Opal Pool
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Opal Pool is a hot spring in Wyoming, at a modelled elevation of 2,214 m. Mount Holmes stands 3,149 m to the north, 20 miles off. The nearest named place is Turquoise Pool, a hot spring less than a tenth of a mile away. Fort Henry Historic Byway passes 26 miles off. 46 named summits stand within 25 miles.
The story
Opal Pool is a hot spring in the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Opal Pool usually has a temperature of approximately 132 °F (56 °C). Though usually active as a hot spring, Opal Pool is considered a fountain-type geyser. The first recorded eruption of Opal Pool was in 1947, recurring in 1949, 1952 and 1953, then ceasing. Eruptions resumed in 1979, happening at least once in most following years. Eruption heights are typically under 30 feet (9.1 m) in height, but some eruptions have been seen with heights of 70 feet (21 m) to 80 feet (24 m). Eruptions occur suddenly following visible convection in the pool, but are unpredictable. An eruption consists of one huge burst that throws water 20–80 feet high, making Opal Pool the largest active geyser at Midway Geyser Basin. Much smaller splashes seconds apart stretch the total duration to about 1 minute. In 2005 Opal completely drained, but refilled as a vivid green pool in 2008.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q2009174, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
How to reach it
- 26.2 mi off the Fort Henry Historic Byway
Named places within 25 miles
- Turquoise Pool: 0.0 mi
- Turquoise Spring: 0.1 mi
- Excelsior Geyser: 0.1 mi
- Indigo Spring: 0.2 mi
- UNNG-MGB-7 Numerous geothermal features: 0.5 mi
- Surprise Pool: 2.0 mi
- Black Diamond Pool: 3.0 mi
- Lavender Pool: 4.1 mi
- Milk Cauldron: 4.1 mi
- Heart Spring: 4.4 mi
- Twin Buttes: 2.2 mi
- Porcupine Hills: 3.3 mi
- Geyser Hill: 4.3 mi
- Corkscrew Hill: 7.8 mi
- National Park Mountain: 7.9 mi
- Whiskey Flats Picnic Area: 0.7 mi
- Nez Perce Picnic Area: 3.6 mi
- Fire Hole Picnic Area: 4.6 mi
- East Lot Picnic Area: 4.9 mi
- Spring Creek Picnic Area: 7.9 mi
- Fairy Falls: 1.5 mi
- Mystic Falls: 3.4 mi
- Kepler Cascades: 5.8 mi
- Cascades of the Firehole: 6.3 mi
- Firehole Falls: 7.2 mi
- Excelsior Geyser: 0.1 mi
- Grand Prismatic Spring: 0.1 mi
- Midway Geyser Basin: 0.2 mi
- Fairy Falls: 1.5 mi
- Fountain Paint Pot area: 2.3 mi
- De Lacy Park: 8.5 mi
- Dunbar Park: 15.7 mi
- Heritage Park: 15.8 mi
- West Yellowstone Town Park: 16.0 mi
- Recreation Park: 16.2 mi
- Midway Bluff: 0.4 mi
- Trilobite Point: 20.1 mi
- Gull Point: 20.8 mi
- Obsidian Cliff: 21.0 mi
- Rock Point: 21.2 mi
- Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center: 4.7 mi
- Norris Geyser Basin Museum: 15.3 mi
- Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center: 15.6 mi
- Museum of the Yellowstone: 15.8 mi
- Museum of the National Park Ranger: 16.2 mi
- Queen's Laundry Bath House: 3.0 mi
- Honoring Veterans: 15.7 mi
- Old Railway Station: 21.0 mi
- Yellowstone National Park: 18.3 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 25 miles of Opal Pool. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Holmes | N 358° | 3,149 m | 20.2 mi |
| Mount Sheridan | SE 140° | 3,135 m | 23.6 mi |
| Antler Peak | N 0° | 3,048 m | 23.6 mi |
| Dome Mountain | N 360° | 3,018 m | 21.6 mi |
| Three Rivers Peak | N 354° | 2,976 m | 22.5 mi |
| Hedges Peak | NE 45° | 2,947 m | 24.7 mi |
| Echo Peak | N 354° | 2,917 m | 21.8 mi |
| Factory Hill | SE 137° | 2,902 m | 22.0 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:27 | 18:57 | 19:36 |
| June solstice | 05:39 | 20:28 | 21:13 |
| September equinox | 07:11 | 18:44 | 19:23 |
| December solstice | 07:58 | 15:59 | 16:47 |
Local time (America/Denver).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Jul–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 15 | 17 | 24 | 32 | 42 | 50 | 58 | 56 | 47 | 36 | 23 | 14 |
| Precip in | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.8 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — OLD Faithful, 5 mi away.
Inside the official boundary of Yellowstone National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Nov and Mar; busiest: Jul.
NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikidataOpenStreetMap element way/269122361
Day trips start here
- West Yellowstone · 16 mi
- Yellowstone National Park · 16 mi
- Island Park · 25 mi
Take the scenic way to Opal Pool.
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