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Why The Heck … Does Wyoming’s Rare Periodic Spring Turn Itself On And Off?

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Why The Heck … Does Wyoming’s Rare Periodic Spring Turn Itself On And Off?


The on-again, off-again stream in Swift Creek Canyon is a rare geological feature located about 5 miles east of Afton, Wyoming. So rare, it is probably one of only a handful in the world.

The natural spring cycles on and off at regular intervals, earning it the name Periodic Spring, or sometimes Intermittent Spring. Folklore often labels the feature “The Spring That Breathes,” and while that moniker sounds Native American-like, there is no evidence supporting First Nation peoples in the Star Valley area ever even knew of it.

What is known is that an ice-cold stream that is 100% drinkable runs down a mountainside one minute and dries up the next.

Thirsty? Fear not. The wait between flows is usually less than 20 minutes.

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Springing To Life

Olympic gold medalist wrestler Rulon Gardner’s great-great-grandfather discovered this phenomenon in August 1894.

While logging up in Swift Creek Canyon just east of Afton, Bruce Gardner found an unnamed spring that fed Spring Creek to be very tasty to a parched logger. The trouble was the spring would be running full bore one minute and dried up the next. Its flows weren’t unreliable, just intermittent.

The spring is known as a “rhythmic spring.” There are reportedly only a handful of these in the world, and Period Spring is supposedly the largest.

The classification of Periodic Spring as a rhythmic spring remains an educated guess. This particular feature in Wyoming is often denoted as an underground cold-water geyser, but that’s not technically correct.

Cold-water geysers are a rare phenomenon known around the world. Germany’s Andernach is the highest spouting and the Herľany Geyser, discovered in 1872 in Slovakia, blows its top only once a day.

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Cold-water geysers are similar to their geothermal counterparts like Old Faithful. The difference is, Old Faithful uses heat generated by a layer of basaltic magma to boil water to the steam-driven point it explodes to the surface.

Sometimes called soda pop geysers, cold-water geysers use underground pockets of CO2 to push water to the surface.

Crystal Geyser just outside of Green River, Utah, is probably the best-known of these. It was accidentally “created” in 1936 when exploratory oil drilling unknowingly tapped into a carbon dioxide-charged aquifer.

The underground nature of Periodic Spring near Afton means you cannot see the eruption spout. But you certainly can hear it as it gurgles in a cave perched atop a heavily-wooded hillside above Swift Creek.

Much like Old Faithful, a period of hissing and wheezing signals flow from the springhead is about to begin. Water then rises to the lip of the underground cistern and eventually spills over. What starts as a trickle is soon a roaring rivulet, cascading its way over moss-covered rocks to its confluence with Swift Creek a quarter mile below.

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For about 15 minutes, all seems normal. A delicious-looking rill bubbles to life looking like it has always been there. Stick around, though. Once the underground reservoir empties out, the flow shuts off, the streambed dries up, and all is still once again for another 15 minutes.

How It Works

“Everything about this spring is somewhat surprising. It’s an extremely unusual occurrence,” said Kip Solomon, a hydrologist at the University of Utah.

Scientists are not 100% sure what makes Periodic Spring do what is does, but they’ve made a fairly safe, educated guess.

Solomon has studied the spring probably more than anyone. He said the closest thing to it in behavior is a similar phenomenon in France.

He shared his best theory on how it works.

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“As groundwater flows continuously into a cavern, it fills a narrow tube that leads out. As it pours over the high point of the tube, it creates a siphon effect, sucking water out of the chamber. Eventually, air rushes in and breaks the siphon,” Solomon assured.

Studies conducted by University of Utah in the mid-2000s confirmed no gas content in the water, strongly suggesting support for the siphon theory.

“We can’t think of another explanation at the moment,” Solomon added.

The best time to view the spring turning itself on and off is from late August through November when the water table is at its lowest and the distinction between flows is at its most distinctive.

A similar rhythmic spring called the Ebbing and Flowing Spring can be found in Hawkins County, Tennessee, near Rogersville. That spring flows for a period of 2 hours and 47 minutes, ranging from an indiscernible trickle to nearly 500 gallons per minute.

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Periodic Spring is very much like an artesian well. The pristine ice-cold water and can be safely consumed right out of the ground. In fact, the Periodic Spring provides part of the water for the town of Afton. That’s the reason for the cement hood placed over the mouth of the spring to prevent rocks and other debris from falling into the opening.

