Off the Beaten Path

A Geyser That Rivals Yellowstone’s, Without the Crowds

Hear the roar of the “Mad Dragon” in Soda Springs, Idaho

Before you pack your bags and head out for Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, the people of Soda Springs, Idaho, have something to show you: A geyser that rivals Yellowstone’s — without the crowds and hassles.

The Soda Springs Geyser is the world’s only captive geyser— shooting water and gas an impressive 100 feet into the air. (Old Faithful averages 130 feet.)

The biggest difference between the two is that Yellowstone’s spews at will dozens of times daily, while Soda Springs’ geyser is capped to avoid flooding the area.

The City of Soda Springs put their geyser on a timer. That guarantees it erupts more faithfully than even Old Faithful — every hour, on the hour — for a full eight minutes.

And the sound of the Soda Springs Geyser is impressive — roaring “like a mad dragon,” as visitors describe it.

Developers drilling for a commercial swimming pool discovered the geyser in 1937, after accidentally striking a carbon dioxide gas chamber 315 feet underground. Suddenly, hot water began shooting high into the sky, giving birth to the Soda Springs Geyser.

Today, a visit to the geyser is free and open year round. There’s a boardwalk with interpretive exhibits that tell the story of the area.

There’s also a pleasant 1.7-mile route you can walk through town, along a canal at the end of Main Street, to beautiful Hooper Springs.

Just don’t park your car too close to the geyser. If the wind is blowing toward the parking lot, overspray from the mineral water can make your car difficult to clean!

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