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Posted in Northern California Nature June 13, 2017 by Jill S.

Northern California Has Its Very Own Natural Geyser And Most People Have No Idea

When you hear the name, “Old Faithful,” you probably don’t think of Northern California. As it turns out, Northern Californians don’t have to travel to Yellowstone National Park to see Old Faithful because it’s located right here in Napa County!

During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.

The Old Faithful Geyser of California is located 2 miles northwest of downtown Calistoga. To find it, head east off Highway 28 on Tubbs Lane.

It's one of three geysers in the whole world that have been distinguished as "Old Faithful" thanks to the reliability of its eruptions. The most well known, of course, is the Old Faithful Geyser of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

The California geyser is surrounded by palm trees and the rolling hills that are typical of the Napa Region.

It's located on land that was once occupied by the Wappo Indian Tribe, who noticed steam rising from the ground here. They used the water and mud from the area for its mineral-rich healing properties.

The geyser erupts from the casing of a well drilled in the late 19th century.

It can reach as high as 80 feet. The height and frequency of the geyser varies on the time of year.

In the summer months it erupts every 25-55 minutes and reaches an average of 40 to 80 feet.

In the winter, however, the eruptions are much more frequent. It goes off every 5-15 minutes, but the height only reaches 20-35 feet. It's been known to predict earthquakes by erupting at times not consistent with its schedule.

Relax in the shade as you wait for the geyser to erupt, or you can visit the goat farm or the gardens, have a picnic, play bocce ball, and visit the museum and gift shop. All of these are located on the Old Faithful property, so budget enough time to truly enjoy the experience!

We promise you will be blown away by this really interesting phenomenon. The coolest thing about Old Faithful is that it is located right here in Northern California and almost no one knows about it!

This fun video gives you a great feel for what it’s like to see the geyser in person.

For more information, visit the website.

What do you think of the Old Faithful Geyser of Calistoga? Have you ever been to it and what were your impressions? Be sure to share your thoughts with us on Facebook or in the comments below.

Jill S.

Jill is a freelance writer from a small Northern California town and lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains. If you have an idea for an Only In Northern California story, email her at jsanford@onlyinyourstate.com.