Last Updated on: 15th November 2024, 01:49 pm
At over two million acres, Yellowstone has a bit of everything – geysers, wildlife, a large lake, and a scenic 20-mile canyon, the latter of which we’ll be focusing on in this guide. A visit to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone should be considered essential during your trip to the park. But how should one go about visiting?
Located in the east part of the park, you have the choice of admiring the canyon from a single viewpoint or from several. Keep reading to learn more about which are essential if you have limited time, or how to go about visiting them all if you so desire.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone happens to be right by Canyon Village, which would be a great place to base yourself for exploring it.
For more general details on park fees and the best places to stay in Yellowstone National Park, be sure to check the end of the article.
Visiting Tips
The canyon consists of two large waterfalls: Upper Falls and Lower Falls. Furthermore, different viewpoints and hiking trails can be experienced from either the canyon’s North Rim or South Rim. As such, there are plenty of ways to experience the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
I ended up visiting every single viewpoint at the canyon, which added up to six or seven (or slightly more depending on how you count). In total, everything took me 4-5 hours to explore. And I was still able to fit in other activities on the same day, such as a drive through Hayden Valley and a visit to the Norris Geyser Basin.
For most people, however – especially those without much time – Artist Point and the Brink of the Lower Falls should be considered must-visits. After that, if you still have a bit more time, go see the North Rim’s Red Rock Point.
If you’re still undecided, we’ll be covering each main viewpoint below so you have an idea of what to expect. In any case, be sure to start with Artist Point as early as you can. It’s the top highlight of the canyon and parking spaces can fill up quick.
Artist Point
Artist Point is located along the canyon’s South Rim. As mentioned, you’ll want to arrive as early as possible to get a parking spot. Additionally, the canyon looks great in the morning light from this angle.
In my case, I’d already gotten a very early start by exploring nearby Hayden Valley at sunrise. After an out-and-back drive through the valley, I headed toward Artist Point, arriving around eight.
The parking lot was still less than half full by this point, but it was entirely full by the time I returned about an hour later (This was in summer peak season.)
But why is Artist Point so popular? The answer becomes clear shortly after leaving the parking area.
Out of all the viewpoints at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Artist Point offers the clearest and most direct view of the waterfall.
As we’ll cover below, there are actually two main waterfalls at the canyon, with the one visible from here being the Lower Falls. Interestingly, there’s no single point along the canyon from which both can be seen simultaneously.
Geologists believe that the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone largely took shape around 12,000 years ago. It was around the end of the last Ice Age, and large dams formed by ice were beginning to melt.
It’s probable that once the dam weakened, a sudden torrent of water shot through and shaped the canyon in a short amount of time. And the Yellowstone River has been further shaping it ever since.
The canyon is largely comprised of rhyolite and tuff (hardened ash), and its yellowish hues are the result of rhyolite’s high iron content. Notably, the Minnetaree Indians named the river after the rock (‘Mi tse a-da-zi,’ or Yellowstone River).
Like just about every other part of Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is home to lots of hydrothermal activity. It’s said to be especially evident on cold days when steam can be seen rising up through vents near the river.
This particular area is called Artist Point because back in 1872, it was from roughly around here that Thomas Moran created an oil painting of the canyon. And for that he was paid $10,000 by Congress – about $252,800 in today’s money!
Now on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the painting was created the same year that Yellowstone was declared the world’s very first National Park.
After admiring the views from the main viewing platform, it’s fairly easy to escape the crowds by walking along the Ribbon Lake Trail. It’s about a mile each way to a scenic spot known as Point Sublime.
But many who’ve hiked all the way there say that the views are actually best during the first half. As such, I’d end up turning around half-way to leave time for the canyon’s other viewpoints.
While the Lower Falls will no longer be visible, the views of the colorful canyon are incredible when looking down from the side of the rim, especially in the early morning light.
Speaking of rim trails, it’s actually possible to hike all the way to the Upper Falls Overlook via the South Rim Trail. But of course, you’d have to walk all the way back to return to your car, so driving is recommended.
