Exploring Norris Geyser Basin And Surrounding Area: The Oldest Geothermal Area in Yellowstone

Norris Geyser Basin Area | Overview

Norris Geyser Basin is the most active and oldest geyser geothermal area in Yellowstone National Park, home to hundreds of geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles. The geothermal activity here is diverse and unpredictable, often changing dramatically due to geological activity. Each visit may reveal a different landscape. While the geyser activity in the Norris area is not as regular as the famous geysers in Yellowstone, such as those in the Old Faithful area, this unpredictability is part of its charm. The area’s most famous geyser, Steamboat Geyser, is the tallest geyser in the world, with eruptions reaching up to 90 meters.

In addition to the Norris Geyser Basin, nearby attractions like the colorful Artist Paint Pots Trail and the scenic Gibbon Falls can be combined with Norris for a full day's itinerary.

Norris Geyser Basin Area | Day Trip Itinerary

If you're planning to visit Norris Geyser Basin and its surroundings, you can start your day early at Norris Geyser Basin itself, allocating about 2-3 hours. After exploring Norris, continue to the nearby Artist Paint Pots Trail, which is about 1.2 km long and passes through a colorful mud pot area. This trail takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Finally, head to Gibbon Falls, located between Norris and Madison Junction, a waterfall standing 25 meters tall. The viewing trail is close to the parking lot, and it only takes a few minutes to reach the best vantage point. You can also spend more time walking closer to the falls for photos and relaxation.

Visiting Norris Geyser Basin and the nearby attractions will take a little over half a day, so it’s easy to fit into a one-day itinerary. Since Norris Geyser Basin is not far from the Old Faithful area, which has many geothermal features, combining both areas over two days is ideal for a more in-depth exploration.

Norris Geyser Basin is moderately distanced from all of Yellowstone's popular lodging areas. Whether you're staying in West Yellowstone, near the West Entrance, or within the park at Old Faithful Inn or Canyon Village, Norris is within about an hour's drive.

Norris Geyser Basin Area | Attractions

Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin consists of two main trail areas: Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. The parking lot is located near the entrance, though space is limited, so it is recommended to arrive early to avoid crowds.

Porcelain Basin Trail

Porcelain Basin gets its name from the many white silica deposits that give the landscape a smooth, porcelain-like appearance. This geothermal area is known for its highly active steam vents, creating a surreal, misty, otherworldly environment. The trail is about 1.5 km long and relatively flat, taking around 1 hour to complete.

As soon as you enter, you’ll see large steam vents, emitting clouds of steam with a roaring sound, much like a steam train passing by. The rapid expulsion of hot steam is a truly impressive sight.

Continuing forward, you’ll encounter an open geothermal area with steam and boiling pools everywhere, as well as active geysers. The interplay of steam and minerals in the pools creates striking colors, which is why the area is called Porcelain Basin. Due to the highly active geothermal nature, the landscape and colors frequently change.

Back Basin Trail

The Back Basin Trail is a longer path that takes you deeper into the forested geothermal area of Norris Geyser Basin, with even more diverse and pristine scenery. The trail is about 2.4 km long, mostly flat, and features boardwalks throughout. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete. The most famous geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin, Steamboat Geyser, is located here.

The first major feature you'll encounter is Emerald Spring, known for its stunning blue water.

Steamboat Geyser is the most famous geyser in Norris Geyser Basin and the tallest geyser in the world. Though its eruptions are irregular, when it does erupt, it can shoot water up to 90 meters high. After the eruption, Steamboat Geyser continues to emit large amounts of steam and mud, creating a spectacular display. However, witnessing an eruption is rare, as the intervals between eruptions can be as short as a few days or as long as decades. When we visited, it had just erupted two weeks prior. Although we didn’t see an eruption, the sight of the geyser continuously emitting steam was impressive, and occasionally some water would spurt out, showing how active it was.

Nearby, Cistern Spring is another famous hot spring feature. Located right next to the trail near Steamboat Geyser, this spring has a beautiful blue-green color and constantly bubbles with warm water. It is said that when Steamboat Geyser erupts, the water from Cistern Spring is drawn away, turning it into a dry pool.

Echinus Geyser, named after the sea urchin, is notable for its reddish-brown color, which contrasts sharply with the surrounding landscape. This geyser is one of the largest acidic geysers in the world. Its water has an unusually low pH, averaging around 3.5, making it one of the few acidic geysers in Yellowstone. During eruptions, the highly acidic water, accompanied by steam, creates a unique spectacle with vibrant colors.

In the late 20th century, Echinus Geyser erupted with regular frequency, every 35 to 75 minutes, shooting water up to 12 to 25 meters high for about 4 minutes. However, since the 21st century, its eruptions have become unpredictable and much less frequent. Although it didn’t erupt during our visit, we could still feel the geothermal power around it. The ground around the geyser is vividly orange-red due to iron deposits in the water.

If you're short on time, you can turn back after reaching Echinus Geyser. However, if you have enough time, it’s recommended to complete the whole trail. Though the geysers in this area are unpredictable, with so many active geothermal features, you're bound to see some geysers in action along the way. The trail offers stunning views of steam clouds and the sound of roaring steam vents. When we visited, the most active geysers were Visen Geyser and Veteran Geyser, both of which held our attention for quite some time.

The deeper you go into the forest, the more dispersed and primitive the geothermal features become, making it feel more wild compared to the Porcelain Basin Trail. At one point, we even heard the howling of a wolf pack.

If you walk the full loop, on the way back you’ll pass by Minute Geyser, one of the few geysers on this trail that erupts regularly. It has two vents. In the past, the northern vent was the main eruption point, sending water up to 6 meters high every few minutes. Unfortunately, early tourists frequently threw rocks and other objects into the geyser, which eventually blocked the water channel. Now, the southern vent is the active one, producing more modest eruptions, with water reaching about 1 meter high, but it still erupts every few minutes.

Artist Paint Pots Trail

Artist Paint Pots Trail is a short but stunning trail. Its name, “Artist Paint Pots,” comes from the colorful hot springs and mud pots along the path. The trail is about 1.2 km long and relatively easy but very interesting. The water and mud on the surface of the hot springs and mud pots display vibrant colors, such as red, orange, and yellow, due to mineral deposits. On sunny days, the bright colors contrast sharply with the blue sky, creating a natural palette.

The trail begins in a lush forest, gradually transitioning into the geothermal area. It takes about 30 minutes to complete the whole trail. There is a viewpoint at the top of the trail where you can overlook the entire colorful mud pot area, offering a spectacular view.

The mud pots change with the seasons. For example, during drier seasons, the mud becomes thicker and bubbles up, while in wetter seasons, the mud becomes more fluid, with a glossy surface. At the top of the trail, there is a particularly fascinating mud pot where you can see both thick and thin mud, resembling a stew gradually cooking down. The mud bubbles continuously, making amusing popping sounds.

After descending from the top, you can get a closer look at the steam vents and hot springs below. The hot springs here are milky or blue in color, constantly boiling, showcasing the incredible geothermal energy of Yellowstone.

Gibbon Falls

Gibbon Falls is located between Norris Geyser Basin and Madison Junction, along the Gibbon River. This waterfall stands 25 meters tall and is conveniently located near the main road, making it a popular picnic spot and a favorite among visitors. If you have time, take a short walk along the viewing trail. The cliffs and forests surrounding the falls make for a picturesque scene as the water cascades down. From the parking lot, it’s only a few minutes' walk to the best viewing point of the falls.

Further reading

• More Yellowstone National Park posts