The
Heart Lake Geyser Basin, a small isolated basin, is located along Witch
Creek at the base of Mount Sheridan and the western shore of Heart Lake.
The Langford Expedition in 1870 named the lake and geyser basin. A 5.5
mile trail through a dense lodgepole pine forest leads to a series of
five thermal groups which make up the Basin.
Most of the thermal features are fumaroles
and hot springs associated with fissures. Because this area is secluded
many of the thermal features have not been studied and remain unnamed.
The main features are found in the Rustic
Group along Heart Lake. Rustic Geyser and Columbia Pool are the two
primary features, and like most Heart Lake thermal features, they are
in almost pristine condition. Logs, believed to have been placed around
the vent of Rustic Geyser by Indians or early explorers, are still detectable
under a layer of sinter. Columbia Pool has wide, elaborate sinter edges
or shelves.
The Upper Group has two important features,
Spike and Deluge geysers. Spike has a two foot high cone and is beautifully
beaded with sinter. Deluge is an irregularly shaped basin with clusters
of rosette sinter around the edge and bluish-gray water.
RUSTIC GEYSER 
Temperature 196°F Interval 10-90 minutes and dormancy. Duration 1
minute. Height 20-45 feet. The 1878 Hayden Expedition named Rustic
Geyser after they discovered logs placed around the geyser by either
Indians or early explorers. The geyser has long periods of dormancy.
When it is active it is the major geyser of the Heart Lake Basin and
then erupts at regular intervals. A pending eruption is marked by water
slowly rising to the rim, sudden overflowing surges burst into an eruption,
sending water jets 30 feet high. As suddenly as it begins, the eruption
ends. Rustic also has unexplained periods of dormancy. High ground water
in the spring and fall influences eruption intervals.
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COLUMBIA POOL 
Temperature 188.7°F Dimensions 48x53 feet. Depth 25 feet. Columbia
Pool is a beautiful azure blue pool named by the 1878 Hayden Expedition.
Because of its remote location, Columbia Pool still retains much of
its pristine condition. Large ledges, formed by white sinter deposits
in the shape of rosettes, project over the pool. The size of the pool
and the stability of the edge is deceiving. There are no boardwalks
through this area and much of the Heart Lake Geyser Basin has very unstable
ground. Caution is advised. Orange and yellow cyanobacteria surround
the pool creating a beautiful display of color.
SULFUR VENTS 
Temperature 110-180°F On the slopes above Heart Lake and the Rustic
Group, along Witch Creek, are the four remaining groups which make up
the Heart Lake Basin. In these groups are numerous sulfur vents. The
small vents, ranging within a few inches in size, are fumaroles. They
do not possess enough water in their craters to become hot springs,
but below the surface, water boils. The vents emit steam and they sizzle
and hiss. As the steam condenses in the cold air, steam-carried minerals
deposit on the outer edges of the vents. Resulting bright yellow deposits
of sulfur dot the barren hillsides.
The
Heart Lake Geyser Basin, a small isolated basin, is located along Witch
Creek at the base of Mount Sheridan and the western shore of Heart Lake.
The Langford Expedition in 1870 named the lake and geyser basin. A 5.5
mile trail through a dense lodgepole pine forest leads to a series of
five thermal groups which make up the Basin.
Most of the thermal features are fumaroles
and hot springs associated with fissures. Because this area is secluded
many of the thermal features have not been studied and remain unnamed.
The main features are found in the Rustic
Group along Heart Lake. Rustic Geyser and Columbia Pool are the two
primary features, and like most Heart Lake thermal features, they are
in almost pristine condition. Logs, believed to have been placed around
the vent of Rustic Geyser by Indians or early explorers, are still detectable
under a layer of sinter. Columbia Pool has wide, elaborate sinter edges
or shelves.
The Upper Group has two important features,
Spike and Deluge geysers. Spike has a two foot high cone and is beautifully
beaded with sinter. Deluge is an irregularly shaped basin with clusters
of rosette sinter around the edge and bluish-gray water.
RUSTIC GEYSER
Temperature 196°F Interval 10-90 minutes and dormancy. Duration 1
minute. Height 20-45 feet. The 1878 Hayden Expedition named Rustic
Geyser after they discovered logs placed around the geyser by either
Indians or early explorers. The geyser has long periods of dormancy.
When it is active it is the major geyser of the Heart Lake Basin and
then erupts at regular intervals. A pending eruption is marked by water
slowly rising to the rim, sudden overflowing surges burst into an eruption,
sending water jets 30 feet high. As suddenly as it begins, the eruption
ends. Rustic also has unexplained periods of dormancy. High ground water
in the spring and fall influences eruption intervals.
COLUMBIA POOL
Temperature 188.7°F Dimensions 48x53 feet. Depth 25 feet. Columbia
Pool is a beautiful azure blue pool named by the 1878 Hayden Expedition.
Because of its remote location, Columbia Pool still retains much of
its pristine condition. Large ledges, formed by white sinter deposits
in the shape of rosettes, project over the pool. The size of the pool
and the stability of the edge is deceiving. There are no boardwalks
through this area and much of the Heart Lake Geyser Basin has very unstable
ground. Caution is advised. Orange and yellow cyanobacteria surround
the pool creating a beautiful display of color.
SULFUR VENTS
Temperature 110-180°F On the slopes above Heart Lake and the Rustic
Group, along Witch Creek, are the four remaining groups which make up
the Heart Lake Basin. In these groups are numerous sulfur vents. The
small vents, ranging within a few inches in size, are fumaroles. They
do not possess enough water in their craters to become hot springs,
but below the surface, water boils. The vents emit steam and they sizzle
and hiss. As the steam condenses in the cold air, steam-carried minerals
deposit on the outer edges of the vents. Resulting bright yellow deposits
of sulfur dot the barren hillsides.
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