Gas Vents
This roadside thermal feature emerges just 175 feet from Norris-Canyon Road at 8,020 feet elevation, producing acidic waters at 54 degrees Fahrenheit with a pH of 5.9. USGS geochemical analysis documents low mineral concentrations including 6.76 milligrams per liter calcium and 3.22 milligrams per liter sodium, indicating early-stage thermal water evolution.
The vents occupy gentle terrain adjacent to the paved road corridor between Norris and Canyon Village, within a landscape of lodgepole pine forest and meadow clearings. At this elevation, the site experiences average annual temperatures of 33 degrees Fahrenheit with 136 inches of snow annually. The surrounding forest shows characteristic Yellowstone post-fire regeneration, with young lodgepole stands mixed with standing deadwood. Small thermal runoff channels extend from the vent area into roadside drainage.
The feature name describes its character as degassing thermal openings rather than flowing springs. Park geologists documented this site during comprehensive thermal inventories conducted from the 1960s through 1980s. The feature exhibits the dynamic behavior typical of Yellowstone's volatile thermal areas, with activity levels potentially varying over years and decades as subsurface plumbing shifts.
Park at designated pullouts; do not walk on fragile thermal ground or white mineral deposits. The site is accessible year-round when the road is open, typically late May through early November depending on snowpack. Stay on designated paths and maintain safe distance from all thermal features. Morning visits in September offer fewer crowds and potential wildlife sightings including elk and bison in nearby meadows.
Is Gas Vents worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Gas Vents is slightly acidic (pH 5.9).
Overview Tower Fall Campground—elevation 6,600 feet (2012 m)—is on the north side of the steep, winding, road to Dunraven Pass. The campground is near the Tower General Store and Tower Fall. The Lamar Valley, with spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities, is nearby as are several Day Hikes in the Tower and Northeast Area. Roosevelt Lodge, a short drive from the campground, offers dining and horseback riding. For reservations at the campgrounds managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges (F...