Upper Falls Overlook
From Artist Point, the Upper Falls Overlook is just a two-minute drive west down South Rim Drive. While indeed a nice view, it’s not an absolute must-visit if you’re short on time.
If you’re in a hurry, it would be best to continue to the North Rim to see the Brink of the Lower Falls.
As the name suggests, this overlook allows you to view the Upper Falls from across the canyon. In addition to the main viewing platform that most tourists head to, you can also walk east along the South Rim Trail for alternative vantage points. During my visit, I even got to see a rainbow.
It’s also from around here that you could formerly find the start of Uncle Tom’s Trail, a steep staircase that took one closer to the Yellowstone River. But it’s been closed since 2019, and numerous sources are saying that the closure is permanent.
Finished with the South Rim Drive, you’ll have to briefly return to the main Grand Loop Road, heading north for a bit before turning right.
And on my way north, I happened to encounter over a dozen cars parked on either side of the road. At Yellowstone, this could only mean one thing: wildlife.
And in this case, we got to witness a momma bear and her two cubs – one of the most coveted wildlife sightings at the park!
Though the bears’ fur was brown, the absence of a prominent shoulder hump tells us that these were black bears. They were largely obscured by tall grass, but it was nonetheless a thrilling moment.
Brink of The Lower Falls
Coming from the South Rim, the first turnoff you’ll pass is for Brink of the Upper Falls. But as that site has one of the largest parking lots, it would be wise to save it for last. (And frankly speaking, it’s not quite essential).
For now, head to the Brink of the Lower Falls, one of the area’s top highlights.
The Brink of the Lower Falls is the most physically demanding overlook to reach, but it’s well worth the effort to see. From the parking lot, a 0.38-mile (0.6 km) trail takes you down a steep descent of 600 ft (180 m).
You’ll walk down a series of switchbacks, and as you’ll have to come up the same way, be sure to bring plenty of water.
Once at the bottom, you’ll get to directly overlook the point where the Lower Falls come crashing down 308 feet into the canyon.
It’s an incredible experience to be able to witness the sheer power of mother nature from so close up. That’s why after Artist Point, the Brink of the Lower Falls should be considered a can’t-miss stop at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
If you’d still like to see more of the canyon and if you’re tired of dealing with parking, it’s possible to walk along the North Rim Trail to our next destinations: Red Rock Point and Lookout Point.
Red Rock Point & Lookout Point
Red Rock Point and Lookout Point can be accessed from the same parking area, which is about 0.5 miles east of Brink of the Lower Falls. As mentioned above, you can also hike there via the North Rim Trail if you so desire.
As we’ll cover shortly, further north is yet another overlook called Grand View that’s also along the North Rim Trail.
A descending trail takes you to Red Rock Point, which offers a clear view of the Lower Falls. While not quite as impressive as Artist Point, I’d consider this to be Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone’s third-best viewpoint.
If you’ve already come all this way, you should also check out Lookout Point which offers a clear view of the Yellowstone River.
I then continued along the trail until I reached Grand View, also passing several unnamed overlooks along the way.
No waterfalls are visible from any of these platforms and I wouldn’t consider them essential. But coming here is an easy way to escape the crowds – even on a busy summer day.
Inspiration Point
Next, I headed to an overlook called Inspiration Point, which is about five-minutes by car from the Lookout Point parking lot. To get there, you’ll have to continue along North Rim Drive before turning right onto Canyon Rim Trail Rd.
Notably, Inspiration Point was the first part of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to be discovered by white settlers when trapper Charles W. Cook laid eyes on it in 1869.
While it offers a beautiful view of the canyon, it doesn’t provide views of either of the falls. While not a huge detour, it’s probably only worth it for those with some extra time.
Also don’t miss the additional viewing platform accessible via a short flight of stairs.
Brink of the UPPER Falls
As mentioned above, the Brink of the Upper Falls is best saved for last. Thanks to its large parking lot, you should find a spot even in the afternoon.
The road there is directly off of the Grand Loop Road, situated roughly in between North and South Rim Drives.
