Big Mine Run Geyser Is Pennsylvania’s Only Geyser, And It’s Worth A Stop

Pennsylvania is full of surprises. Those surprises certainly keep life interesting, providing us with new and unique places to explore. Did you know, for example, that there’s a geyser in Pennsylvania? Big Mine Run Geyser in Pennsylvania isn’t particularly well known, and you won’t need very much time to check it out. However, it’s well worth a stop for a view and to snap some photos.

Most people naturally think of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming when they hear the word “geyser.” That’s not surprising considering the park is home to more than 500 geysers, stats from the National Park Service show.

Yellowstone, in fact, lays claim to more than half of the geysers in the world, including perhaps the most famous, Old Faithful. Visitors to the popular geyser have a pretty good shot of seeing it in action, too, as it erupts around 20 times each day.

A geyser on the east coast of the United States, however, is almost unheard of - almost. Did you know that the lone geyser on the east coast is right here in Pennsylvania?

Big Mine Run Geyser sits in Ashland, just outside of the nearly-abandoned town of Centralia, where the mines below the town have been on fire for more than 50 years.

The geyser sits on private property, so you won’t be able to go right up to it. However, you’ll have no trouble seeing it from the side of Big Mine Run Road.

Big Mine Run Geyser runs as the result of a buildup of water underground. After the mines under Ashland were abandoned in the 1930s, water rushed in and filled the abandoned mine shafts.

When the pressure builds up, the water releases up through the ground, creating what is now known as the Big Mine Run Geyser.

The geyser measures around 300 feet deep and 32 inches wide. You can’t miss it from the road. It’s also pretty loud when it’s gushing, and it exudes a smell of sulfur (think rotten eggs).

A visit to Big Mine Run Geyser doesn’t take long – a few minutes, at most – but it’s fascinating to witness up close, and you’ll likely score some pretty interesting photos.

Have you seen Big Mine Run Geyser in Pennsylvania? What’d you think? Worth a stop or not? Join the conversation in the comments! If you’re a fan of unique sites, consider hitting the highway on this road trip to the seven wonders of Pennsylvania.