The Old Faithful Geyser has been erupting every 90 minutes predictably ever since a century ago. The odds of it erupting at sunrise or sunset are probably not good. We camp at the Grant Village, which is about 20 miles 30 minutes drive from the Old Faithful Geyser. For the first 3 nights, I attempted to rise early and drove to Old Faithful to try the luck. I will never forget those half an hour dark drives which filled with freezing air and my anxious hope, and when I finally sit in front of it, there goes the endless wait which would test out even the most patient people’s patience. Someday at one point, when the colors and lights were gone and the Old Faithful did not even blow a drop of water, I sadly turned around and drove that 30 minutes back like nothing happened. Someday, I got lucky.

Here are some of the magical moments of the Old Faithful Geyser, and other hydrothermal features around the Yellowstone National Park.

Steam rising from Old Faithful during sunrise

Stream rising in front of the sun from Old Faithful Geyser on an early morning

Old Faithful Geyser erupting during sunrise

Old Faithful Geyser erupting during a beautiful summer morning

Hydrothermal Steam rising from Geyser Hill near Old Faithful

The historic Old Faithful Inn in calm morning blue

Old Faithful Inn, with Old Faithful Geyser erupting in distance

Old Faithful Geyser erupting during sunset

Vistors from all over the world waiting for Old Faithful eruption

White Dome Geyser erupting behind Great Fountain Geyser

Great Fountain Geyser, at sunset

Steam rising from Surprise Pool, in late afternoon

Firehole Spring

Artist Paint Pot

Porcelain Springs

Dead Lodgepole Pine tree, on Fountain Paint Pot Trail

Chinese spring, by the firehole river

Lone lodgepole pine tree reflected in the Liberty Pool

Sawmill Geyser erupting

Riverside Geyser erupting

Morning Glory Pool

Punch Bowl Spring

Black Sand Pool

Crested Pool

Castle Geyser erupting

Heart Spring, with Old Faithful Geyser in distance

Sky reflected in Hot Lake, on Firehole Lake Drive

Mud Valcano

Dragon’s Mouth Spring

Lakeside Spring, after sunset, at West Thumb Geyser Basin

Fishing Cone on Yellowstone Lake shore, after sunset, at West Thumb Geyser Basin