The sights and sounds of Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone National Park are captivating. Devoid of trees and vegetation, the mountainside is an ashen hue. Multiple locations of steam rising into the atmosphere provide a trance-like vision of something you certainly won’t see often. During your visit to Roaring Mountain, stop and listen to the sounds and you will instantly realize the reason for this attraction’s popularity.

The hissing sound comes from fissures and cracks in the mountain that allow pressurized steam to escape from Earth’s interior. Yellowstone National Park is located over volcanic activity. In this area the depth from the surface to the molten red magma is at its shallowest, a mere 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 kilometers). Rainwater and snowmelt flowing down the mountain seep into cracks and quickly vaporize into steam, shooting back up to the surface. Try to visit after a rainfall or on a colder day when the effects are most dramatic.

Known as fumaroles, these holes have steam that is the hottest of the park’s many features, hotter than geysers and hot springs. Mixed with the steam are gases. The acidic runoff from these fumaroles travels to the base of the mountain, creating a hostile environment for most living things. Take binoculars and a telephoto lens for your camera to capture the phenomenon. Walking on the mountain is prohibited as well as extremely dangerous.

View Roaring Mountain safely from your vehicle at one of the places to park off-road. When the mountain was discovered in 1885, it was much louder. Local explorers heard it from a distance and gave it the fitting name. Today its roar has become a hiss. Scientists don’t know if it will get loud again sometime.

Find the mountain on the Grand Loop Road between Norris and Mammoth Village. Pay the Yellowstone National Park weekly or annual entrance pass to enjoy this and other amazing features. Note that the road closes from early November to late April. After your visit you can say you found a mountain that hissed at you.