Roaring Mountain

Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone is a steep slope where steam and hot gases rise from dozens of openings across its surface. The white plumes emerge from cracks and vents scattered across the eastern face, creating a landscape that constantly shifts with visible activity.

During the late 1800s, the thermal activity was so powerful that the sound of escaping gases could be heard from over a mile away. Since then the intensity of its emissions has varied considerably over the decades.

The mountain held significance for indigenous peoples as a place where the earth's inner forces became visible. Visitors can read about how the geothermal activity figured into the traditions and understanding of the region's native communities.

The easiest view is from a wheelchair-accessible overlook with informational displays, located right at a large parking area along the road between Norris and Mammoth Hot Springs. You can spend as little or as much time here as you want, and everything is clearly visible from the pullout.

The mountain earned its name from the roaring sounds it once produced, though nowadays those dramatic soundscapes have become much quieter and more subtle. The acidic gases continuously transform the surrounding rocks into clay minerals, a slow weathering process you can observe in the colors and textures of the mountainside.