Hiking Norris Geyser Basin: the Hottest Geysers in Yellowstone

Looking for more to explore in Yellowstone National Park?
Head south for a short hike to Grand Prismatic Spring followed by more geysers (including Old Faithful) at the Upper Geyser Basin.

DIFFICULTY

Easy/Moderate — The Norris Geyser Basin trails are mostly boardwalks, with a few flat sandy trail sections. Be prepared for a lot of stairs leading down into both Back Basin and Porcelain Basin, and remember — if you go down, you must come up!

CURRENT INFO

Check out the Yellowstone National Park website for more information on Norris Geyser Basin. A trail map and reviews are available on the AllTrails website. When planning a trip to Yellowstone, I recommend the guidebooks Moon Yellowstone & Grand Teton and Moon Best of Yellowstone & Grand Teton, both by Becky Lomax. The former has the most in-depth coverage of these two national parks, while the latter is ideal for a shorter trip.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Since the Norris Geyser Basin is located within Yellowstone National Park, you must either pay an entrance fee of up to $35 (valid for up to seven days) or use the America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass) to enter. You can purchase an annual American the Beautiful pass ahead of time online, or in person at any entrance station to Yellowstone National Park.
• Check ahead of time to see if you qualify for a free or reduced price pass — seniors, fourth graders and active military do! Fourth graders must print a voucher ahead of time to qualify.
• Flush toilets are available at the trailhead.
• There is a small visitor center at the trailhead.
• Norris Geyser Basin is comprised of two separate basins: Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. Short loop trails lead through each basin. The loop through Back Basin is 1.6 miles, while the loop through Porcelain Basin is only 0.6 miles.
• Back Basin is home to Steamboat Geyser, numerous smaller geysers, and some stinky, highly acidic pools. Part of the trail follows a boardwalk, and part follows a natural sandy path.
• Porcelain Basin features a stark white landscape (which inspired the name “Porcelain Basin”) dotted with turquoise hot springs. It is accessed by a boardwalk trail.
• Always stay on the trail. Aside from protecting the delicate thermal features, stepping off the boardwalk or other trails can lead to serious injuries. Steam, scalding water, and thin ground that can break underfoot are real risks in Norris Geyser Basin and other thermal areas in Yellowstone. Norris is home to the hottest geysers in the park, so don’t risk it!
• Pets are not allowed on the Norris Geyser Basin trails or most other trails in Yellowstone National Park.
• Norris Geyser Basin can get busy. It’s not nearly as popular as Old Faithful or Grand Prismatic Spring, but expect crowds during the peak summer season. We visited in early October, and while it wasn’t crowded, there were still many others on the trail. Not all visitors hike the full loop through the Back Basin, which tends to be the least crowded area at Norris.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

Want to experience Yellowstone’s hottest geysers? How about some of the smelliest? Sure you do! Norris Geyser Basin delivers on both counts (although I say the award for the Stinkiest Yellowstone Attraction goes to Mud Volcano). It also offers the chance to catch a steamy show at Steamboat Geyser, whish holds the record for the tallest recorded eruption. Although eruptions at Steamboat are unpredictable, the steam it pumps out is impressive in and of itself. To round out your visit, there’s nothing quite like the stark, ethereal beauty of Porcelain Basin.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Norris Geyser Basin is a fun one for kids, as long as they can handle the smells (if they can, take them to Mud Volcano next — they’ll love it!). Steamboat Geyser was sending plumes high into the air on our visit, and the heat coming off this massive geyser could be felt well before we reached the viewing platform.

Many of the other geysers and hot springs at Norris Geyser Basin may not be so impressive, but they have their own funky charm. If you’re limited on time or if any little legs are getting tired, I recommend hiking out to Steamboat and back, then following the boardwalk loop around Porcelain Basin.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Norris Geyser Basin is located just 14 miles from Madison Campground, our beautiful home base during our stay at Yellowstone National Park. Midway between Norris Geyser Basin and the campground, stop by Gibbon Falls, one of Yellowstone’s loveliest waterfalls. I also recommend stopping at Artists’ Paintpots, a small but colorful thermal area close to Norris.

From Madison Campground, it’s only 10 miles to gorgeous Grand Prismatic Spring. Yellowstone’s most famous geyser, Old Faithful, is just seven miles further south. Located in the Upper Geyser Basin, Old Faithful is just one of many active geysers and hot springs found here. It’s worth setting aside half a day to hike the extensive boardwalks and check out the visitor center. Be sure to stop by the impressive Old Faithful Inn, the world’s largest log structure.

Before we even pulled into the parking lot at Norris Geyser Basin, we saw signs of immense thermal power. A billowing plume of white steam rose high into the air above the trees as the mighty Steamboat Geyser drew visitors along the boardwalk trail.

We couldn’t resist Steamboat’s call, and decided to hike the loop through the Back Basin first. We headed directly for Steamboat Geyser, the air growing humid and warm as we approached the pillar of steam. According to the sign on the viewing platform, Steamboat’s last eruption had happened only a few days earlier. We just missed it! This mighty geyser holds the record for the tallest eruption ever recorded at Yellowstone. Eruptions are erratic, and the geyser has sometimes gone silent for years at a time. Recently, Steamboat has been much more active, so you never know if you might be in for a show.

But even without an eruption, Steamboat Geyser was impressive. After pausing to watch the steam billow high above our heads, we followed the boardwalk trail further down into Back Basin, where opalescent pools dotted a barren plain spiked with the spindly ghosts of lodgepole pines. The inescapable scent of sulphur wafted through the air as we passed one particularly colorful pool.

The Back Basin is home to a vast array of small geysers, hot springs, and steam vents. The landscape at Norris Geyser Basin is constantly changing, and is considered to be the most dynamic in Yellowstone National Park. Signs of former hot spots were everywhere, from shriveled up mud pots to exposed silica formations clumped together like bleached coral from a long lost ocean.

We marveled at the sheer variety and strangeness of this place, then followed the trail back through a stand of lodgepole pine before connecting with the trail to Porcelain Basin.

Porcelain Basin is even more stark and otherworldly than Back Basin, a pale, barren landscape dotted with cloudy blue pools and steam. Rivulets of green, blue, and brown add a little color to this stark environment. I felt as though I’d landed on an unknown planet.

A series of stairs led out of Porcelain Basin as we made our way back to the visitor center. We stopped in to learn more about Norris Geyser Basin before heading back to the car. While small, the visitor center is well worth a quick stop on your way to or from the trails.

You may have to hold your nose once or twice, but Norris Geyser Basin is a worthy addition to any Yellowstone itinerary. If you don’t have time for the full loop, I recommend walking the Back Basin trail to Steamboat Geyser and back, as well as a quick trip through Porcelain Basin. And with the ever-changing landscape, this is a place to revisit if you have the chance. Who knows, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to catch Steamboat Geyser as it explodes into a scalding fountain! But even if you, like us, are a few days late, Norris Geyser Basin offers a world of strange delights to explore.