Porcelain Basin Mudpots

The Porcelain Basin is located within the Norris Geyser Basin, which is the hottest and most volatile hydrothermal area in Yellowstone National Park. You can reach it via a 1.5-mile boardwalk loop that offers sweeping views of the barren, otherworldly landscape.

These features form when sulfuric acid microorganisms decompose the surrounding rock into clay, which then mixes with rising steam and volcanic gases. The violent bubbling action is driven by these escaping gases rather than deep groundwater boiling like a traditional geyser.

Porcelain Basin is entirely devoid of trees and vegetation due to the highly acidic and superheated ground water, giving it a stark, pale appearance. It sits inside the Norris Geyser Basin, which is uniquely located at the intersection of three major fault lines.

Visitors must stay on the designated boardwalks at all times, as the ground surrounding the mudpots can be incredibly thin and dangerously acidic. Water temperatures in Norris Geyser Basin regularly exceed the boiling point, posing fatal risks to anyone leaving the trails.