Beryl Spring
Beryl Spring reaches 198°F in Yellowstone's Gibbon Geyser Basin, creating one of the park's hottest and most accessible superheated pools that boils up to 4 feet high. Positioned just 24.9 meters from Grand Loop Road at 7,320 feet elevation, this roadside thermal feature emerges 163.2 degrees above ambient air temperature with distinctive blue-green coloration from thermophilic organisms. Recent USGS measurements recorded 90.7°C with pH 6.7 and sodium-dominated chemistry at 407 mg/L.
The spring flows at 7,320 feet in the Gibbon Geyser Basin, where concentrated thermal features line the Gibbon River corridor between Norris and Madison junctions. Rhyolitic volcanic rocks and hydrothermal alteration create the white, yellow, and orange terrain surrounding the vivid blue pool. Lodgepole pine forests border the geyser basin on both sides, with meadows and thermal areas breaking the forest continuity. The basin sits within the Yellowstone caldera's northern ring fracture zone, where magmatic heat drives vigorous hydrothermal circulation. The Gibbon River carries thermal discharge northward through the landscape.
The USGS Hague party named Beryl Spring in 1883 during systematic thermal feature surveys that established baseline nomenclature still used today. Party members chose the name for the blue-green coloration resembling the gemstone beryl. Indigenous peoples traveled through the Gibbon basin for thousands of years before park establishment in 1872. The spring maintains its natural state under National Park Service protection, with boardwalks and viewing areas constructed nearby to manage visitor access while preserving thermal features.
Visit year-round via Grand Loop Road, which receives regular winter plowing to maintain access to park thermal basins. The roadside location allows viewing from paved pullouts without trail hiking. Respect all thermal area closures and remain on designated walkways, as scalding water at 198°F causes severe burns. The spring's continuous activity provides reliable viewing regardless of season. Combine with other Gibbon Geyser Basin features including Artists Paintpots and Norris Geyser Basin 8 miles south.
Is Beryl Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
- Winter soaking with dramatic temperature contrast
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking
The water at Beryl Spring is slightly acidic (pH 6.7). It is notably rich in sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration) and chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).
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