Current Geyser Activity

Duration:

4 minutes, 41 seconds

Old Faithful was once called “Eternity’s Timepiece” because of the regularity of its eruptions. However, this geyser never erupted at exact hourly intervals as many believe. Ranger Darlene Bos explains how we predict eruptions for this popular geyser. Additional filming by David Restivo and Jay Elhard.

 

Geyser predictions are also available from several sources:

• Download the free NPS app on iTunes or Google Play.
• Contact us by phone for a recorded message with current predictions.
• Visit the Geyser Times website.

 

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.

 

Behavior

Geyser activity changes with time; the table below was last updated November 2020. Predicted geysers are marked with an asterisk (*).

Upper Geyser Basin

Location	Average Interval	Duration	Height (ft/m)
Artemisia	Irregular (9-31 hours)	5-25 min	30'/9m
Aurum	Irregular (4-22 hours)	70 sec	20'/6m
Baby Daisy	35-55 min	3 min	25'/8m
Beehive	Irregular (intervals range from 22-36 hours to over two weeks)	5 min	150+'/45+m
Castle*	13 hours 30 minutes (+/- 45 minutes) 2nd major after a minor: 14 hours 45 minutes (+/- 45 minutes)	15-20 min (frequent minor eruptions)	75'/24m
Daisy*	2 hours 45 minutes (+/- 30 min or longer if windy)	3.5 min	75'/24m
Depression	Irregular (2.5 to 4+ hours)	6 min	10'/3m
Fan & Mortar	Irregular. Five eruptions so far in 2020: 8/10; 8/31; 9/6;10/30; 11/4	35 min	100+'/30+m
Giant	Last eruptions: 10/3/2008; 2/8-9/2009; 1/15-16/2010; 1/22/2010; 9/28/2015	90+ minutes	200+'/60+
Giantess	Last eruptions: 1/3/2011; 5/7-8/2011; 9/13/2011; 1/29/14; 8/26/20; 9/10/20	4-48 hours	150+'/45+m
Grand*	6 hours 30 minutes (+/- 60 minutes)	8-12 min	160+'/48+m
Lion	Variable intervals between series; 60-90 minute intervals within a Lion series	6-7 min initial 3-5 min succeeding	60'/18m 30'/9m
Little Cub	30-45 minutes when regular	3-5 min	5'/1.5m
Oblong	3-7 hours	5-7 minutes	25'/8m
Old Faithful*	94 or 68 min (+/- 10 minutes)	1.5-5 min	106-184'/30-55m
Plume	Irregular. Dormant since 2012.	1 min	25'/8m
Riverside*	6 hours 30 min (+/- 30 min)	20 min	75'/24m

 

Lower Geyser Basin

Location	Average Interval	Duration	Height (ft/m)
Fountain	4.5-7 hours	25-50 min	50'/15m
Great Fountain*	11 hours 30 minutes (+/- 2 hours)	45-60 min	70-200+'/22-60+m

 

Norris Geyser Basin

Location	Last Eruptions	Duration	Height (ft/m)
Echinus	Irregular. 1/9/18;1/26/19	3-5 min	30+'/9+m
Steamboat	See the Steamboat page for latest eruptions	10+ min (water phase) Hours to days (steam phase)	300+'/90+m

 

Duration:

5 minutes, 49 seconds

With over half the world's geysers, Yellowstone offers tremendous opportunities to see geology in action. Explore the mechanics of geysers, their role in the park's history and what they can teach us about the world in which we live.