At the far Northern end of Napa Valley, just outside of the town of Calistoga are two natural wonders: The Petrified Forest and the Old Faithful Geyser of California. This entry will focus on the visit to Old Faithful of California. The geyser is situated on farmland to the north of town and is home to livestock such as goats and alpacas. Similar to its more famous counterpart in Yellowstone National Park, this geyser is renowned for its regular eruptions, which occur approximately every 15-30 minutes. When it erupts, it shoots hot water and steam up to 60-100 feet into the air, captivating visitors with its impressive display of natural power.

I drove from Santa Rosa to Calistoga via the Petrified Forest Road through the Mayacamas Mountains and into Calistoga. The farm had large signage and a gravel lot with ample parking for a Saturday afternoon. Admission was $15 and the lady at the register told me it was a full weekend pass including Sunday as well. I walked out under the covered porch area and settled amongst the other spectators around a pond that had formed around the geyser. The pond seemed to become a home for tadpoles swimming in its waters. 

The geyser itself was surrounded by some rocks in the center of the pond. It occasionally gurgled and belched steam and hot water a few feet in the air. Then, after about twenty minutes of waiting and filming, it erupted in a massive spray about 40-60 feet in the air. The steam and mist from the eruption also formed a rainbow over the pond.