Yellowstone National Park’s popular Biscuit Basin will remain closed to visitors throughout the summer of 2025 as scientists monitor a volatile thermal pool following a massive hydrothermal explosion in July 2024.

The dramatic event, which occurred at Black Diamond Pool just north of Old Faithful, sent boiling water and debris hundreds of feet into the air, obliterating a wooden boardwalk and forcing tourists to flee for safety.

Miraculously, no injuries were reported, but the incident has been described as one of the most powerful hydrothermal explosions in the park’s recorded history.

The July 23, 2024, eruption was not an isolated incident. Smaller outbursts occurred at Black Diamond Pool on November 5, 2024, during a scientific gas sampling expedition, and again on January 3, 2025, witnessed by a winter tour group.

The initial explosion, however, remains the largest, driven by a deadly combination of superheated water and restricted underground plumbing, creating a pressure-cooker effect beneath the earth’s surface.

Geologist Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, explained that the blast “blew apart” the area’s underground plumbing system, leaving uncertainties about its current state and future behavior.

“We don’t have enough information to know how Black Diamond Pool is going to behave going forward,” Poland told Cowboy State Daily.

The explosion scattered grapefruit-sized rocks, some weighing hundreds of pounds, across the landscape, with silica-cemented debris indicating years of pressure buildup.

To better understand the ongoing risks, scientists have installed monitoring equipment, including a webcam, to observe Black Diamond Pool and assess changes in the hydrothermal system.

The closure of Biscuit Basin, a typically bustling attraction, reflects the park’s commitment to visitor safety as researchers work to predict the likelihood of future eruptions.

Yellowstone’s hydrothermal activity, while not linked to an imminent volcanic eruption, underscores the park’s dynamic and unpredictable nature.

The Yellowstone Caldera, one of the world’s largest volcanic systems, last experienced a major eruption 640,000 years ago, and experts maintain that a catastrophic event is unlikely in the near future.

However, the recent events at Biscuit Basin highlight the ongoing hazards posed by the park’s geothermal features, fueled by magma reservoirs four to six miles beneath the surface.

For travelers planning a visit to Yellowstone in 2025, officials urge checking real-time updates on the park’s website for information on closures, detours, and safety alerts.

The Grand Loop Road remains open, but access to Biscuit Basin, including its parking lot and boardwalks, will be restricted until deemed safe.

This closure is expected to impact local businesses reliant on tourism, prompting visitors to respect warning signs and stay flexible with their plans.

Yellowstone’s allure lies in its raw, untamed beauty, but the Biscuit Basin closure serves as a stark reminder of nature’s power.

As scientists continue their monitoring efforts, the park remains a place of wonder and caution, where the earth’s restless energy demands respect.