Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Norris
The Norris area was a former US Army outpost. The historic log Norris Soldier Station
(1908), one of only three left from the era of army control of the park, now houses the
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, often staffed by chatty retired NPS employees. The museum's exhibits detail the
evolution of the ranger profession from its military origins, including a fun mock-up of an
old ranger cabin. Norris is named after Philetus W Norris, the park's second superintend-
ent (1877-82), who is notable for constructing some of the park's first roads and for the
shameless frequency with which he named park features after himself.
The Gibbon River flows through meadows in front of the building, making it a pleasant
place to look for wildlife. Norris Campground is right next door.
Norris sits at the junction of roads from Madison (14 miles), Canyon (12 miles) and
Mammoth (20 miles). North of the junction is Norris Campground; west is Norris Geyser
Basin, with busy bathrooms, an information station and a bookstore. A pleasant 1-mile
trail (no bikes) connects the basin and the campground.
NORRIS GEYSER BASIN
North and west of Norris Junction, the Norris Geyser Basin is North America's most
volatile and oldest continuously active geothermal area (in existence for some 115,000
years). It's also the site of Yellowstone's hottest recorded temperatures, where three inter-
secting faults underlain by magma rise to within 2 miles of the surface. Barely 1000ft be-
low the surface, scientific instruments have recorded temperatures as high as 459°F. Nor-
ris is also home to the majority of the world's acidic geysers, fed by the basin's abundant
supplies of sulfur. In Norris the earth sighs, boils and rages like nowhere else on earth.
Norris' geothermal features change seasonally, most commonly in August or Septem-
ber: clear pools transform into spouting geysers or mud pots and vice versa. Thermal
activity is also affected by earthquake swarms and other mysterious disturbances, which
generally last only a few days before things revert to 'normal.'
Norris Geyser Basin features two distinct areas: Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. Con-
centrate on Porcelain Basin if you are low on time. Overlooking Porcelain Basin is the
opened as the park's first in 1930. There are ranger-led walking tours of the basin at
9:30am daily and short talks at Steamboat Geyser at 2pm, 2:30pm and 3pm.
The area's only bathrooms are in the parking lot, next to the cold-drinks machines. The
parking area and toilets can get crowded, so try to schedule a visit early or late in the day.
