Watching Old Faithful erupt, Yellowstone National Park

Last week, I wrote a post about the fabulous and atmospheric Old Faithful Inn, the world’s biggest log cabin, and the lodging found just across from the iconic Old Faithful geyser of Yellowstone National park.

I’m certain that all visitors to Yellowstone eventually find their way to Old Faithful, the park’s most famous geyser, erupting almost on the dot every 45 to 120 minutes. The visitor’s center marks out the expected eruptions for the day, so that you can plan your visit.

Eruptions can shoot up to 8400 gallons/32000 liters of boiling water to a height of 185 feet/56 meters.

Old Faithful was ‘discovered’ in 1870 during the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition.

It’s an impressive site to see, and one you shouldn’t miss. But all of Yellowstone is a geothermal activity zone.

There’s an excellent history of Old Faithful and the entire geothermal activity zone of Yellowstone (second in the world for geothermal activity after the island nation of Iceland).

It’s worth it to visit all the geothermal spots dotted throughout the vast national park, but you can start off my the area just around Old Faithful.

Old Faithful is the most famous, but it is surrounded by numerous other geysers you can visit along an easy walking path.

For other tips about what to do in this amazing national park, see my earlier posts about hiking the Mystic Falls trail, walking along the shores of Yellowstone Lake and taking in the views on the Yellowstone Overlook Trail.