Highlight • Natural Monument
Black Dragon's Cauldron
Hiking
5.0
(11)
This Highlight is in a protected area
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Tips
Chuck Heckman
May 9, 2023
Hiking
This swirling and bubbling mudpit has been around since 1948, when it mysterious appeared and swallowed the trees surrounding it. Over the years the caldron has thrown out large bursts of mud, sometimes over 20 feet in the air. All of the churning has caused the pit to increase in size in the decades since its creation, and it now stands at over 200 feet in diameter.
Sigrid
October 5, 2025
Hiking
The Black Dragon's Caldron is one of the most dramatic and relatively recent geothermal phenomena in the Mud Volcano Area of Yellowstone National Park. Unlike many thermal springs that have existed since the park's discovery, the Black Dragon's Caldron was a relatively recent development. It erupted through a crack in the ground during the winter of 1947/1948 and was discovered in June 1948. Upon its formation, the eruption was very violent. It uprooted surrounding trees and covered them with thick mud, creating a ghostly, dead forest.
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•Nearby routes
Best routes near Black Dragon's Cauldron
4.6
(7)
86
hikers
1.64km
00:27
30m
30m
Explore Yellowstone's Mud Volcano Trail, an easy 1.0-mile hike past bubbling mudpots and Dragon's Mouth Spring in 27 minutes.
Easy
2.0
(1)
10
hikers
3.49km
00:56
40m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Easy
Details
Informations
Elevation 2,380 m
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Saturday 14 March
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-13°C
89 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 37.0 km/h
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