While a lot easier to reach, I personally didn’t find it to be nearly as thrilling as directly overlooking the Lower Falls.
With that said, I’m certainly glad I came, and also have no regrets about visiting every single overlook at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Even after seeing everything, I’d have plenty of time left over to head to the west of the park to explore the fascinating Norris Geyser Basin.
Another alternative way to spend the rest of your day would be to hike up Mt. Washburn, located north of the canyon. But expect the roundtrip hike to last three hours at the very least.
Additional Info
If you’d like to experience the various hiking trails along the canyon in the company of an experienced guide, consider this popular hiking tour.
Alternatively, many of the standard day tours of the park include visits to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. For example, this highly-rated 12-hour tour will take you to the Grand Canyon, Hayden Valley, and of course, Old Faithful. It departs from Jackson and Teton Village.
At around 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone National Park is absolutely massive, and there are few cities or towns right by the park. And even if there were, you’d still want to change locations at least once to easily make it to all the main areas.
Rather than present an exhaustive list of all the different options and variables, I’ll explain what my travel companions and I did. In the end, I’m very pleased with the way the trip worked out. What follows is a brief summary, but you can learn more details in our comprehensive Yellowstone Itinerary.
Yellowstone should be explored over the course of three or four days. Assuming you can spend four nights in the region, it’s best to camp within the park and to do so at two different locations.
Not only will this save you money, it will also save you a lot of driving time. It also makes it possible to observe wildlife at dusk and dawn.
Note that driving in Yellowstone in the dark is not advised due to the lack of lighting and presence of large animals on the road. As such, you can count out staying in a nearby town and getting a head start by departing before sunrise.
Coming immediately from Grand Teton National Park, I entered Yellowstone via the South Entrance and headed straight for the Grant Village Campground. The next day, after exploring the geysers of southwest Yellowstone, I spent another night at the same campsite.
The following morning, we packed up our things and explored Yellowstone Lake and nearby areas. That night was spent at the Canyon Village Campground, located in the east part of the park where the two main loop roads intersect.
Again, we spent two nights in total at the same campground, allowing easy access to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It was also within reasonable driving distance of Mammoth Hot Springs on the final day. (We’d then head north into Montana).
Yellowstone’s campgrounds are run by the Xanterra Corporation, and you can make reservations at this link.
Both campgrounds I stayed at had shower areas, though they unfortunately weren’t within walking distance of the campsite. There were plenty of bathrooms in the main camping areas, however.
Note that you can also find proper hotels/lodges at both Grant Village and Canyon Village. But not only can they get very pricey, you’d have to book many months in advance to secure a spot. On that note, even camping sites should be booked several months ahead of time.
At the time of writing, Yellowstone costs $35 to enter (learn more here).
If you’re visiting from abroad, note that in contrast to many other countries, US parks typically charge per vehicle rather than per person. However, if you’re traveling by bicycle instead, they’ll charge you for an individual pass which costs $20, while those on motorcycles will be charged $30.
Considering how many National Parks and National Monuments there are to see in the Southwest alone, the best option for most will be to buy an ‘America the Beautiful’ Annual National Parks Pass.
These cost $80 for the year. In most cases, you’re already saving money by just visiting four National Parks/Monuments anywhere in the country within a full year.
What’s more, is that only one person in your vehicle needs to have the pass. Additionally, seniors can buy the pass for just $20. So if you have someone over 62 in your party, just have them get the annual pass and everyone else will be set.
As for where to get the pass, you can purchase it in person at most National Parks or Monuments. But you can also order it in advance online.
Fortunately, a park pass/entry ticket is all you need to visit Yellowstone right now, as the park has not implemented any permit or timed entry systems like other popular parks have.
The guide above is just one of many Yellowstone-related articles on this website. Just starting out with planning and aren’t sure where to begin? These articles have got you covered:
- Top 5 Things to Do in Yellowstone
- The Perfect 4-Day Yellowstone Itinerary
- Yellowstone: The Ultimate Packing List
And here’s a list of our other location-specific Yellowstone guides:
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