A Yellowstone National Park hot spring erupted twice in two days this week, with Black Diamond Pool going off on Tuesday, April 28, and again on Wednesday, April 29. The second Yellowstone explosion was the more dramatic of the two, sending muddy water and steam toward a nearby camera.
The pool’s latest burst was still far smaller than the eruption on July 23, 2024, when visitors ran and wooden walkways in the area were damaged. Black Diamond Pool is a large, murky blue hot spring with an average temperature of 148.5°F, and it has a history of sporadic eruptions.
Black Diamond Pool sits about 2 miles from Old Faithful geyser and is one of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal features. The park sits atop one of the world’s most active volcanic systems, and the National Park Service uses designated trails and boardwalks because these areas are unpredictable and scalding.
The pool also has a known record of sudden unrest. In 2006, Black Diamond Pool erupted after an earthquake, according to the National Park Service, underscoring how quickly the feature can change without warning. This week’s pair of eruptions did not match the violence of last July’s blast, but they were a fresh reminder that Yellowstone’s hydrothermal ground can turn active with little notice.