The spring feeds a torrent of water down Swift Creek Canyon to a hydroelectric plant, which supplies surrounding towns with electricity.

Getting There

Locate Second Avenue in Afton, then head east out of town. The road is paved for a mile or so and then turns into a well-maintained dirt road (FR 10211) for another 4 miles. On the way, you will notice a drinking water tank maintained by the town of Afton.

The road ends about 5 miles outside of town at a parking area. You can’t miss the beginning of the trail at the far end. You are now in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, by the way.

The walk is only three-quarters of a mile on relatively flat terrain. To get to the spring, cross the Swift Canyon Creek to an area with a highly visible sign and a picnic table.

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Want a close-up look at where the wellhead is? Begin the trek up along the left side of the rocky rill. Be extra cautious — the rocks near the top will be extremely slippery.

The whole area is refreshingly low-key and un-sensationalized. It is a wonder of nature, both remarkable and rare. Enjoy the serenity, tread lightly, and leave no trace.

Contact Jake Nichols at jake@cowboystatedaily.com

Other Stories In Cowboy State Daily’s What The Heck … Series:

What The Heck … Are Snow Squalls, And Where Do They Come From?

Why Is There A Bike On Top Of The Historic Lander Grain Elevator?

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What The Heck … Is That Pile Of Teddy Bears In The Middle Of Nowhere Near Kemmerer?

What The Heck … Is Up With That Gillette House You Can Practically See From Space?

What The Heck Is … Ayres Natural Bridge, A Rare Wonder Everyone Drives By On I-25?

Who The Heck … Decorates That Tree In The Middle Of Nowhere North Of Sheridan?

Why The Heck … Does Green River, Wyoming, Have An Intergalactic Spaceport?

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What The Heck … Is That Apocalyptic Ruined City On The Way To Yellowstone?

What The Heck … Is That 400-Foot Snaggle Tooth Rock North Of Rock Springs?

What The Heck … Is That Giant Mineral Dome In Thermopolis?

Why The Heck … Is A Camel The Mascot For A Wyoming High School?

What The Heck Is … That Old Stagecoach Stop Off I-80 Near Green River?

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What The Heck Is … That Airplane On A 70-Foot Pole Along I-90 In Wyoming?

What The Heck Is … That 30-Foot Virgin Mary Statue On I-80 At The Nebraska Border?

What The Heck … Is That Giant Face On The Hill Overlooking Green River?

What The Heck Is … That 60-Foot Pyramid In the Middle Of Nowhere Off I-80?

What The Heck Is … The Vore Buffalo Jump Along I-90 In Northeast Wyoming?

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What The Heck Is … With Betty Boop, Big Boy And That Sinclair Dinosaur North Of Cheyenne?

What The Heck Is … That Giant Abraham Lincoln Head Overlooking I-80 At The Top Of Sherman Hill?

What The Heck Is … That Lonely Grave On A Hill Overlooking Interstate 80?

What the heck is … That Lonely Tree Growing Out Of A Rock In The Middle Of I-80?

What The Heck Is … That Lonely Big Boy Statue In the Middle Of A Field In Wapiti, Wyoming?

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What The Heck Is … That Giant 13.5-Foot-Tall Head On A Corner In Laramie, Wyoming?

Jake Nichols can be reached at jake@cowboystatedaily.com.



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Casper veteran David Giralt joins race for Wyoming U.S. House seat

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Casper veteran David Giralt joins race for Wyoming U.S. House seat


CASPER, Wyo. — David Giralt, a Casper-raised military veteran and conservative Republican, has announced his candidacy for Wyoming’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The congressional seat is being vacated by Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman, who launched a campaign in December for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring Sen. Cynthia Lummis. […]



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Rivalries and Playoff Positioning Highlight Week 11 Wyoming Girls Basketball Slate

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Rivalries and Playoff Positioning Highlight Week 11 Wyoming Girls Basketball Slate


It’s Week 11 in the 2026 Wyoming prep girls’ basketball season. That means it’s the end of the regular season. 3A and 4A schools have their final game or games to determine seeding before the regional tournament, or if a team is locked into a position, one last chance to fine-tune before the postseason. Games are spread across four days.

