Norris is the hottest and most dynamic thermal area in Yellowstone. Scientific drilling here found temperatures of about 237 °C (459 °F) only a few hundred metres down, and the basin changes constantly: springs drain, new vents open, geysers fall silent and reawaken. Much of the water is acidic, which gives it a bleached, otherworldly look quite different from the geyser country to the south.
Two loops start from the small museum. Porcelain Basin is open and bright, a milky sweep of mineral crust, steaming vents and turquoise channels. The wooded Back Basin leads to Steamboat Geyser and Echinus Geyser. Norris sits at a crossroads of the Grand Loop, so it fits easily between Old Faithful and Mammoth or Canyon.
What to see at Norris Geyser Basin
Porcelain Basin
A loop of about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) drops from the overlook into a basin of hissing vents, small geysers and pools tinted by minerals and microbes. On a cold morning it is a sea of steam. Look back from the overlook at the start for the full panorama.
Steamboat Geyser and the Back Basin
The Back Basin loop is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) through forest and over boardwalks. Its star is Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser, whose major eruptions can exceed 300 feet (90 m). They are irregular — sometimes weeks apart, sometimes years — so treat one as a stroke of luck. Most of the time you will see its frequent minor splashing and steam.
Museum of the National Park Ranger
A short drive away at Norris campground, this small log museum tells the story of the park rangers, from the army years onward. Opening is seasonal.
Getting to Norris Geyser Basin
- Location: at Norris Junction, where the road from Madison meets the roads to Mammoth and to Canyon.
- Distances: about 14 miles (22 km) from Madison, 21 miles (34 km) from Mammoth and 12 miles (19 km) from Canyon Village.
- Parking: a medium-sized lot that fills at midday in summer.
Tips before you go
- The Back Basin is often quieter than the busy geyser basins; good for a late-afternoon walk.
- Some boardwalk sections close temporarily when the ground heats up or new features appear.
- Keep children by the hand: the acidic water at Norris will burn badly.
- Combine with Gibbon Falls and Artists’ Paint Pots, both on the road south towards Madison.
Tours that visit Norris Geyser Basin
These guided trips include Norris Geyser Basin or pair well with it:
Small-group day tour from €385 West Yellowstone: Yellowstone Day Tour Including Entry Fee for US Residents
The most-booked day tour from the gateway town closest to the geyser basins, with hundreds of reviews. A guide drives the big sights of the lower loop — Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the wildlife of Hayden Valley — so you can watch for animals instead of the road. Read the listing for what the entrance fee covers for visitors from abroad.
- Old Faithful, the canyon waterfalls and Hayden Valley
- Park entry included for US residents — check the listing if you are not
- Starts minutes from the West Entrance
Small-group wildlife and nature tour from €275 Yellowstone Iconic Sights Tour - West Yellowstone & Big Sky
A full-day small-group tour of Yellowstone’s northern range, combining scenic drives with wildlife watching. The guide looks for bears, wolves and moose, and the itinerary takes in the area’s big viewpoints. Check the listing for the exact stops and pickup points.
- Yellowstone’s northern range
- Watch for bears, wolves and moose
- Small group with an expert guide
Day tour by van from €399 Bozeman & West Yellowstone Round-Trip 1-Day Tour
A round-trip day tour into the park in a 15-seat van, with departures from Bozeman and West Yellowstone. It is newer and has fewer reviews than the classics above, so read the itinerary and recent reviews before booking.
- Departures from Bozeman and West Yellowstone
- 15-seat van
- Wi-Fi on board according to the operator
Two-day tour from €999 From Bozeman: Classic Yellowstone Tour (2 Days & 1 Night)
A two-day small-group tour from Bozeman. Reviews are mixed, so read recent ones before you book; the alternative from Bozeman is the one-day express tour.
- Yellowstone over two days
- Iconic stops and wildlife
- Overnight included
