5 /5 Jim Cullen: An amazing natural wonder. If you see no other mineral spring, visit the Island Spouter. The only one of its kind east of the Mississippi. Cold carbonated mineral water spouts nearly 20ft into the air from the Island Spouter. Located on the Geyser Creek at the south end of Saratoga Spa State Park. Get there via Geyser Loop Road and park in the Creekside Classroom parking lot. The island itself is composed of tufa, mineral deposits left behind as the water evaporates. The island grows 2in per year and so is much larger than it was when I first visited thirty five years ago. Before it was prohibited, visitors used to venture out onto the island to sample the water directly, if you could figure out how to collect the powerful jet into a cup! You can also sample the same water from a spicket on dry land at the Hayes Well Spring. The water is cold, highly carbonated, mineral rich, and strong in flavor. Delicious for those used to the stronger mineral waters in the area. Beware if youre watching your salt intake though. This spring, among some others, is high in chlorides. There are several other springs in the immediate area as well. Taste them all, each is unique in flavor and mineral content.
