Sawmill Geyser

Sawmill Geyser is a fountain-type hot spring in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. During each eruption, the water shoots about 35 feet (11 meters) into the air and the event lasts between 30 and 50 minutes, with water temperatures reaching about 92 degrees Celsius (198 degrees Fahrenheit).

The geyser was named in 1871 by Antoine Schoenborn of the Hayden Geological Survey, who observed that its rotating water columns resembled a saw blade in motion. The name stuck because of this distinctive resemblance to a lumber mill's mechanical action.

The Sawmill Complex represents one of the primary geothermal features in Yellowstone, where Native Americans observed these natural phenomena for generations.

You can watch this geyser from a wooden boardwalk located just about 10 feet (3 meters) away from the spring opening. Plan for some waiting time since eruptions happen every one to three hours when the geyser is actively working.

This geyser operates in two different modes: the forceful Sawmill mode with powerful eruptions and the quieter Penta-Churn mode with fewer water jets. This switching happens because of interactions with nearby hot springs in the geothermal system.

Location: Teton County

GPS coordinates: 44.46560,-110.83700

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:21