Hydrothermal Explosion Leading to Closure at Yellowstone National Park Caught on Video — Watch Here

Visitors to one of the most popular national parks in the United States may need to adjust their plans. 

Yellowstone National Park‘s ‘Biscuit Basin’ area is closed due to a recent hydrothermal explosion that occurred on Tuesday morning, according to a news release. The closure affects parking lots, trails, and boardwalks near the Basin, which is located just north of the still-open Old Faithful geysers.

The explosion was described as “localized” and occurred near the Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin.  Videos of the incident, taken by tourists and then shared on social media, show large plumes of liquid and debris bursting in the air and then raining down on outdoor enthusiasts.

Fortunately, no injuries have been reported at this time, according to the NPS.

The park did not provide a timeline of when the area will reopen.

Biscuit Basin is located 30 miles west of Yellowstone Lake, and is known for several geyers and colorful pools. The Biscuit Basin hike is a popular .6 mile excursion that leads past many hydrothermal features. 

“Hydrothermal explosions are violent and dramatic events resulting in the rapid ejection of boiling water, steam, mud, and rock fragmentsm,” the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory shared in a October 2018 blog post. 

The incident comes as visits to Yellowstone National Park are on the rise for 2024. The park recently shared that over 1.6 million recreational visitors have explored the park so far in 2024, which is nine percent higher than the same time period last year. 

Yellowstone National Park was recently named the number one national park in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards. The 2.2 million square foot park, which is popular for hiking and camping, has earned the honor for the last three years.