeast of the Old Faithful overpass on Grand Loop Road.

Lone Star erupts 30–45 feet (9–14 m) about every three hours. If you witness an eruption, please note the time and report it at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center. Biking is not permitted beyond a barrier near the geyser.

 

Go For a Hike (or a Ski)

The Old Faithful area has many trails that are wonderful to explore, no matter the time of year you find yourself in at Old Faithful.

 

 

Plan a Backcountry Trip

There are a lot of backcountry campsites in this region. A popular backcountry destination is Shoshone Geyser Basin. It is a 17-mile roundtrip hike that crosses the Continental Divide at Grant's Pass. This basin has no boardwalks, and extreme caution should be exercised when traveling through it. Trails in the basin must be used. Remote thermal areas, such as this, should be approached with respect, knowledge, and care. Be sure to emphasize personal safety and resource protection when entering a backcountry basin.

 

Kepler Cascades is an easy and beautiful waterfall to experience.

NPS/Dave Krueger

Check Out a Waterfall (or Two)

There are two waterfalls that are relatively easy to get to in this region. Kepler Cascades is visible from a viewing platform at a pullout south of Old Faithful along the Grand Loop Road.

Mystic Falls is reached via a delightful day hike that starts at the far end of the Biscuit Basin boardwalk loop. It is either an easy there-and-back hike to the base of the waterfall, or you can make a loop of the hike, ascending the nearby hillside for sweeping views back across the Upper Geyser Basin.

 

Stay Here

There are no campgrounds in the Old Faithful area. However, there are three lodging facilities found within walking distance of Old Faithful Geyser.

Old Faithful Inn is the oldest of the three, with a truly historic feel. Old Faithful Snow Lodge is the newest lodge in the area, and has both modern hotel rooms and cabins. The third lodge, Old Faithful Lodge, has small cabin-style accommodations.

 

 

Old Faithful Area Frequently Asked Questions

How often does Old Faithful Geyser erupt? How tall is it? How long does it last?

The average interval between eruptions of Old Faithful Geyser changes; as of February 2019, it is 98 minutes ± 10 minutes, with intervals ranging from 79 to 109 minutes. Old Faithful can vary in height from 106 to more than 180 feet (32.3–54.8 m), averaging 130 feet (40 m). Eruptions normally last between 1½ to 5 minutes and expel from 3,700 to 8,400 gallons (14,000–31,800 l) of water. At the vent, water is 203ºF (95.6ºC).

Is Old Faithful Geyser as “faithful” as it has always been?

Since its formal discovery in 1870, Old Faithful has been one of the more predictable geysers. Over time, the average interval between eruptions has increased, in part due to ongoing processes within its plumbing. Changes also result from earthquakes. Prior to the Hebgen Lake Earthquake (1959), the interval between Old Faithful’s eruptions averaged more than one hour. After the earthquake, it started erupting with two distinct intervals—a short and a long one. Its average interval increased. After the 1983 Borah Peak Earthquake, centered in Idaho, it increased again. In 1998, an earthquake near Old Faithful lengthened the interval again; subsequent earthquake swarms further increased intervals. Sometimes the average interval decreases.

How can you predict it, if it changes so much?

Old Faithful Geyser has been analyzed for years by mathematicians, statisticians, and dedicated observers. They have shown that a relationship exists between the duration of Old Faithful’s eruption and the length of the following interval. During a short eruption, less water and heat are discharged; thus, they recharge in a short time. Longer eruptions mean more water and heat are discharged and they require more time to recharge. In early morning, staff use information posted online by geyser enthusiasts who are in the basin or watching Old Faithful on the webcam outside regular visitor education center operating hours.

What else can I see at this geyser basin?

The Upper Geyser Basin has 150 geysers in one square mile, plus hundreds of hot springs. Five large geysers are predicted regularly by the education ranger staff. You can reach these and other features on boardwalks that loop through this basin. Walk or drive to nearby Black Sand Basin and Biscuit Basin to view their features.

What will I see at Midway Geyser Basin?

This geyser basin, six miles north of the Old Faithful area, is small but spectacular. Excelsior Geyser is a 200 x 300-foot (61 x 91-m) crater that constantly discharges more than 4,000 gallons (15,142 l) of water per minute into the Firehole River. Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone’s largest hot spring, is 200–330 feet (61–101 m) in diameter and more than 121 feet (37 m) deep.

Can I see mudpots in this area?

You’ll see all four types of thermal features (geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mudpots) at Fountain Paint Pot, eight miles north of Old Faithful and two miles north of Midway Geyser Basin. Be sure to drive the Firehole Lake Drive, where you can walk past hot cascades, hot springs large and small, and view geysers such as White Dome and Great Fountain.

What animals can I see in this area?

Hydrothermal basins provide important habitat for wildlife in the Old Faithful area. Bison and elk live here year-round. In the winter, they take advantage of the warm ground and thin snow cover. Both black and grizzly bears are seen, especially during the spring when winter-killed animals are available. In summer, yellow-bellied marmots are frequently seen in the rocks behind Grand Geyser and near Riverside Geyser. Thermophiles live in the runoff channels of hot springs and geysers, providing food for tiny black ephydrid flies. The flies, in turn, lay their eggs in salmon-colored clumps just above the water surface where they are then preyed upon by spiders. Killdeer also feast on the adult flies.