Spiteful Geyser — Attraction in West Yellowstone

The periodic geysers in Yellowstone mostly work in this way. First, rain and snowmelt seep through the porous volcanic rock and slowly collect in underground reservoirs. These reservoirs lie above a shallow heat source—magma from Yellowstone’s active volcanic system. As water percolates downward, it is gradually heated by the surrounding hot rock. Due to the pressure of the overlying water and rock layers, the water can exceed its normal boiling point without turning to steam, a condition known as superheating.

Eventually, the temperature reaches a critical threshold where boiling begins at the deepest, hottest point. As some of the water flashes into steam, it expands rapidly, pushing water above it up through narrow, constricted channels. This release reduces the pressure in the system, causing more water to rapidly flash into steam in a chain reaction. The result is a powerful upward surge of steam and hot water—a geyser eruption. After the eruption, the system depressurizes and cools, allowing groundwater to refill the chamber over time.

The cycle then repeats, with each geyser having its own refill and heating rate, determining its eruption interval. This process explains why geysers like Old Faithful can erupt so...

Small name, big attitude! Spiteful Geyser shoots off with quick, sharp bursts - like it’s trying to make a point. It’s feisty, unpredictable, and adds a bit of sass to the Upper Geyser Basin. Blink and you...

Can see other geysers on along the river...