Excelsior Geyser Crater

Excelsior Geyser Crater is one of Yellowstone's most impressive thermal features and a compelling stop on any family visit to the park. Located within the Midway Geyser Basin — the same area as the famous Grand Prismatic Spring — Excelsior offers a complementary perspective on Yellowstone's extraordinary geothermal power.

At its peak in the late 1800s, Excelsior was one of the most violent geysers ever recorded, launching water up to 300 feet in the air during massive eruptions. Today it functions primarily as a hot spring, continuously discharging enormous volumes of superheated water into the Firehole River. The vivid turquoise pool at the crater's center is striking, and the clouds of steam rising from the water create an atmosphere that feels genuinely otherworldly.

The boardwalk at Midway Geyser Basin loops past both Excelsior and Grand Prismatic Spring, making it easy to experience both features in a single 30–60 minute stop. Strollers can navigate the boardwalk without difficulty, and the relatively short distance makes this an accessible stop for families with young children or limited hiking ability.

Kids who are interested in earth science get a lot out of this visit — the scale of the crater and the volume of water being discharged makes the concept of geothermal energy tangible and immediate. The interpretive signs along the boardwalk explain Excelsior's eruption history and the ongoing science of the feature in accessible terms.

Like all Yellowstone thermal features, Excelsior is free with standard park admission and requires no separate ticket.