Norris
Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest, oldest, and most dynamic of Yellowstone's thermal areas. The highest temperature yet recorded in any geothermal area in Yellowstone was measured in a scientific drill hole at Norris: 459F (237C) just 1,087 feet (326 meters) below the surface! There are very few thermal features at Norris under the boiling point (199F at this elevation), making it look like a scene from a science fiction movie. Roaring Mountain, located just north of Norris on the Norris-Mammoth section of the Grand Loop Road, is a large, acidic thermal area (solfatara) that contains many steam vents (fumaroles). The Gibbon River flows through this area and is home to many brook trout, brown trout, grayling, and rainbow trout.

Permit Information
Backcountry camping permits must be obtained for overnight stays. As you enter the park, the West Entrance Ranger Station can issue you a permit.

Directions
Norris Geyser Basin is located 28 miles east of the West Entrance. At the Madison junction, take a left on the lower loop of Grand Loop Road.

Information Center
An information desk in the breezeway of Norris Geyser Basin Museum is staffed by National Park Service interpreters.

Activities