YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WY – A fresh hydrothermal explosion has rocked Yellowstone’s Biscuit Basin, highlighting the highly volatile and unstable nature of the park’s volcanic network, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Early Morning Blast Near Old Faithful
The explosion occurred at 5:09 a.m. on June 13 in the Biscuit Basin area, which sits less than two miles northwest of the famous Old Faithful geyser.
Because Biscuit Basin has remained closed to the public since a similar explosion in July 2024, no injuries were reported. However, park monitoring equipment registered significant seismic activity and low-frequency infrasound coming from the area just before the blast.
New Vents and Boiling Runoff
Park rangers investigating the site noticed an “odd,” milky, light-gray runoff flowing downstream into the Firehole River.
A surveillance camera installed in 2025 captured a dark-colored stream jetting out of the ground near the Black Diamond Pool. Geologists later discovered three newly formed vents that allowed boiling water—ranging from 185 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit—to surge to the surface. As this water rapidly converted to steam, it triggered the explosion.
The physical impact of the blast includes:
- A massive crack measuring 61 feet long and 5 feet wide, surrounded by ejected boulders.
- A second linear vent measuring roughly 49 feet long.
A New Boiling Pool Emerges
In the days following the blast, the ground beneath the vent group collapsed, forming a brand-new pool filled with vigorously boiling, silt-heavy gray water.
Recent camera observations on June 18 showed intermittent geyser-like activity, with water spouts shooting 20 to 30 feet into the air. When not spouting, the newly formed pool continues to boil actively.
The USGS has installed temporary seismic monitoring stations inside the basin to track the ongoing evolution of these new vents. Officials reiterate that hydrothermal areas remain hazardous and unpredictable.
