Falls of the Yellowstone: The Grand Canyon's Twin Waterfalls
A Long History of Wonder
The Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition of 1870 gave these falls their first widely credited written account. The following year, artist Thomas Moran sketched the canyon from its rim during the 1871 Hayden Geological Survey, and his paintings helped persuade Congress to protect the area — Yellowstone became the world's first national park in 1872.
Getting There
Distance from Gardiner & North Entrance: 42 miles, ~1.5 hours
Distance from West Yellowstone & West Entrance: 40 miles, ~1.5 hours
The falls sit in Yellowstone's Canyon Village area, near the center of the park on the Grand Loop Road. From the North Entrance at Gardiner, the drive passes Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower-Roosevelt Junction; from the West Entrance at West Yellowstone, it runs through Madison Junction and Norris. Once you're at Canyon Village, just follow the signs to the North Rim or South Rim Drive — both are well marked and easy to find.
What You'll See
The Yellowstone River drops twice here — first over the 109-foot Upper Falls, then a short distance downstream over the much larger 308-foot Lower Falls — before carving through the colorful, steaming walls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The North Rim Drive passes Lookout Point, Grand View, and Inspiration Point, each with sweeping views down the canyon, while the South Rim Drive leads to Artist Point — generally considered the best view of the Lower Falls, and the vista that inspired Moran's famous painting.
Visitor Tips
Plan on three to four hours to see both rims properly, since the North and South Rim Drives don't connect directly and require backtracking through Canyon Junction. Note that the historic Uncle Tom's Trail, once a stairway toward the base of the Lower Falls, has been permanently closed by the Park Service for safety reasons — Artist Point and Inspiration Point are now the best accessible viewpoints. Early morning offers the best light for photos, and the short paved walk to the Brink of the Upper Falls is a good option if you want a close view without a long hike; wear real shoes if you head down toward the Brink of the Lower Falls, since the trail is steep and often damp with spray.