Sawmill
This feature is a geyser, not merely a hot spring, due to the biscuit like mineral deposits.
Plan Around Sawmill
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Sawmill Details
One thing that is fun to do here in the Upper Geyser Basin is to use our own senses of observation to answer four questions about a thermal feature. Number one, how hot is the water? Number two, is this a geyser or a hot spring? Number three, if it is a geyser, is it active or dormant? And number four, if it is an active geyser, how big is it? Let's begin with the temperature of the water. If the water color is clear, remember that means it is too hot for cyanobacteria, which means the temperature would be well above 165 degrees F. We can tell that this feature is a geyser, not merely a hot spring, due to the biscuit like mineral deposits. An overflowing hot spring leaves behind a smooth mineral formation, but if the water is gushing and splashing, the geyserite forms these beads and pearls and biscuits. We can tell this geyser is active, not dormant, because look at how fresh the mineral appearance is. It almost looks like someone just spread some fresh cement. When a geyser is dormant and no water is flowing out, notice how quickly the mineral breaks down erodes and deteriorates. Finally, notice the beach that has washed around this feature. Obviously, this geyser doesn't erupt to over 100 feet like Old Faithful. The boardwalk would not be this close if it did! This is Sawmill Geyser, so named for the spinning columns of water that gush out to a height of up to 40 feet. Source: National Park Service, Exploring the Upper Geyser Basin, Orville Bach
Difficulty
Low
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N/A
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Nearby Parks Around Sawmill
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Sawmill
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South Scalloped Spring
Named for the ornate mineral formations along the edge of the pool.
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Scalloped Spring
The water level has obviously dropped over the years, most likely due from an earthquake.
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Belgian Pool
In 1929, a gentleman from Belgium was visiting here, and fell into this pool.
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Skeleton Trees
Over many years, thermal waters have flowed, not only killing the trees, but preserving them.
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Crested Pool
The water is in a state of vigorous boil, which at an elevation of 7300 feet is 199 degrees F.