WYOPREPS WEEK 11 GIRLS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 2026

Every game on the slate is a conference matchup. Several rivalry contests are part of this week’s schedule, such as East against Central, Cody at Powell, Lyman hosting Mountain View, and Rock Springs at Green River, just to name a few. Here is the Week 11 schedule of varsity games WyoPreps has. All schedules are subject to change. If you see a game missing, please email david@wyopreps.com.

CLASS 4A

Final Score: Laramie 68 Cheyenne South 27 (conference game)

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CLASS 3A

Final Score: Lyman 40 Mountain View 26 (conference game)

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CLASS 4A

Final Score: Evanston 41 Riverton 39 (conference game)

Final Score: Natrona County 42 Kelly Walsh 38 (conference game) – Peach Basket Classic

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Final Score: #4 Thunder Basin 64 Campbell County 32 (conference game)

CLASS 3A

Final Score: #1 Cody 77 Worland 33 (conference game) – 5 different Fillies with a 3, and Hays led the way with 34 points.

Final Score: #2 Lander 49 Lyman 34 (conference game)

Final Score: #4 Wheatland 51 Douglas 40 (conference game)

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Final Score: #5 Powell 48 Lovell 42 (conference game)

Final Score: Burns 56 Torrington 43 (conference game)

Final Score: Glenrock 78 Newcastle 30 (conference game)

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Read More Girls Basketball News from WyoPreps

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WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 2-25-26

WyoPreps Girls Basketball Standings 2-23-26

WyoPreps Girls Basketball Week 10 Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 2-18-26

WyoPreps Girls Basketball Week 9 Scores 2026

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WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 2-11-26

WyoPreps Girls Basketball Week 8 Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 2-4-26

WyoPreps Girls Basketball Week 7 Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 1-28-26

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Nominate A Basketball Player for the WyoPreps Athlete of the Week Honor

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 1-21-26

WyoPreps Girls Basketball Week 5 Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 1-14-26

WyoPreps Girls Basketball Week 4 Scores 2025-26

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WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Rankings 1-7-26

WyoPreps Girls Basketball Week 3 Scores 2025-26

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Rankings 12-24-25

WyoPreps Girls Basketball Week 2 Scores 2025-26

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Rankings 12-17-25

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WyoPreps Girls Basketball Week 1 Scores 2025-26

 

CLASS 4A

Rock Springs at #2 Green River, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)

#4 Thunder Basin at #5 Sheridan, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)

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#1 Cheyenne East at #3 Cheyenne Central, 6 p.m. (conference game)

Jackson at Star Valley, 6 p.m. (conference game)

CLASS 3A

#3 Pinedale at Mountain View, 4 p.m. (conference game)

#1 Cody at #5 Powell, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)

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Buffalo at Glenrock, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)

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CLASS 3A

Newcastle at Buffalo, 12:30 p.m. (conference game)

Glenrock at Rawlins, 3 p.m. (conference game)

Torrington at #4 Wheatland, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)

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Submit a Score to WyoPreps

 

Wyoming Boys 4A Swimming & Diving State Championships 2026

4A Boys State Swim Meet for 2026 in Cheyenne

Gallery Credit: David Settle, WyoPreps.com





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Political storm in Wyoming as far-right activist caught handing checks to lawmakers

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Political storm in Wyoming as far-right activist caught handing checks to lawmakers


Controversy has engulfed Wyoming’s state legislature after a conservative activist was photographed handing checks to Republican lawmakers on the state house floor, in an incident that has highlighted intra-conservative divisions and the role of money in the Cowboy state’s politics.

The political storm started on 9 February, when Karlee Provenza, a Democratic lawmaker, took a photo showing Rebecca Bextel, a conservative activist and committeewoman for the Teton county Republican party, handing a check to Darin McCann, a Republican representative, on the legislative floor. Marlene Brady, another Republican representative, stands in the photo’s background, a similar piece of paper pinched between her fingers.

“You have a person from the richest county in the country coming down to Cheyenne to hand out checks on the house floor,” Provenza said. “I have never seen something so egregious.”

Questions around the checks were soon swirling, and answers weren’t forthcoming. When asked what Bextel gave to her, Brady told a reporter for local outlet WyoFile: “I can’t remember.”

