The Soda Springs Geyser

As we were exploring all of the fun things to do in southeast Idaho, we made a point to stop by the Soda Springs geyser.  The geyser erupts every hour, on the hour.  We pulled into town with about 20 minutes to go, so we stopped at a store and grabbed some food for lunch, then we drove over to the geyser park to wait. 

The geyser was discovered/created in 1937 when drilling a well for a swimming pool.  The town didn't get the pool, but they ended up with the only captive geyser in the world.  The geyser was capped and has been put on a timer so that it erupts every hour on the hour.  (As a cool side note, in Google Streetview, you can see the geyser erupting from the view at E 1st Street South/South Main if you aim the camera off to the northwest.)

We wandered over to the boardwalk that goes around the geyser, found a seat, and waited for a few minutes for the geyser to go off.  Sure enough- it went off right on schedule.  We timed the eruption and it lasted for 7 minutes.  What a fun show! 

At seven minutes, the timer ended and shut off the geyser.  It was cool to see it shrink, then like a genii going back into a bottle, it was gone.  We looked at the geyser park for a while longer, then wandered back to our car.  The signs in the parking area were very appropriate.  If the geyser mound didn't tell you, the sign does.  This is water with a very high mineral content.

Nearest City: Soda Springs, ID
Location: West of Main Street at 1st St. South
Time Needed:  Up to an hour, most likely about 15 minutes.
Difficulty: Easy
Kid Friendly: Yes
Additional Info:

The Crystal Geyser Erupting

Last weekend we headed out for a Memorial Day Roadtrip.  Since I usually have Fridays off, we loaded the car and took off after work on Thursday.  We filled up with gas in Springville, took another short break in Price, then headed for our first real stop: the Crystal Geyser. 

Before the trip, I had assumed that the Crystal Geyser and the Chaffin Geyser were one and the same, but I was wrong.  The Chaffin Geyser is on the west side of the Green River and erupts every 2-4 hours.  The Crystal Geyser is on the east bank of the Green River, and erupts every 8 or 22 hours.  It also happens to be the largest coldwater geyser in the world. 

We almost missed the eruption entirely, but got lucky and caught the tail end of it when we pulled up.  There's a pipe sticking out of the ground, and around it was all white and frothy.  Every few minutes some water would shoot 3-8 feet out of the top of the pipe.  It was really amazing! 

The geyser was formed when someone drilling for oil hit a pocket of carbon dioxide instead.  Much like a warm water geyser erupts when enough hot water turns into gas, a cold water geyser erupts when enough carbon dioxide decides to turn into gas. 

We camped near the geyser in hopes of seeing more of an eruption, but it wasn't meant to be.  I was still under the impression that the Crystal Geyser and the Chaffin Geyser were the same and that another eruption would happen.  Looking back, I realize how lucky we were. 

The next morning I woke up first, so I got up and walked around the travertine deposits left from the geyser.  They're impressive enough on their own account.  Even if we hadn't seen the geyser go off, the deposits were really neat. 

I also walked over and looked down the pipe.  The water level was about 3 feet below ground level and was gently "boiling."  The night before there was water all over the place, but in the morning most of the travertine was dry.  I really enjoyed looking up close at the endless terraces created by mineral deposits.  I noticed that the closer the ones closer to the river were a different width than the ones closer to the geyser. 

The Crystal Geyser was an amazing stop.  I'd recommend camping there so you can spend some time examining the deposits, looking at the Green River, and hopefully catching an eruption.

Nearest City: Green River, UT
Location: N 38° 56.304 W 110°  08.153
Time Needed: Up to 22 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate, depending on your timing and patience
Kid Friendly: Yes
Additional Info: Directions- Take Exit 164 at Green River.  Turn South.  Turn East at the T-Intersection.  Be sure to take this road more slowly than you are comfortable going, there's some killer potholes that you come up on pretty fast!  Follow the road for about 2.5 miles until it comes to another intersection.  Turn South.  Follow this road to another intersection, where a sign will direct you to the Crystal Geyser.