Norris Geyser Basin
Norris Geyser Basin
4.5
About
An area of bubbling hot springs.
Duration: < 1 hour
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1 within 5 kms
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22 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,068 reviews
Excellent
752
Very good
257
Average
46
Poor
10
Terrible
3
Donald J
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Family
The first and only time I was at this geyser was inJuly 1975. It would bubble up about every 7 minutes. There was nobody on the trail or at the geyser at the time I was there. I thought it was super great. I was 15 years old. I had to list going in July 2022 because it wouldn't accept this review but it was July 1975!
Written October 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
seema60
Toronto, Canada947 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
This was one of the best areas to experience the geyser and hot spring activity. There are a number of large geysers in this area. We didn’t see any eruptions but there are fumeroles and hot springs everywhere. It is a nice walk along the board walk.
Written September 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rick B
Round Rock, TX1,305 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
This large geyser basin also includes the Porcelain Basin. Lots of hot springs like at mammoth but also geysers here. One erupted almost continuously while we were here. This geyser basin is home to the park's largest geyser the Steamboat Geyser. While not as famous as Old Faithful it can shoot 300 feet or more into the air when it erupts. But since it erupts very erratically you probably aren't going to see the full eruption. These occur between 4 and 50 YEARS apart. What you will see is some "teaser" eruptions of around 40feet. Here was also my first introduction to a fumarole. A fumarole is a vent in the ground that emits steam by no water or solid matter. And they can be very smelly!
Written September 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victor B
Tucson, AZ1,118 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
This is a must do part of your Yellowstone Park experience. It’s a big loop to walk and you get bro see a lot of geothermal activity. Stay on the trail. It’s dangerous (possibly deadly) to go off the trail and get close to the scalding hot water/mud!
VictorB
VictorB
Written September 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MyersFamilyTravelers
153 contributions
Aug 2023
This was relatively close to our lodge so visited first day there. Very neat to see and read about. A nice path to go through/around the geysers.
Written August 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rehoboth5
Helena, MT518 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
We are Montanans, and visit Norris whenever we can. It is a true natural wonder, and one of the most interesting places in the American West. But in the summer, crowds can be a real problem. So go early (we get there no later than 8 am), follow the rules (stay on the boardwalk, etc) and be courteous (don't hold up foot traffic by taking selfies). Be sure to follow the long walk that includes all of the thermal features. Keep small children close, because a fall into the thermal area can be dangerous. If you don't go early, you'll experience crazy traffic jams and be forced to park in an overflow lot and walk a long way just to get to the basin itself. To do the place justice, plan on spending at least an hour and a half walking around the basin.
Written July 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bmama20162
Beloit69 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
The thing that is interesting about this area is that there is an open air mini museum that you can look at before or after the hike. It explains what you're looking at and even has a little model of the geysers/pools. We took lots of pictures. However, this area is the most acidic of the geysers/pools, so they recommend not breathing the steam. Also, they strongly discourage bringing pets as they can be injured by the heat and poisonous gases. There was also a lot of evidence of buffalo and bears which added to the thrill of being there. So many pools! Most of them named. The Steamboat geyser is one of the most dangerous, as it explodes when it goes off, shooting clay and super hot steam and acidic water. We missed it, as it went off the week before we got there, but they even tell you what signs to look for when it's ready. There were several rangers around to talk to and ask questions. Very interesting place!
Written June 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Henry A
Hays, KS661 contributions
Sep 2022
At Norris it is easy to start to think that this is your personal thermal area. It is an easy walk and there is a variety of features.
Written September 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shelley S
Canterbury, UK148 contributions
Aug 2022
This was a worthwhile stop in the park. There are numerous geological features, colours, bubbles.... It was pretty smelly though!
Written September 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryan C.
Greenwood, IN154 contributions
Aug 2021
Other than Old Faithful itself, this is one of the most wonderful areas of Yellowstone National Park. Sights; Sounds; Smells. The experience will never be forgotten. The Norris Geyser Basin should be a centerpiece of any visit to Yellowstone. A geothermal marvel!
Written June 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MD5555
47 contributions
Anyone have details about the 9:30 a.m. ranger walk at Norris? Which sections of the basin is typically included in the tour?
Ed Bannister
Los Angeles, CA138 contributions
A north geyser basin tour would be a tour of the north geyser basin.
Fahad
Seattle, WA173 contributions
Hi
My wife is handicap and uses knee scooter for walk. How hard boardwalk would be for her? Also how long it is and how much time I should spend here?
SueB
Birmingham, AL41 contributions
There is considerable walking. We were there in a snow shower which turned into pouring rain and didn’t spend as much time as we would have without the rain. We were there for about 2 hours. Most of the hot springs area seemed to be handicap accessible, but it would be hard work. There are some stairs.
Wanderlust19802008
New Delhi, India665 contributions
HI
I am trying to check the distance from my hotel in west Yellowstone to Norris geyser thru google map ... And it's showing more than 4 hrs ... I am confused .. Coz when I booked the hotel a couple of months back it was showing a few mins
dacranjel
West Park, NY27 contributions
does anyone know of of tour i can take for this area of yellowstone?
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Claim your listingNORRIS GEYSER BASIN: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Norris Geyser Basin
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Norris Geyser Basin:
- 2-Day Yellowstone National Park Upper and Lower Loop Exploration (From ₱36,091.06)
- Full-Day Guided Yellowstone Day Tour (From ₱16,601.89)
- Yellowstone Full Day Private Tour (From ₱35,882.84)
- Private VIP Boutique Yellowstone Day Tour from Bozeman (From ₱55,524.71)
- VIP Private Boutique Tour of Yellowstone's Upper Loop - West Yellowstone, MT (From ₱22,209.88)
- Attractions near Norris Geyser Basin:
- (0.27 km) Norris Porcelain Basin
- (0.37 km) Steamboat Geyser
- (0.38 km) Norris Back Basin
- (0.39 km) Cistern Spring
- (0.39 km) Whirligig Geysers