Beryl Spring ~ Yellowstone National Park

There is literally no end to the points of interest along the Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone National Park. The roadside attractions at Yellowstone are geological wonders that can be seen nowhere else in the world and they have a way of naturally captivating onlookers. Beryl Spring is one of the many roadside attractions on the Grand Loop and this little geological oddity is well worth checking out when passing through!

The Beryl Spring is located in the Gibbon Geyser Basin along the Grand Loop Road and the signage is easy to spot. Beryl Spring is literally located next to the road, so all that is required is parking the car, which can present a challenge. Finding a parking spot anywhere in Yellowstone does require patience, especially during the peak summer season.  

Yellowstone is an ancient caldera of a super volcano that was last active about 600,000 years ago. Large magma plumes still push up close to the earth surface in this region and this creates a hydrothermal effect where aquifers are located. In the caldera region, superheated underground aquifers act as boilers that send steaming hot water up through the earth surface in the form of steam vents, mud volcanoes, geysers and hot springs.  

Beryl Spring is by far one of the hottest geothermal pools in Yellowstone National Park. The average temperature is close to 200ºF, which can cause this natural blue hot spring to rapidly boil several feet above the pool rim. The Beryl Spring is interesting to view, because this blue water pool simply never stops boiling!  The steaming hot boiling blue water is mesmerizing to see, so plan on stopping to stare for a while. The contrast of blue Beryl Hot Spring, light tan mineralized sand and lush green forests combined with billowing white steam clouds truly is a special sight to see!