Beehive Geyser

Beehive Geyser is a small cone geyser on Geyser Hill in the Upper Geyser Basin, near Old Faithful. When it erupts, its narrow opening sends water 150 to 200 feet into the air, and the show averages about five minutes. Eruption timing is the catch: during an active cycle, intervals can range from 10 hours to five days. Treat it as a bonus while you explore the basin, not a scheduled event. Beehive's Indicator, a separate small geyser nearby, can give a clue, but Beehive sometimes erupts without it.

At rest, Beehive's cone is only about four feet high and resembles an old-fashioned beehive. Hot water deposits silica around the vent a little at a time, building the cone over many eruptions. The narrow opening helps focus the water into the tall column, so the geyser's famous show rises from a surprisingly small feature.

The Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition named it The Beehive while exploring Upper Geyser Basin in 1870. In his 1871 account, Nathaniel Langford recorded an eruption measured at 219 feet that lasted 18 minutes. That's one historical observation, not a schedule or a typical eruption, but it shows how dramatically Beehive has performed for more than a century.

Geyser Hill's boardwalk loop passes more than 50 geysers and gives visitors a vantage point for Old Faithful. Keep to boardwalks and designated trails; hydrothermal water can cause severe burns. The loop also gives you other features to enjoy if Beehive is quiet.

For a photo, frame the small cone with enough sky for the full plume. A stretch of boardwalk or a person already on it helps show the scale, without leaving the designated path. The eruption is unpredictable, so enjoy the rest of Geyser Hill if you decide to wait.