Biscuit Basin stays closed to all visitors with no reopening date set. The parking lot, boardwalks, and trails around the basin remain off-limits after a powerful hydrothermal explosion on July 23, 2024, and a second smaller blast on June 13, 2026. Park officials cite ongoing hazards from unstable ground and the chance of further sudden activity.
I checked the latest park conditions before a recent trip and still found the same clear message: stay out. The area sits just two miles northwest of Old Faithful, so many first-time visitors expect to include it. Knowing the closure early saves disappointment and keeps you safe.
What Happened at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone?
On July 23, 2024, just before 10 a.m., a hydrothermal explosion erupted from Black Diamond Pool. Hot water, mud, steam, and rocks shot hundreds of feet into the air. Grapefruit-sized rocks and larger blocks weighing hundreds of pounds flew across the boardwalk. Sections of the wooden walkway were destroyed. No one was injured because visitors scrambled clear in time, but the damage was severe.
Scientists from the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Yellowstone Volcano Observatory confirmed the event was not volcanic. It was a shallow hydrothermal explosion caused when superheated water suddenly flashed to steam under pressure. Monitoring instruments showed no warning signs beforehand.
Nearly two years later, on June 13, 2026, at about 5:09 a.m., a second smaller explosion occurred a few hundred feet north of Black Diamond Pool. Monitoring equipment recorded seismic and acoustic signals. Video captured a dark steam plume. The blast opened new vents, one crack stretching about 60 feet long and filled with boiling water. Within days a new circular pool roughly 21 by 17 feet formed by ground collapse. That pool later spouted water 20 to 30 feet high like a small geyser. Debris and sediment briefly turned the nearby Firehole River milky.
Biscuit Basin has a long history of these events. Similar explosions happened in the 1880s and a smaller one in 2009. The ground here is simply more unstable than most other thermal areas in the park.
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Is Biscuit Basin Still Closed in 2026?
Yes. The National Park Service lists Biscuit Basin as closed until further notice. The official place page for the Biscuit Basin Trailhead states the closure is due to the July 23, 2024, hydrothermal explosion. The later 2026 event only reinforced the decision. The parking lot, boardwalks, and access to the Firehole River at that spot remain blocked.
You can confirm the status yourself on the park’s current conditions page: nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. Grand Loop Road stays open, so traffic continues past the closed entrance. Nearby thermal areas such as Black Sand Basin remain accessible.
Why the Closure Continues and What Risks Remain
The 2024 explosion changed the shallow underground plumbing. New cracks and vents mean the system is still adjusting. Small bursts of boiling water and steam remain possible. The thin ground can collapse without warning, as it did when the new pool formed in 2026.
Park geologists and USGS scientists continue monitoring with new cameras, seismic sensors, and temperature instruments installed after the first blast. A second camera went up in summer 2026 to cover a wider view. Until they determine the area is stable enough for safe boardwalks and public access, the gates stay shut.
Hydrothermal explosions are part of Yellowstone’s normal behavior. They happen when water under pressure turns to steam and blasts rock and mud upward. They are not signs of an imminent volcanic eruption. The wider Yellowstone volcanic system remains at normal background levels.
Safe Alternatives Near Old Faithful Right Now
You can still see spectacular thermal features without missing much of the classic experience:
- Walk the boardwalks at Black Sand Basin (short drive or walk from Old Faithful).
- Explore the Upper Geyser Basin trails around Old Faithful itself.
- Visit Midway Geyser Basin for Grand Prismatic Spring (arrive early for parking).
- Check current geyser predictions at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center.
Mystic Falls Trail and Summit Lake Trail that once started from Biscuit Basin are also closed at that access point. Use other trailheads listed on the park map.
Practical Tips for Visiting Yellowstone Thermal Areas
Stay on boardwalks and marked trails at every open thermal area. The ground can look solid and still be a thin crust over boiling water. A single step off the path can cause severe burns.
Check the official current conditions page the morning of your visit. Conditions change with weather, wildlife, and thermal activity.
Carry the free NPS App for offline maps and alerts. Cell service is limited in many basins.
If you see steam rising in an unexpected place or hear unusual sounds, move away calmly and report it to a ranger.
Photograph from a distance. Close-up shots are not worth the risk.
I once stood on the Biscuit Basin boardwalk years ago watching Sapphire Pool’s deep blue water. The colors and the quiet steam made it feel otherworldly. That memory is why the continued closure feels personal. Yet every time I drive past the closed entrance now I feel relief that the park puts safety first. The rest of Yellowstone still delivers the same sense of wonder. Plan around the closure, stick to the open boardwalks, and you will leave with the photos and memories you came for.
