Old Perpetual — Attraction in Oregon

This is a very unique area in Oregons high desert. This geyser is the only active one left out of three that used to exist here. Erupting every 90 seconds during the winter and spring months. During the summer months over the last few years the geyser may be dried up if you visit. We thought we had lost the geyser in 2009 and 2010 when the geyser quit erupting but to our delight started up again after the owner recased the well. (Crump Geyser was another geyser a few miles away that came to be from drilling a well. It was considered a world class geyser for the volume of water that it would spout 200 ft. Into the air. It was plugged by vandalism when someone threw large rocks into the casing to watch them shoot into the air when the geyser erupted). Unlike Old Faithful this one was made when the owner of the land decided to develop and build a resort with healing, therapeutic water. In order to access more water the owner drilled a well that began spouting water up to 60 ft in the air thus giving Oregon its geyser. From over developing of this area and water being drawn from the aquifers deep in the ground the geyser doesn't erupt on a set time schedule like it once did. As always leave it better than you found it...

5 star kid stop 4 star otherwise

This is truly a gem of the Oregon Outback. Is it as epic as other geysers...like Old Faithful? Probably not, but here's why we think it's worth a visit.

It's right off the highway (you can see it as you drive by), easy to access, and free. It erupts roughly every 90 seconds so if you miss your photo op, you don't have too long to wait There's a little lake around it and ducks so if you are like us and have kids who have no interest in the geyser, there is enough to keep them interested and having fun for a few min.

To get there turn into the parking lot of the Hunters Hot Spring Lodge, then drive as close as you can to the lake. There is also access from Geyser View Lane.

Note - most people say the best time to visit is...

The poor old geyser has no water, all dried up, and not active. We visited in August of 2021. To view it, park in the Resort parking lot, walk north through some old vehicles and junk, and there is an unmaintained trail. Follow the short trail 1000 feet across a bridge to the interpretive sign. At that point the small basin is right in front of you, left is a old fiberglass bench, right is a little more trail. It was completely dry, but you can see the hole where it normally would come out of. The entire area around has a geothermal look and feel. On Geyser View Road you may also be able to see it when active, along with a really cool geothermal hole right on side of road. Hopefully on my next visit water will return and the geyser will be...