The Crystal Geyser is located just south of Green River, Utah, along the east bank of the Green River. The geyser as it appears today was created by an oil exploration well drilled in 1935.

Crystal Geyser is different from most geysers like those in Yellowstone National Park since it is not created by geothermal activity but rather by carbon dioxide.

The water that comes out of the hole is cool to the touch since there isn't any geothermal activity involved.

This geyser erupts due to the same process that causes soda pop to shoot out of the can when you hold your finger over the lid and shake it. Although technically not a true geyser, the cold-water eruptions look so much like hot-water geysers that they are referred to as “soda pop geysers”.

When the geyser erupts the water cascades down a terrace of colorful orange travertine limestone, that varies in hues of white to almost brown, and into the river.

When it first formed, the geyser would shoot 80 feet into the air in 15-minute intervals and 150 feet into the air every nine hours. Over the years, however, the eruptions have decreased in height and frequency.

These days, the Crystal Geyser eruptions times are a little more unpredictable and only reach heights ranging anywhere from 2 to 10 feet, due to the blockage in the well. The reason why it’s erupting now after years of dormancy is believed to be the result of Utah’s historically cold winter in 2022.

We lucked out as the geyser was active as we pulled in at sunset.

The geyser is said to erupt at least once every day but there isn't a pattern or timeline to go by. Eruptions have lasted from a few minutes to 45+ minutes.

You will likely question your choice of this campsite as you drive through the desolate, lunar like landscape on a washboard road. But at the end you find this nice area along the green river with a geyser. It’s really scenic among the red rock.

We were surprised to find 3 more rigs there on a Sunday night in November, but the fact that this type of geyser is very rare will make it enough to attract visitors.