The Flaming Geyser State Park is located on the
Green River in southwestern
King County, Washington
King County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. The population was 2,269,675 in the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of counties in Washington, most populo ...
, near the city of
Black Diamond.
The park was named for a flame which burned through a concrete basin, fueled by a methane gas pocket below the surface. When the pocket was discovered by prospective coal miners in the early 1900s, the test hole hit gas and saltwater, shooting water and flames into the air. The same methane pocket seeps gas through a mud hole to create the "Bubbling Geyser" nearby. Both "geysers" can be found along a short hike, though as of 2016 the flaming geyser is no longer lit due to depletion of its methane source.
Despite these unique features, the most popular park use is for summer tubing and rafting in the river. Flaming Geyser also has a specially designated area for flying remote-controlled model airplanes.
History
Flaming Geyser was operated privately from the 1920s until the 1960s when the park fell into bankruptcy. When the land risked takeover by home development, Washington State Parks purchased the land and has managed it since.
Urban legend of the park's history describes how miner Eugene Lawson aimed to profit from the ignited methane emission.
While Lawson is a real historical figure who owned the Lawson Mine between 1895 and 1898 prior to two fatal explosions in 1902 and 1910, there is little record of involvement with Flaming Geyser.
Park management
The Park is managed by
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
The U.S. state of Washington has over 140 state parks that are managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. These include 19 marine parks and 11 Historical Parks.
The park system was established in 1913 by the creation of th ...
as a part of the Green River Gorge State Park Conservation Area. This conservation area covers and of river shoreline bordered by Flaming Geyser to the west and
Kanaskat-Palmer State Park to the east. The area also includes Black Diamond Heritage Area, Old Town of Franklin Heritage Area, Hanging Gardens Recreation Area, Walter
A. Jellum Recreation Area, and
Nolte State Park.
Natural resources
The park is with over of river shoreline.
The area is known for its coal and cinnabar mines, with approximately 14% of Washington's coal coming from the Black Diamond vicinity.
The Green River is a popular steelheading location in the winter, and an ADA-accessible Salmon Interpretative Trail in the park explains more about this ecological relationship.
References
External links
Flaming Geyser State ParkWashington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Flaming Geyser State Park MapWashington State Parks and Recreation Commission
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Parks in King County, Washington
State parks of Washington (state)
Persistent natural fires