Wyoming

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

Published

2 years ago

May 4, 2024

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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

Wyoming Town Rivalries – Feuds & Hate

Published

2 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Since moving to Wyoming many years ago, and having lived in a few towns around the state, I find that some town and city rivalries must be addressed. Some are based on past conflicts that still cause pain to this day. Some are unexplained.

For example, to this day, all of Johnson County still does not trust Cheyenne after the Johnson County War of 1892. Cattlemen in Cheyenne sent a hit squad hired by the barons to invade Johnson County to eliminate alleged rustlers. A shootout that lasted several days ensued.

Other town rivalries include:

Green River vs. Rock Springs: The two towns are close together and share one of the most intense and oldest community, cultural, and athletic rivalries in the state.

Lander vs. Riverton: Located in Fremont County, this rivalry dates back to 1922 and divides the area over high school football bragging rights. They talk a lot of smack about each other.

Cheyenne vs Casper: The towns just HATE each other. I’ve lived in both, and I can tell you that there is nothing wrong with either town. But I’ve come across people in both towns who talk about their hatred of the other.

There is not a lot of love across Wyoming for Jackson, mostly because of the mega-rich liberals who live there. Many of those mega-rich liberals look down on the rest of Wyoming.

Folks talk smack about Laramie, but in a very different way than people talk smack about Gillette.

Having traveled around Wyoming, I can tell you that most of this hate is just nonsense and a waste of time. In the end, we are all Wyomingites. Just one big bickering family who still have each other’s backs when it comes down to it.

The Charmingly Odd Town Of La Grange Wyoming

It is well worth the long drive to see one of the most interesting and quirky little towns in Wyoming.

Stay for lunch. You won’t regret it.

Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods

Jay Em, Wyoming, Frozen In Time

Jay Em, what an unusual name for a town.The few people who live there are proud of what their spot on earth once was, and they work to preserve it. They keep this little community frozen in time.

Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods

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Wyoming

Wyoming mountain bike hotspot Curt Gowdy wants to know how it can improve

Published

12 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming mountain bike hotspot Curt Gowdy wants to know how it can improve – County 17

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Wyoming

Hoping to draw Colorado interest, construction begins at $80M betting facility in Laramie County

Published

22 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Press Room

Hoping to draw Colorado interest, construction begins at M betting facility in Laramie County

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Foundation work is beginning this week on Wyoming’s next horse betting and gaming house.

The $80 million Wyoming Downs facility in Laramie County, one of two the company is investing in over the next couple of years, is poised to be one of the largest facilities of its kind in the state. The company is aiming for a spring 2027 opening.

The facility will host upwards of 600 historic horse racing machines, Wyoming’s largest TV wall, multiple dining options and more across 58,000 square feet. More land was bought for future hotel development. Commuters driving between Cheyenne and the Colorado border can see clearly from Interstate 25 the expansive development.

That placement along the travel corridor is purposeful, Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing President Kyle Ridgeway said.

“I think that the targeted consumer for this is from Colorado or from the Front Range,” Ridgeway said. “I anticipate we’re going to have plenty of people from Cheyenne come down here to play and enjoy the amenities, but when you look at 600,000 people within a 30-minute drive, that’s what justifies this investment and brings all that tax revenue in from another state, which is fantastic.

“We don’t get the opportunity to do that in Wyoming very often.”

Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing President Kyle Ridgeway speaks to attendees at the joint venture’s groundbreaking ceremony for an $80 horse betting facility in Laramie County June 2, 2026. (Garrett Grochowski, Cap City News)

There is still plenty to offer Cheyenne residents besides the facility’s amenities. Ridgeway said in a speech to attendees at the project’s groundbreaking Tuesday, June 2, that more than 150 permanent jobs will be supported by the facility on top of the dozens supported by the companies’ corporate offices and the 400-plus involved in the project’s construction.

Groathouse Construction, a Wyoming business, is the project’s general contractor. Wyoming Downs said it believes putting the project in local hands also helps keep the project uniquely Wyoming-focused.

Ridgeway added the facilities have already proven themselves to be effective tax revenue generators for the local governments. The Wyoming Gaming Commission’s 2025 report, released in late May, shows bettors wagered $2.49 billion on historic horse racing machines last year, a jump from the $2.11 billion wagered in 2024.

Wyoming Downs facilities generate roughly $25 million in taxes annually across the state, and Ridgeway estimated after the ceremony that the upcoming $80 million facility alone will generate an additional $3 million for Laramie County once the property has been in operation for a few years.

Horse betting sites have been increasingly popping up across Wyoming this decade. The Wyoming Downs location will be Cheyenne’s second large-scale horse betting facility since 2024, when the 30,000-square-foot Horse Palace at Swan Ranch opened. Ridgeway said Wyoming Downs is still offering something fresh for tourists and residents.

“This’ll have amenities that Swan Ranch doesn’t have, including the largest TV wall in Wyoming and a pretty super-cool sports viewing area with a restaurant and just a level of finish and class that I don’t think Wyoming has quite seen yet with these types of properties,” he said.

Ridgeway said he thinks resident fatigue with these facilities isn’t as strong as it appears, especially given the tourism benefits of off-track betting.

“Wyoming’s been built on mineral extraction and tourism, and what this is is a touristic facility. I’m not aware of any particular pushback about this specific facility outside of — you see random social media comments where people say, ‘Oh, another gambling facility.’ But where this is located, I think people in Cheyenne have generally been supportive of,” he said.

The Laramie County facility will be just one part of a larger project Wyoming Downs is working on over the next few years. Construction will begin in early 2027 on a similar facility in Evanston looking to draw in Utah and western Colorado crowds.

Some of the company’s current facilities, notably in Casper, Cheyenne and Rock Springs, will see millions poured into renovations as well. New smaller-scale parlors will also go up in Gillette and Green River this year, according to an information packet provided by the company.

More details will come as the construction process develops, Ridgeway said. Details about amenities, such as what the complex’s dining options will look like, remain undisclosed, though Ridgeway promised that options will be “excellent.”

“We haven’t made final selections on what the options are, but we have a number of different options on the table that we’re considering for what we want to offer for the customers,” Ridgeway said. “You have to have something that’s high quality for where this is located. If somebody’s going to drive 25 or 35, or even 45 minutes to come here, they got to be able to sit down and have a quality meal.”

For more information as it becomes available and to learn more about Wyoming Downs facilities and 307 Horse Racing‘s events and offerings, see the companies’ websites. Renderings for the upcoming Cheyenne facility commissioned by the company are available for viewing below.