Northern Nevada High Desert

Fly Geyser: Nevada's Accidental Technicolor Geothermal Marvel

Gerlach, Nevada, United States

By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published Wed, Mar 18, 2026 · Updated Thu, Jul 23, 2026

Why it’s cool

This accidental masterpiece in the Black Rock Desert was born from botched well-drilling projects. Today, thermophilic algae paint its growing mineral mounds in brilliant shades of red and green, creating a surreal landscape that feels entirely extraterrestrial.

Southwest Scenic

Rising from the edge of the Black Rock Desert, Fly Geyser is a vivid testament to the unexpected consequences of human intervention. A similar intersection of human impact and geothermal beauty can be found at the Morning Glory Pool.

Though the surrounding landscape is rugged and dry, this corner of the Hualapai Geothermal Flats hides a pressurized world of boiling water and minerals that has spent the last century sculpting a psychedelic oasis.

Why It Stands Out

The site actually hosts three distinct formations, each with its own origin story. The oldest, known as The Wizard, appeared over a century ago when pioneers attempted to drill a well for irrigation.

They struck -degree water that was useless for crops, leaving behind a -foot calcium carbonate cone. In , history repeated itself when a geothermal energy company drilled a test well nearby.

When the seal on their borehole failed, a new geyser erupted, siphoning off the pressure from the original well and creating what we now recognize as Fly Geyser. This central formation is a collection of several six-foot spouts perched atop a massive mineral mound.

Its striking appearance comes from thermophilic algae, which thrive in the scalding, moist environment, painting the rocks in brilliant streaks of emerald green and rust red. The Paint Mines Interpretive Park also features a landscape defined by its vibrant, natural colors.

A third, smaller formation called Will’s Geyser was discovered in ; unlike its neighbors, this one is believed to be entirely natural, growing roughly six inches every year. In , the Burning Man Project acquired the ,-acre ranch to ensure the preservation of these unique geothermal features and the surrounding wetlands.

Before You Go

Access to the geyser is strictly controlled to protect the fragile ecosystem of Fly Ranch. While you can spot the colorful mounds from State Route , you cannot simply pull over and walk onto the property.

Instead, visitors must book a guided nature walk through the Friends of Black Rock-High Rock. These tours typically run from April through October.

To encourage a deeper connection with the environment, the walks are conducted as device-free experiences. You will be asked to keep your phone and camera stowed during the trek, though time is set aside at the end of the tour for photography.

Questions worth answering

Can we just drive up and see it?

You'll spot the mounds from State Route 34, but that's as close as you'll get on your own. Entry requires a guided walk through the ranch, which you'll need to book in advance.

What's the deal with the no-phone policy?

The nature walks are device-free to keep people present in the landscape. You'll keep your gear stowed until the end of the tour, when a specific window for photography is provided.

How did this place end up looking like a science fiction set?

It's a mix of failed wells and biology. Human drilling hit boiling water, and now thermophilic algae create the red and green streaks across the growing mineral structures.

Who's responsible for the write-up on this site?

We started with a piece from Fly Geyser and our own editorial from there. The focus is on the history of the three distinct formations found on the property.

Visit Snapshot

Drop-in visits are prohibited. You must book a guided nature walk through Friends of Black Rock-High Rock, which are held from April to October.

Note that the walk itself is device-free; photography is only permitted during a designated window at the end of the tour. The geyser is visible from State Route north of Gerlach.

Location

Gerlach, Nevada

Know before you go

The geyser can be seen from State Route north of the town Gerlach. Drop-in visits are not permitted, but Friends of Black Rock-High Rock hosts weekly nature walks on the property from April to October.

These nature walks are device-free, and visitors are not permitted to take photos during the walk. At the end of the walk, you will have time to get your camera and snap some photos.

Editorial source

Fly Geyser

This alien-looking geyser on the edge of Black Rock Desert is actually human-made. But it wasn't put there on purpose.

The Fly Ranch property is located in Nevada 's Hualapai Geothermal Flats, an area known for its unique geothermal pools. There are three geysers on the property.

The first, known as The Wizard, was created more than years ago, during an effort to make the desert usable for farming. While drilling a well, workers hit geothermal water that was about degrees Fahrenheit.

Because the water was not suitable for agricultural use, this geyser was left alone. A - foot calcium carbonate cone formed as a result of the water's mineral content.

In , a geothermic energy company drilled a test well at the same site. They struck the same water, which was hot, but not hot enough for their purposes.

The well was supposedly re-sealed, but apparently, the cap did not hold. A new, larger geyser emerged a few hundred feet north of the original.

Robbed of its water pressure, the older cone remains active, but at a substantially reduced rate. This second geyser, now known as Fly Geyser, has grown as minerals from the water have been deposited on the desert surface.

It has multiple cone-shaped openings that measure up to six feet tall, and sits on a tall mound. The third geyser, known as Will's Geyser, discovered in , is believed to be of natural origin.

This volcanic shaped formation grows at a rate of six inches per year. Because there are multiple geyser spouts, this geyser has not created a cone as large as the first, but instead an ever-growing alien-looking mound that shoots water up to five feet in the air.

The geyser is covered with mineral deposits and thermophilic algae, which flourishes in moist, hot environments. The combination has led to multiple hues of green and red that add to its out-of-this-world appearance.

In June , the non-profit Burning Man Project purchased the Fly Ranch property for $. million. Their mission is to protect and restore the habitats found within the ,-acre property, which include wetlands, natural springs, sagebrush-grasslands, and playa.

In May , they opened the ranch to the public for the first time in two decades.

Fly Geyser: Nevada's Accidental Technicolor Geothermal Marvel

Why it’s cool

Why It Stands Out

Before You Go

Questions worth answering

Can we just drive up and see it?

What's the deal with the no-phone policy?

How did this place end up looking like a science fiction set?

Who's responsible for the write-up on this site?

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