Steamboat Geyser

 
 
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Duration:
21 seconds

View of the steam rising from Steamboat Geyser after an eruption earlier in the day.

 

Tucked away in the Norris Geyser Basin is Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser. Its major eruptions shoot water more than 300 feet (91 m). Only Waimangu Geyser in New Zealand has rocketed to greater heights—but not in more than one hundred years. In Yellowstone National Park’s recorded history, only two other geysers have exceeded Steamboat in size: Excelsior Geyser in Midway Geyser Basin and Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin. Steamboat’s minor and major eruptions are entirely unpredictable.

 
Steam rises into the blue sky from the forest where Steamboat Geyser is tucked away.
The steam phase of Steamboat Geyser after an eruption earlier in the day.

NPS/Dave Krueger

Major Eruptions—Rare and Spectacular

A major eruption of Steamboat Geyser is unforgettable. Water surges from two vents to varying heights, then suddenly water is expelled to more than 300 feet (91 m) high. Curtains of water fall to the slope above the geyser and collect in torrents rushing back into the vents, carrying huge amounts of mud, sand, and rock that are shot skyward again and again. Water coats everything with a glistening layer of silica.

A significant amount of eruption debris can accumulate around the geyser. Even cars in the parking area can be littered with debris.

Mature lodgepole pines have been broken by the downpour, undermined and then washed away by the geyser’s massive discharge. The boardwalk at the base of the hill has been covered by the geyser’s outwash.

The water phase of a major eruption lasts 3 to more than 40 minutes. Once the water supply is exhausted, the geyser continues with a powerful steam phase lasting several hours to several days. Its roar is so great that conversation near the geyser is difficult, and visitors in the Norris Campground, a mile to the north, have been awakened by the noise.

 

Not-so-minor Eruptions

Steamboat’s minor eruptions are most common and reach 6–40 ft (2–12 m) and last 1–4 minutes. Intervals may be as short as 2–5 minutes. The higher and longer minor eruptions often excite viewers because a major eruption seems imminent, with water expelling from both the larger north vent and its smaller counterpart. Usually, the geyser quickly calms down again.

 
Steam rises from a rocky vent.
Steam rising from Steamboat Geyser's vent.

NPS/Dave Krueger

Dormancy and Rejuvenation

The 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake, 7.5 on the Richter Scale, was centered outside the western boundary of Yellowstone. Two years later, for the first time in 50 years, Steamboat Geyser erupted. Some scientists believe this rejuvenation was a direct result of thermal energy shifts caused by the 1959 earthquake; others say it was coincidental. As of this day there is still no clear correlation between Steamboat’s eruptions and earthquake activity.

Over the years, Steamboat’s eruptions have been sporadic. Some years saw frequent eruptions, such as 1982–1983, when dozens of eruptions occurred. Quiet periods throughout the 1990’s and late 2000’s were marked by years of dormancy between single eruptions. One thing is known, Steamboat Geyser’s future eruptions will continue to be unpredictable.

Steamboat began an eruptive period on March 15, 2018, after a more than 3.5-year dormancy. The geyser has been erupting somewhat regularly (but not predictably) since that date. The dynamic nature of this geyser basin, and the geology of Yellowstone as a whole, keeps everyone guessing.

 
Murky waters of Cistern Spring surrounded by a gray, muddy landscape.
Cistern Spring during the steam phase of a Steamboat Geyser eruption.

NPS/Dave Krueger

The Cistern Spring Connection

Cistern Spring, at the base of the hill, exhibits changes related to its gigantic neighbor. After 1959, Cistern Spring’s temperature gradually rose, possibly receiving some of this heat from Steamboat. Cistern’s discharge increased in 1965, when Steamboat’s major eruptions were becoming less frequent. This surge in heat and water was so great that all vegetation immediately south of Cistern was killed, and a colorful silica terrace rapidly grew several feet high. This terrace continues to rise and expand.

Since then, Cistern has also drained during or after a major Steamboat eruption.

 

Steamboat’s Major Eruptions

All recorded major eruptions are listed here. Others may have occurred, but were not necessarily seen if there were no observers in Norris Geyser Basin. The intervals range from 3 days to 50 years. The largest number of recorded eruptions in a year occurred twice, with 48 eruptions in both 2019 and 2020.

