SALT LAKE CITY — When most people think of geysers, they immediately associate the word with Yellowstone National Park. This is unsurprising because the park is home to thousands of geothermal features and hundreds of active geysers. The crown jewel, Old Faithful, is one of the most iconic geysers in the world and draws large crowds year-round.

If you venture off the beaten path, far from the crowds of Yellowstone, you can also encounter some fascinating geysers. Most of them don’t offer the wooden walkways and gift shops of a national park, and they’ll probably never be featured on a postcard. But these lesser-known geothermal oddities, which can be found in nearly all the western states, are stunning just the same. This list looks at five of the most unique.

Fly Geyser – Nevada

Located about 120 miles north of Reno is Fly Ranch, home to the strangest geyser on this list. It all started back in the early 1900s, when the owners of the ranch drilled a well. They soon hit water, but it was a scalding 200 degrees. The drilling crew capped the well and abandoned their efforts. Mineral-laden water slowly leaked up through the cap, however, eventually forming a 12-foot calcium carbonate cone.

In 1964, a second well was attempted not far from the first. Again, they hit boiling water. This well was also capped, but the water pressure was sufficient to burst through in several places. Constant jets of water now spray in multiple directions, making the Fly Geyser look like some sort of alien feature.

The most striking aspect of the Fly Geyser is its vibrant colors, which are caused by thermophilic algae. The erupting water leaves behind calcium carbonate deposits that have accumulated over the years and have formed the large geyser mound and multiple terraces. Thermophilic algae thrive in these conditions, creating the brilliant red and green hues that give the geyser its unforgettable look.

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Crystal Geyser – Utah

Just a few miles outside of the town of Green River is the Crystal Geyser. Like the Fly Geyser, this geothermal oddity is man-made. An oil drilling effort in the 1930s tapped into water below and created an opening for future eruptions. But unlike the Fly Geyser, and nearly all other geysers in the world, the Crystal Geyser isn’t powered by geothermal forces. It’s a cold water geyser, fueled by carbon dioxide pockets underground.

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Located about 100 miles north of Reno, Nev., is the tiny town of Gerlach. Twenty miles north of that is Fly Ranch, home to one of the most unique geysers in the world.

Despite its lack of geothermal power, this geyser can still reach impressive heights. The Crystal Geyser erupts daily, but it’s difficult to predict when it’ll go. If you’re lucky enough to be there, it’s stunning to see cool water rocketing more than 100 feet in the air.

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Old Faithful Geyser – California

This naturally occurring geyser in the town of Calistoga borrows its name from the more famous version in Yellowstone. Like that geyser, visitors can consistently count on witnessing an eruption, which reaches up to 100 feet in the air.

The fact that California’s Old Faithful regularly erupts in 30-minute intervals sets it apart from many other geysers. But what really makes it fascinating is its ability to predict earthquakes. Geysers worldwide are often affected by nearby earthquakes, but Old Faithful exhibits a particular sensitivity to seismic activity. In the days leading up to an earthquake, it ceases its eruptions, then resumes its normal schedule after the earthquake has occurred. Seismic activity as far as 500 miles away has been predicted based on the geyser’s eruption schedule, prompting scientists to conduct a series of studies into its accuracy.

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Chaffin Ranch Geyser – Utah

Also known as the Champagne Geyser, this is another of Utah’s unique cold water geysers. Like the nearby Crystal Geyser, it was also created by a drilling operation many decades ago.

The Chaffin Ranch Geyser is different from Crystal Geyser in a couple ways. First, it generally erupts every few hours. This is nice because most visitors don’t have to wait around all day to see it in action. Second, it is significantly smaller than it’s better known neighbor. In fact, it looks more like a giant drinking fountain than anything else. Still, it provides the opportunity to see one of the nation’s only cold water geysers spouting out of the rocks.

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Old Perpetual – Oregon

Based on its name, you’d think that Old Perpetual was another version of the “Old Faithful” geysers. And it once was. For more than 90 years, Oregon’s only geyser would erupt every 30 seconds to two minutes.

Old Perpetual’s origins go back to a drilling operation in the 1920s. Once formed, it became a beloved attraction and people came to from all around to watch the eruptions and to soak in the nearby mineral pools. But in recent years, Old Perpetual has dried up. Theories abound, some of a conspiratorial nature, but no one is sure why the beloved geyser has betrayed its name. Locals are holding out hope that someday soon the geyser will return to its former glory, but only time will tell.

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Grant Olsen joined the KSL.com team in 2012. He covers outdoor adventures, travel, product reviews and other interesting things. You can contact him at grantorrin@gmail.com.

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