Why do people go to Old Faithful?

Old Faithful's fame is well deserved. The geyser has been erupting at regular intervals for as long as records exist, and it delights visitors from around the world with its eruptions of boiling water. These eruptions regularly reach more than 130 feet (40 meters) and typically last for several minutes.



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Geysers like Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park erupt periodically because of loops or side-chambers in their underground plumbing, according to recent studies by volcanologists at the University of California, Berkeley.

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Since 1870, 22 people have died in the park after falling into the pools and geysers. One of the most recent deaths, in 2016, involved a man trying to soak in a geyser in the park. The man fell into the water and was boiled to death.

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The world's most famous geyser, Old Faithful in Yellowstone, currently erupts around 20 times a day. These eruptions are predicted with a 90 percent confidence rate, within a 10 minute variation, based on the duration and height of the previous eruption.

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Does it cost money to see Old Faithful? No, but Yellowstone does require a $35 entrance fee that's valid for 7 days. The pass allows you to view all attractions within the park, including Old Faithful.

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The report of Yellowstone National Park addresses the following threats: (i) mining activities outside the Park; (b) brucellosis infection of the bison population; (c) lake trout invasion; (d) impacts on water quality; (e) road construction; and (f) regulation of visitor use of the site.

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However, Yellowstone is also an active geothermal area with hot springs emerging at ~92°C (~198°F) (the boiling point of water at Yellowstone's mean altitude) and steam vents reported as high as 135°C (275°F).

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It's actually not too hard to find parking at Old Faithful because the parking lot is massive. You may have a problem getting a parking spot at Canyon Village, especially along the North Rim.

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