Year # of Eruptions Interval
2024 3 (February 26;
April 3;
May 30;
July 15)
57 days;
37 days;
56 days;
46 days
2023 9 (January 5;
January 28;
March 11;
May 7;
June 9;
August 25;
October 8;
November 13;
December 30)
29 days;
23 days;
41 days;
56 days;
33 days;
77 days;
43 days;
35 days;
47 days
2022 11 (January 23;
February 14;
March 4 and 30;
May 4 and 23;
June 10 and 20;
September 18;
November 5;
December 6)
38 days;
22 days;
17 and 26 days;
34 and 19 days;
18 and 10 days;
89 days;
47 days;
31 days
2021 20 (January 2 and 12;
February 3 and 21;
March 3, 18, and 27;
April 4, 16, and 23;
May 3 and 31;
July 8;
September 11 and 28;
October 13 and 25;
November 12 and 24;
December 16)
13 and 9 days;
21 and 18 days;
9, 14, and 9 days;
8, 11, and 6 days;
11 and 26 days;
37 days;
65 and 17 days;
14 and 11 days;
18 and 12 days;
21 days
2020 48 (January 9 and 23;
February 1, 12, 21, and 28;
March 6, 15, and 24;
April 2, 10, and 27;
May 8, 14, 19, 23, and 31;
June 3, 8, 12, 18, 23, and 29;
July 2, 9, 13, 19, 24, and 30;
August 3, 9, 14, 20, and 26;
September 1, 9, 16, and 26;
October 5, 14, 19, and 27;
November 3, 11, 20, and 29;
December 11 and 20)
14 and 14 days;
9, 11, 10, and 7 days;
7, 9, and 9 days;
9, 8, and 17 days;
11, 6, 5, 4, and 8 days;
3, 5, 4, 6, 5, and 6 days;
3, 7, 4, and 5 days;
4, 6, 4, 5, and 6 days;
6, 7, 6, and 9 days;
9, 8, 5, and 7 days;
7, 7, 9, and 9 days;
12 and 8 days
2019 48 (January 4, 16, and 25;
February 1, 8, 16, and 25;
March 4, 11, 17, and 25;
April 8 and 25;
May 3, 8, 13, 20, and 27;
June 1, 7, 12, 15, 19, 23, and 28;
July 4, 10, 18, 24, and 30;
August 12, 20, and 27;
September 3, 11, 17, and 25;
October 1, 7, 16, 22, and 30;
November 8, 17, and 27;
December 8, 18, and 26)
9, 11, and 9 days;
7, 7, 8, and 9 days;
7, 7, 6, and 8 days;
14 and 17 days;
7, 5, 5, 6, and 7 days;
5, 6, 5, 3, 4, 4, and 5 days;
5, 6, 8, 6, and 6 days;
13, 7, and 7 days;
6, 8, 6, and 8 days;
6, 6, 9, 6, and 8 days;
9, 9, and 10 days;
11, 10, and 8 days
2018 32 (March 15,
April 19 & 27,
May 4, 13, 19, & 27,
June 4, 11, & 15,
July 6 & 20;
August 4, 22, & 27;
September 1, 7, 12, 17, 24, & 29;
October 8, 15, 23, and 31;
November 7, 15, 21, and 28;
December 8, 17, and 25)
3 years, 193 days;
35 & 7 days;
7, 8, 6, & 7 days;
7, 6, & 4 days;
20 & 14 days;
14, 18, & 5 days;
5, 6, 5, 5, 7, & 5 days;
9, 7, 8, and 7 days;
7, 7, 6, and 7 days;
9, 9, and 8 days
2014 1 (September 3) 1 year, 34 days
2013 1 (July 31) 6 years, 162 days
2007 1 (Feb. 21) 1 years, 274 days
2005 1 (May 23) 1 year, 213 days
2003 3 (March 26, April 27, October 22) 193 days; 32 days; 178 days
2002 2 (April 26, September 13) 1 year, 359 days; 140 days
2000 1 (May 2) 8 years, 214 days
1991 1 (October 2) 1 year, 120 days
1990 1 237 days
1989 3 4.3 years–107 days
1984 5 19–93 days
1983 12 4–107 days
1982 23 4–43 days
1979 1 299 days
1978 2 9 years, 216 days; 147 days
1969 1 206 days
1968 At least 3 42–150 days
1967 At least 3 15–310 days
1966 At least 10 11–77 days
1965 22 7–50 days
1964 29 5–45 days
1963 26 6–32 days
1962 At least 7 8–360 days
1961 At least 1 50 years
1911 At least 1 9 years
1902 At least 1 8 years
1894 At least 1 2 years
1892 At least 1 <1 year
1891 At least 1 <1 year
1890 At least 1 12 years
1878 At least 2
 
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Take a virtual trip around the hottest geyser basin in the park, then plan a visit in person.

 
A tall column of steam rises high above a forest.
The powerful steam phase of an eruption dwarfs lodgepole pines.

NPS/Jim Peaco

Steamboat's Major Eruptions

The intervals between Steamboat's major eruptions range from 3 days to 50 years. The largest number of recorded eruptions in a year occurred in 2019, with 48 eruptions. Beginning in March, 2018 Steamboat entered an ongoing period of more frequent major eruptions. Though major eruptions have recently been more numerous, Steamboat is still unpredictable. The interval between eruptions during this period of activity has ranged from as little as three days to over two weeks.

Below is a list of historic Steamboat eruptions through mid-July, 2020. Visit GeyserTimes for a record of recent Steamboat major eruptions.

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