Below Yellowstone Lake the river runs quietly through Hayden Valley — then, at Canyon, it plunges over two waterfalls into a gorge some 20 miles long and up to about 1,000 feet deep. Heat and water have altered the volcanic rock to soft yellows, pinks and creams; that colour is one of the explanations offered for the name “Yellowstone”.
The Lower Falls, at about 308 feet (94 m), is the tallest waterfall in the park; the Upper Falls is about 109 feet (33 m). Two rim drives with short walks reach a series of viewpoints. You can see the highlights in two hours; give it half a day to walk a stretch of rim trail. Several guided tours include a canyon stop, and Hayden Valley, the wildlife valley, starts just to the south.
What to see at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Artist Point (South Rim)
The classic view: the Lower Falls framed by the canyon walls, a short paved walk from the parking area at the end of South Rim Drive. Morning light is best, and in the late morning a rainbow often hangs in the spray. From here the South Rim Trail continues east to Point Sublime.
Brink of the Lower Falls and Lookout Point (North Rim)
On the one-way North Rim Drive, a paved switchback path drops about 600 feet (180 m) in roughly half a mile to the Brink of the Lower Falls, where you stand beside the water as it goes over. The climb back up is steep at this altitude. Lookout Point and Grand View give classic views down the canyon; Red Rock Point is a steeper descent below Lookout.
Brink of the Upper Falls
A short walk from its own parking area off the main road leads to a platform right above the Upper Falls — a good stop if you are short of time.
Rim trails
The North Rim Trail links most viewpoints on that side; the South Rim Trail runs from the Chittenden Bridge to Artist Point. Uncle Tom’s Trail, the long staircase down the South Rim, has been closed for reconstruction — check its current status.
Getting to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Location: Canyon Village, at Canyon Junction on the Grand Loop Road.
- Distances: about 12 miles (19 km) from Norris, 16 miles (26 km) from Lake Village, 19 miles (31 km) from Tower-Roosevelt over Dunraven Pass.
- Rim drives: North Rim Drive is one-way, starting from Canyon Village; South Rim Drive leaves the main road south of the village across the Chittenden Bridge.
- Services: Canyon Village has a visitor education center, lodges, food, a general store and fuel.
Tips before you go
- Visit Artist Point early, before tour coaches arrive, and the North Rim in the afternoon.
- The Brink of the Lower Falls path is steep; take water and your time on the way up.
- The Canyon Visitor Education Center has one of the park’s best exhibits on the Yellowstone supervolcano.
- Keep to the railings: the canyon edges are loose and drop hundreds of feet.
Tours that visit Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
These guided trips include Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or pair well with it:
Full-day group tour from €329 Yellowstone: Old Faithful, Waterfalls, and Wildlife Day Tour
A full-day group tour from Jackson with a perfect five-star average across hundreds of reviews. It focuses on the three things most people come for — Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and wildlife in Hayden Valley — with the guide spotting animals along the way.
- Old Faithful Geyser
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Wildlife viewing in Hayden Valley
Guided hike from €192 Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Loop Hike with Lunch
A naturalist leads you along the rim of the colourful canyon on quieter trails away from the main viewpoints. Excellent reviews; a great way to see more than the car-park overlooks.
- Naturalist guide
- Uncrowded rim trails
- Lunch included
Full-day guided tour from €279 Full-Day Yellowstone National Park Tour from Cody, WY
From Cody the road into the park climbs over Sylvan Pass and along Yellowstone Lake. This tour covers the historic Fishing Bridge, the bubbling Mud Volcano, Hayden Valley, Artist Point and Old Faithful in one day — a lot of ground, which is exactly why it helps to let someone else drive.
- Fishing Bridge and Mud Volcano
- Hayden Valley and Artist Point
- Old Faithful
Small-group day trip from €399 From Bozeman: Express Yellowstone Tour (1 Day)
A small-group day trip from Bozeman covering Fountain Paint Pot, Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake and Artist Point. Bozeman is a long way from the park, so it is a full 13-hour day — but it solves the problem of not having a car.
- Fountain Paint Pot and Grand Prismatic Spring
- Old Faithful and Yellowstone Lake
- Artist Point and the canyon falls
