Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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Slide Geyser (2021)
Geysers are hot springs that episodically erupt columns of water. They occur in few places on Earth. The highest concentration of geysers anywhere is at the Yellowstone Hotspot Volcano (northwestern Wyoming, USA).
Slide Geyser is part of the Cascade Group in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin - it can be viewed from the Daisy Trail. This remarkable geyser erupts from a hole in the steep, geyserite/siliceous sinter bank on the eastern side of the Firehole River. Several holes are present in the vicinity, four of which do erupt or have erupted in the past with water runoff. Slide Geyser’s splashing eruptions result in water cascading down a moderately-developed chute. Some minor eruptive splashing also occurs in a larger vent immediately to the north - this used to be the main vent (e.g., in 1999 - see time stamp 2:22 of youtube.com/watch?v=Kn7GU2RTNcE). Before eruptions, a small seep just below and to the southwest of Slide Geyser’s current main vent releases water. Future erosion will likely enlarge this into an erupting vent.
In 2016, Slide Geyser’s eruptions were observed to be between half-a-minute to a minute in duration and occurred every 17 to 21 minutes. In 2007 and 2008, observed intervals (= eruption start to eruption start) were 20 to 24 minutes. In 1983, reported eruptions were less than one minute to just over 2 minutes long, with intervals of 11 to 15 minutes.
In June 2017, eruptions occurred every 17 to 19 minutes. Compared with 2016, eruptions were short in duration (less than one-half minute), had little water, and did not involve water sliding/cascading down the chute. For some eruptions, the upper chute remained dry; during others, the proximal chute became damp from minor splashing. On 12 August 2017, a closed interval of 20 minutes was observed. Unlike in June 2017, eruptions were more energetic and did involve water cascading down the entire chute.
June 2018 eruptions were similar to those observed in June 2017 - relatively little water and relatively minor splashing. The upper half of the chute became wet from eruptions, but water did not slide down the entire slope. Eruption intervals were 26 minutes and durations were a half-minute or less. On 14 August 2018, Slide Geyser’s eruptions resulted in water cascading down the entire chute. Eruption intervals were 28 to 32 minutes, with durations of about a 0.5 to 0.75 minutes.
June 2019 eruptions also resulted in water cascading down the entire chute. Intervals were 18 to 19 minutes. Durations were between 0.5 and 0.75 minutes. One fairly precisely-timed eruption was about 41 seconds long. On 9 August 2019, no eruptions were seen during one hour’s observation.
August 2020 eruptions were unusual in that little to no visible splashing occurred at the vent. Intervals were 30 to 33 minutes. Late May 2021 eruptions had intervals of 19 to 20 minutes. Two well-timed eruptions were ~41 and ~42 seconds long.
Filmed from the Daisy Trail.
Clip 1 - Slide Geyser’s 4:55 PM eruption on 29 May 2021.
Clip 2 - Slide Geyser’s 5:14 PM eruption on 29 May 2021. (time stamp 0:38)
Clip 3 - Slide Geyser’s 5:33 to 5:34 PM eruption on 29 May 2021. (time stamp 1:20)
Clip 4 - Slide Geyser’s 5:52 to 5:53 PM eruption on 29 May 2021. (time stamp 2:03)
Clip 5 - Slide Geyser’s 6:11 to 6:12 PM eruption on 29 May 2021. (time stamp 3:08)
Clip 6 - Slide Geyser’s 6:31 to 6:32 PM eruption on 29 May 2021. (time stamp 4:06)
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Slide Geyser (2021)
Geysers are hot springs that episodically erupt columns of water. They occur in few places on Earth. The highest concentration of geysers anywhere is at the Yellowstone Hotspot Volcano (northwestern Wyoming, USA).
Slide Geyser is part of the Cascade Group in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin - it can be viewed from the Daisy Trail. This remarkable geyser erupts from a hole in the steep, geyserite/siliceous sinter bank on the eastern side of the Firehole River. Several holes are present in the vicinity, four of which do erupt or have erupted in the past with water runoff. Slide Geyser’s splashing eruptions result in water cascading down a moderately-developed chute. Some minor eruptive splashing also occurs in a larger vent immediately to the north - this used to be the main vent (e.g., in 1999 - see time stamp 2:22 of youtube.com/watch?v=Kn7GU2RTNcE). Before eruptions, a small seep just below and to the southwest of Slide Geyser’s current main vent releases water. Future erosion will likely enlarge this into an erupting vent.
In 2016, Slide Geyser’s eruptions were observed to be between half-a-minute to a minute in duration and occurred every 17 to 21 minutes. In 2007 and 2008, observed intervals (= eruption start to eruption start) were 20 to 24 minutes. In 1983, reported eruptions were less than one minute to just over 2 minutes long, with intervals of 11 to 15 minutes.
In June 2017, eruptions occurred every 17 to 19 minutes. Compared with 2016, eruptions were short in duration (less than one-half minute), had little water, and did not involve water sliding/cascading down the chute. For some eruptions, the upper chute remained dry; during others, the proximal chute became damp from minor splashing. On 12 August 2017, a closed interval of 20 minutes was observed. Unlike in June 2017, eruptions were more energetic and did involve water cascading down the entire chute.
June 2018 eruptions were similar to those observed in June 2017 - relatively little water and relatively minor splashing. The upper half of the chute became wet from eruptions, but water did not slide down the entire slope. Eruption intervals were 26 minutes and durations were a half-minute or less. On 14 August 2018, Slide Geyser’s eruptions resulted in water cascading down the entire chute. Eruption intervals were 28 to 32 minutes, with durations of about a 0.5 to 0.75 minutes.
June 2019 eruptions also resulted in water cascading down the entire chute. Intervals were 18 to 19 minutes. Durations were between 0.5 and 0.75 minutes. One fairly precisely-timed eruption was about 41 seconds long. On 9 August 2019, no eruptions were seen during one hour’s observation.
August 2020 eruptions were unusual in that little to no visible splashing occurred at the vent. Intervals were 30 to 33 minutes. Late May 2021 eruptions had intervals of 19 to 20 minutes. Two well-timed eruptions were ~41 and ~42 seconds long.
Filmed from the Daisy Trail.
Clip 1 - Slide Geyser’s 4:55 PM eruption on 29 May 2021.
Clip 2 - Slide Geyser’s 5:14 PM eruption on 29 May 2021. (time stamp 0:38)
Clip 3 - Slide Geyser’s 5:33 to 5:34 PM eruption on 29 May 2021. (time stamp 1:20)
Clip 4 - Slide Geyser’s 5:52 to 5:53 PM eruption on 29 May 2021. (time stamp 2:03)
Clip 5 - Slide Geyser’s 6:11 to 6:12 PM eruption on 29 May 2021. (time stamp 3:08)
Clip 6 - Slide Geyser’s 6:31 to 6:32 PM eruption on 29 May 2021. (time stamp 4:06)
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