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Then Bextel herself addressed the incident. “I raised $400,000 in the last election cycle for conservative candidates, and I will be doubling that amount this year,” Bextel wrote on Facebook on 11 February. “There’s nothing wrong with delivering lawful campaign checks from Teton county donors when I am in Cheyenne.”

Since then, it has emerged that the checks came from Don Grasso, a wealthy Teton county donor, who told the Jackson Hole News and Guide that he wrote the checks for Bextel to deliver to 10 Freedom caucus-aligned politicians. Grasso said the checks were intended as campaign contributions, and were not tied to specific legislation. It is unclear how many checks were ultimately delivered, but two of four confirmed recipients include the speaker of the house, Chip Neiman, and John Bear, the former head of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus.

The Wyoming house has formed a legislative investigative committee, and the Laramie county sheriff’s office said they’d open a criminal investigation.

Bextel declined to answer questions from the Guardian. Brady, McCann and Bear did not respond to requests for comment.

Neiman said he considered the criticism a “wraparound smear campaign”. He said: “It never once crossed my mind that this was bribery.

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“These legislators, myself included, are now guilty until we can prove that we’re innocent. How is that right in this country? Isn’t that a little bit backwards?”

The scandal has highlighted long-standing divisions in Wyoming’s Republican party, which in recent years has seen a growing divide between old school, more moderate conservatives and a harder-right Freedom Caucus.

Several former Republican lawmakers forcefully condemned their colleagues for accepting the checks, and a local Republican party branch called for the lawmakers’ resignations.

Ogden Driskill, a Wyoming Republican senator, told the Guardian he does not consider Bextel’s actions to be illegal, but that “just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should”.

Bextel has spent years pushing against housing mitigation fees in Wyoming, and Driskill noted that she distributed the house floor checks just days before a bill she had publicly supported was set to be heard. Bextel was registered as a member of the press, not as a lobbyist when she delivered the checks.

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“Ethically and morally, it’s bankrupt to a massive degree,” Driskill said.

Neiman said that he and other legislators who received checks have supported similar bills in the past: “Bribery is paying somebody to do something they would not otherwise do.”

Nationally, the 2024 election cycle saw record-spending from the mega-wealthy, as well as dark money groups. Wyoming followed the trend, in a tense red-on-red primary season.

For those gearing up to campaign this year, Teton county, the richest in the US, and Bextel’s picturesque home turf, is an essential stop. Its extreme wealth gives it a foothold on the national level as well. Palantir chief executive Alex Karp and Donald Trump attended an annual Republican leadership fundraiser at Jackson Hole in 2024, and JD Vance attended the same one in 2025.

Bextel pulls dollars from Teton county into the Freedom Caucus side of Wyoming’s conservative split. She hosted no-press-allowed meet and greets earlier this year benefitting leading candidates for Wyoming’s governor and open US House seat.

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In an interview with the Open Range Record, a media network she co-founded, Bextel said controversy around the checks was solely because she was making “even playing field” in Wyoming against the state’s more moderate Republicans, who she calls “George Soros” candidates. She said that she will be sure to keep raising money – just away from the legislative floor.

“I guess I’m gonna ask all the gentlemen and gentleladies to step outside the Capitol while I hand them a check,” Bextel said. “Let me be clear: I’m doubling down.”

But it’s not just wealthy local donors putting their weight behind the factions. Last election cycle, out of state groups spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on anonymous and often inaccurate mailers.

“These actors, especially from the far right, they like to push the bounds of the norms,” said Rosa Reyna Pugh, an organizing and advocacy consultant at Western States Center, an Oregon-based non-profit focused on democracy in the western United States. “They like to see what policies they can kind of push, and see where they can play a piece,” Reyna Pugh said.

While Neiman and Driskill fight politically, they do agree on one thing: summer will bring an expensive and brutal campaign season.

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“You’re going to see more dark money than you’ve ever seen. We’ve done absolutely nothing to enforce it. Our secretary of state has not even made a slight attempt to deal with it,” Driskill said. “You’re going to see lots and lots of outside money and I think you’re seeing it on both sides.”

As national questions swirl around pay-to-play politics and profiteering in the Trump administration, Provenza wants better for the Cowboy State.

“We should not be aligning ourselves with how the federal government is conducting itself or how federal elections conduct themselves,” Provenza said. “We owe something far better and more honest to the people of Wyoming than that.”



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